Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Programs Online
Advanced standing MSW programs online are designed for students who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE accredited undergraduate degree program. While admission requirements vary greatly between the different programs, advanced standing online MSW programs typically have stricter admission criteria and accept fewer students than traditional programs. Therefore, prospective students should anticipate more competition for acceptance into these programs and may want to consider applying to more than one program if eligible.
Currently, there are over 30 schools that offer advanced standing online MSW programs. All online programs must meet the same CSWE accreditation standards as their campus-based counterparts. However, there are currently no regulations with regards to what can be called an “online” degree program. At OnlineMSWPrograms.com, we classify any program that requires a student to visit the campus two or fewer times per year an online program.
Featured CSWE-Accredited Advanced Standing MSW Programs Online
| University Name | Live Classes | Offline Mobile App | Field Placement Services |
No Campus Visit Required |
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| University of Denver Master of Social Work |
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| Fordham University Master of Social Work |
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| Simmons University Master of Social Work |
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| Case Western Reserve University Master of Science in Social Administration |
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| University of Southern California (USC) Master of Social Work |
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| Baylor University Master of Social Work |
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Programs with a campus requirement are ideal for students who want the opportunity to meet teachers and classmates in person, but who still want to complete the majority of their degree online. The campus requirements are usually limited to a weekend or a one week period and students know in advance when they will be required to attend in person.
All CSWE Accredited Advanced Standing MSW Programs Online
| University Name | Advanced Standing MSW Options | Program Length | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelphi University Garden City, New York |
- Part-Time | 15 Months | 32 Credits |
| Baylor University Waco, Texas |
- Full-Time - Specialization in Clinical Practice or Community Practice |
As few as 12 Months | 32 Credits |
| Boise State University Boise, Idaho |
- Full-Time or Part-Time - Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families Concentration |
- Full-Time:16 Months - Part-Time: 3 Years |
37 Credits |
| Boston University Boston, Massachusetts |
- Part-Time - Clinical Social Work Practice Concentration |
2 Years | 43 Credits |
| Campbellsville University Campbellsville, Kentucky |
- Full-Time or Part-Time | - Full-Time: 1 year - Part-Time: 2 or More Years |
30 Credits |
| Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio |
- Concentrations in Children, Youth and Families; Mental Health with Adults; Community Practice for Social Change | As Few As 2 Years | 36 Credits with Full Advanced Standing |
| Columbia University New York City, New York |
- Part-Time - Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice or Social Enterprise Administration Concentrations |
About 4 Years | 33 Credits |
| Delaware State University Dover, Delaware |
- Advanced Generalist Practice Concentration | As Few as 12 Months | 30 Credits |
| Edinboro University Edinboro, Pennsylvania |
- Full-Time - Family Social Work Practice Concentration |
About 1 Year | 39 Credit Hours |
| Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida |
- Part-Time - Clinical Social Work Practice Concentration |
About 2 Years | 39 Credit Hours |
| Fordham University Bronx, New York |
- Full-Time and Part-Time - Areas of focus: Individuals and Families, Organizations and Community, Evaluation, and Policy Practice and Advocacy |
- Full-Time: 8 Months - Part-Time: 16 Months |
33 Credits |
| Humboldt State University Arcata, California |
- Part-Time - Generalist Program with Focus on Rural and Indigenous Communities |
2 Years | 43.5 Units |
| Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana |
- Part-Time - Advanced Generalist Focus |
Typically 1.5 Years | 41 Credits |
| Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
- Full-Time - Advanced Direct Social Work Practice Concentration |
1 Year | 33 Credit Hours |
| Loyola University Chicago Chicago, Illinois |
- Full-Time or Part-Time - Concentrations: Children and Families, Health, Leadership and Development in Social Services (LDSS), Mental Health, Schools |
- Full-Time: 10 Months - Part-Time: 2 Years |
28 Credits |
| Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio, Texas |
- Part-Time - Generalist Program with Emphasis on the Hispanic Community |
Typically 1 Year and 8 Months | 30 Credits |
| Simmons University Boston, Massachusetts |
- Part-Time - Certificate Options: Practice with Groups & Families, Mental Health Practice, or Trauma Practice |
- As Few as 16 Months - 19 Months with Certificate |
- 37 Credits - 46 Credits with Certificate |
| Texas State University San Marcos, Texas |
- Part-Time - Administrative Leadership Concentration |
Typically 2 Years | 36 Credits |
| University at Buffalo (SUNY) Buffalo, New York |
- Part-Time - Evidence-Based Practice with a Trauma-Informed and Human Rights Perspective Concentration |
2 Years | 35 Credit Hours |
| University of Alaska, Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska |
- Full-Time and Part-Time - Advanced Generalist Focus |
- Full-Time: 1 Year - Part-Time: 2 Years |
35 Credits |
| University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas |
- Full-Time | 1 Year | 39 Credit Hours |
| University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida |
- Part-Time - Behavioral Health and Child Welfare Services Concentration |
3 Years | 32 Credits |
| University of Denver Denver, Colorado |
- Full-Time and Part-Time - Concentrations: Mental Health and Trauma or Health and Wellness |
- Full-Time: 18 Months - Part-Time: 24 Months |
60 Credits |
| University of Houston Houston, Texas |
- Part-Time - Clinical Practice: Health and Behavioral Health Concentration |
2.5 Years | 38 Semester Credit Hours |
| University of Nevada, Reno Reno, Nevada |
- Full-Time and Part-Time - Advanced Generalist Practice Focus |
- Full-Time: 1 Year - Part-Time: 2 Years |
32 Credit Hours |
| University of New England Biddeford, Maine |
- Part-Time - Concentrations: Clinical Practice: Individual, Families, and Groups (IFG); Community Practice: Organizational and Community Practice (OCP) |
- Accelerated: 16 Months - Part-Time: 2 Years |
35 Credits |
| University of North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota |
- Part-Time - Advanced Generalist Focus |
2 Years | 36 Credits |
| University of South Florida Tampa, Florida |
- Full-Time and Part-Time | - Full-Time: 3 Semesters - Part-Time: 5 Semesters |
35 Credit Hours |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles, California |
- Full-Time and Part-Time - Concentrations: Adult Mental Health and Wellness; Children, Youth and Families; Social Change and Innovation |
- Full-Time: 3 Semesters - Part-Time: 5 Semesters |
37 Credits |
| University of Tennessee, Knoxville Knoxville, Tennessee |
- Full-Time and Part-Time - Concentrations: Evidence Based Interpersonal Practice (Clinical); Management, Leadership and Community Practice (Macro) |
- Full-Time: 1 Year - Part-Time: 1.5 - 2 Years |
36 Credits |
| University of Texas, Arlington Arlington, Texas |
- Full-Time and Part-Time - Concentrations: Mental Health/Substance Abuse, Children and Families, Aging |
- Full-Time: 12-16 Months - Part-Time: 24 Months |
38 Credit Hours |
| University of Texas of the Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas |
- Full-Time - Concentrations: Administration and Community Practice, Direct Practice with Latino Individuals, Families and Groups |
As Few as 12 Months | 33 Credits |
| Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky |
- Full-Time and Part-Time - Advanced Generalist Practice Focus |
- Full-Time: 1 Year - Part-Time: 2 Years |
33 Credit Hours |
| Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico |
- Full-Time and Part-Time - Advanced Generalist Focus |
- Full-Time: 1 Year - Part-Time: 1.5 - 2.5 Years |
39 Credits |
| Widener University Chester, Pennsylvania |
- Part-Time - Clinical Social Work Specializing in Trauma Concentration |
2 Years | 41 Credit Hours |
Structure and Length of Advanced Standing MSW Programs
The number of credit hours required to graduate varies between the different programs and ranges from 30 to 48 credits (compared to 60 to 66 credit hours for traditional programs).
- Full-Time Programs: Full-time advanced standing online MSW programs can typically be completed in one to one and a half years. Most of the programs have classes year round in the summer, fall and spring so that students can complete the program in one calendar year. The majority of full-time programs only have summer admission. During the summer semester, students take prerequisite or bridge classes before joining students in the second year of a traditional program.
- Part-Time Programs: Part-time advanced standing programs can range from one and a half to two and a half years, although the majority of programs take two years to complete. While some schools only have summer admission, there are part-time programs that start in the fall and spring semesters as well. In general, these programs start more frequently than full-time programs but students are still required to complete bridge or prerequisite classes.
- Field Education: As with traditional online MSW programs, advanced standing students must also complete a field education requirement at a local health services agency under the supervision of a licensed field instructor. The total number of hours required to graduate ranges from 450 to 1000 hours depending on the program. Full-time programs usually involve one internship (although some programs may have two internships) over two semesters and students should expect to work about 20 hours per week during that time. For part-time programs, the structure of field work is a little more varied, and the number of placements and hours per week depends on the program.
Admission Requirements for Advanced Standing MSW Programs
In general, advanced standing programs are designed for students who excelled during their undergraduate BSW programs. In addition to the standard admission requirements for traditional online MSW programs, prospective students must typically meet additional criteria in order to be eligible for admissions:
- Completed Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree
- For some schools, applications are accepted up to five years post-BSW, while for others it is up to seven years post-BSW.
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Letters of recommendation
- Career/job related social work experience
It is possible that students may not be able to waive all foundation year classes, depending on the curriculum of their undergraduate program. Therefore, students should speak with an admission advisor to determine if they are eligible for admission to an advanced standing program. Typically students who are not eligible for advanced standing placement may still apply to a traditional online MSW program.
CSWE Accredited Online Advanced Standing MSW Programs List
The schools listed below all offer CSWE accredited online advanced standing MSW programs. School listings contain specific admission criteria, credit hour and field education requirements, and the instruction methods used by the degree program (synchronous versus asynchronous). Information regarding student eligibility and admission requirements are subject to change; therefore, students should speak with an admission advisor to ensure that they have the most up-to-date and accurate information before applying to a program.
Featured Online Advanced Standing MSW Programs
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Field Education
Admission Requirements
Advanced Standing School Listings
FAST FACTS – ADVANCED STANDING
Credits Required to Graduate: 30 to 48
Field Education: 450 to 1000 hours
BE INFORMED
Overall tuition costs are estimated based on the cost per credit hour multiplied by the number of credits needed to graduate. Tuition rates displayed on the site are not guaranteed and may not include university fees or other expenses. For the most up-to-date information, speak with an admission advisor for current tuition rates.
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