Arizona State University is currently the only university that has a campus in Arizona with a fully online MSW program. Based in Phoenix, ASU offers an online MSW program through its School of Social Work. The program relies on asynchronous instruction to allow students to access course material, although they must proceed through the curriculum in sequence with their classmates. Split between two 480-hour field placements, a total of 960 hours of field education are also required.

Please note: All online MSW programs require students to complete field education at a local health services agency.

Currently, ASU only offers a traditional standing program with an Advanced Generalist concentration. The program requires 60 credit hours to graduate and may be completed in two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study. The program does require at least 240 hours of work or volunteer experience for admission. The hours need to have been completed over a six month period within the last five years.

In addition to ASU, students residing in Arizona also have several out-of-state options. There are dozens of out-of-state universities that offer online MSW programs that accept students from Arizona. The majority of these schools offer fully online programs that do not require students to visit campus while earning their degrees; some of the schools require a limited number of campus visits. For students who want the flexibility of an online program but would still like to meet professors and classmates in person, these programs may be a good option.

Several out-of-state institutions have the same tuition rate for in-state and out-of-state students. Therefore, students should research as many programs as possible as they narrow their list of prospective MSW programs. To learn more about a particular program, click on the school’s name below.

All online MSW programs require field education at a local health services agency. Programs that are 100% online do not require students to visit the campus during the program.

The Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners issues three types of social work license: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Licensed Baccalaureate Social Work (LBSW). Below are some common steps to become a social worker in Arizona, which you should confirm with Arizona’s board of social workers.Information regarding licensure in Arizona was last retrieved in August 2020.

For more detailed information on becoming a social worker in Arizona, visit the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. You can also refer to our guides on general requirements for becoming a social worker and becoming an LCSW.

Last updated: September 2020