Online MSW Programs with a Clinical Social Work Concentration (Online LCSW Programs)

Last updated: March 2021

Master of Social Work (MSW) programs with a clinical concentration are designed to help prepare students to become licensed clinical social workers (LCSW). In addition to foundation level social work courses, they focus on the skills needed to provide social work services and treatment to individuals (children, youth, and adults) and small groups (couples and families).

Students are taught advanced assessment techniques, how to diagnose and treat psychosocial problems, and how to develop, promote, and restore mental health and social functioning. In addition, students are taught how to evaluate their own practice and intervention techniques.

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In This Article:

• List of Online MSW Programs with Clinical Social Work/Mental Health Concentration
• What is Clinical Social Work?
• Requirements for Clinical Social Work Licensing
• Coursework for Programs with a Clinical Concentration
• Detailed Insights into all Master's in Clinical Social Work Programs
• FAQs

All Online MSW Programs with Clinical Social Work/Mental Health Concentration

All Online MSW Programs with Clinical Social Work/Mental Health Concentration

School Name	Advanced Standing Option	Program Options	Total Credits
Boise State University	Yes	Full-Time and Part Time	Traditional: 61 credits Advanced Standing: 37 credits
Boston University	Yes	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 65 credits Advanced Standing: 43 credits
Campbellsville University	Yes	Full-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 30 credits
Columbia University	Yes	Traditional: Full-Time and Part-Time Advanced Standing: Part-Time Only	Traditional: credits Advanced Standing: credits
Edinboro University	Yes	Full-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: credits vary
Florida State University	Yes	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 61 credits Advanced Standing: 39 credits
Indiana University	Yes	Traditional: Full-Time and Part-Time Advanced Standing: Full-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 41 credits
Louisiana State University	Yes	Traditional: Full-Time and Part-Time Advanced Standing: Full-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 33 credits
Rutgers University	Yes	Traditional: Part-Time Only Advanced Standing: Full-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 39 credits
Samford University	Yes	Full-Time and Part-Time	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 33 credits
San Jose State University	No	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits
Simmons University Sponsored	Yes	Full-Time or Part-Time	Traditional: 65 credits Advanced Standing: 37 credits
Syracuse University Sponsored	Yes	Full-Time or Part-Time	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 36 credits
Temple University	No	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits
The Catholic University of America	Yes	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 30 credits
University at Buffalo (SUNY)	Yes	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 35 credits
University of Arkansas	No	N/A	Traditional: 60 credita
University of Central Florida	Yes	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 62 credits Advanced Standing: 32 credits
University of Houston	Yes	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 63 credits Advanced Standing: 38 credits
University of Louisville	Yes	Full-Time and Part-Time	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 30 credits
University of Missouri	Yes	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 39 credits
University of New England	Yes	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 64 credits Advanced Standing: 35 credits
University of New Hampshire	Yes	Full-Time Only	Traditional: 62 credits Advanced Standing: 35 credits
University of Northern Iowa	Yes	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 35 credits
University of South Florida	Yes	Traditional: Part-Time Only Advanced Standing: Full-Time Only	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 35 credits
University of Tennessee, Knoxville	Yes	Full-Time and Part-Time	Traditional: 60 credits Advanced Standing: 36 credits
University of Texas - Arlington	Yes	Full-Time and Part-Time	Traditional: 61 credits Advanced Standing: 38 credits
University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley	Yes	Full-Time	Advanced Standing: 33 credits
University of Utah	No	Full-Time	Traditional: 60 credits
Widener University	Yes	Part-Time Only	Traditional: 64 credits Advanced Standing: 41 credits

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What is Clinical Social Work?

Clinical social work is a specialty practice within the field of social work. Clinical social workers provide specialized support services to individuals and families experiencing problems with serious illness, substance abuse, or domestic conflict. Clinical social work differs from other social work roles as it requires a master’s degree in social work (MSW), supervised clinical experience, and a license to practice.

While non-clinical social workers offer counseling and support to clients, clinical social workers use specialized skills such as assessment, diagnosis, and interventions. Clinical social workers may provide counseling services for clients, in addition to psychotherapy, behavioral therapies, and other therapeutic clinical strategies.

What Does It Mean to Be a Clinical Social Worker?

Clinical social workers provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention education for those with mental illness or behavioral disturbances. A clinical social worker must be licensed or certified within their state of practice. There is a range of settings in which clinical social workers may work, including community mental health, hospitals, primary care, agencies, and private practice.

We’ve interviewed professionals working in the field of clinical social work, here is what they say:

Samantha Roberts, (LCSW) is a clinical case manager at the University of California, San Francisco’s (UCSF) Citywide program. Roberts was compensated to participate in this interview.

Roberts explains that her role as a case manager is to help teach each client to live a healthy and stable life, to the best of their ability. “The modalities used with clients are different for each client and each CM. Personally, I find CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) to be the most useful, since the majority of my clients have poor insight, and respond better to concrete tasks.”

Beth Jakubanis is a licensed clinical social worker currently working within the field of immigration.

Jakubanis explains that sometimes clients who go through the immigration process interface with a system which has become accustomed to processing people.

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What Are the Benefits of Specializing in Clinical Social Work?

Clinical social workers provide vital assistance and support to some of the most vulnerable sectors of the community. Those who work in the field point out that the work can be emotionally demanding, and requires the ability to thrive in sometimes challenging circumstances.

In addition to providing clinical support for clients, clinical social workers often also undergo training, perform administrative work, liaise with institutions such as hospitals or the justice system, or undertake managerial roles. The work is highly varied, with the potential to practice in diverse fields. One distinctive benefit is that clinical social workers can sometimes schedule their work with greater flexibility.

Requirements for Clinical Social Work Licensing

An MSW from a graduate program accredited by the CSWE is required to become an LCSW in the United States. While the terms are sometimes used synonymously, schools do not directly offer “LCSW programs;” they offer MSW programs. However, students who wish to pursue licensing following graduation may want to consider an online MSW program with a clinical concentration, depending on their state of residence.

Licensing for social workers is determined by state-specific social work licensing boards. Therefore, licensing requirements vary by state. Students should research the requirements for licensing in their state of residence to ensure that the MSW program they choose will meet the requirements for licensing. In some states, it is not required to complete an MSW program with a clinical concentration to become an LCSW. In these situations, students may be required to complete additional coursework in order to meet the requirements for licensing. However, some states do have specific requirements that students need to be aware of if they plan to pursue a career as an LCSW after graduation.

For example, New York requires applicants to have completed at least 12 hours of clinical coursework. In this case, coursework may be completed during or after an MSW program (restrictions may apply). In Florida, social work applicants are required to have provided clinical services directly to clients during at least one of their field education placements.

Check out our resource section for more information on how to become a licensed clinical social worker. To become an LCSW, students must have dedication and commitment; earning an MSW is just the first step. Licensing typically takes two to three years post-graduation and requires a significant amount of work experience in the field.

Resources:

• American Board of Examiners in Social Work
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Social Workers

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Coursework for Online MSW Programs with a Clinical Concentration

While specific courses for online MSW degree programs vary, students will undertake coursework in the following core areas:

Clinical Social Work Practice: Individuals (Children, Youth and Adults) and Small Groups (Couples and Families)
This course is focused on the transactional relationships between people and their social environments. A key learning outcome of this course is the acquisition of social work practice methods to help restore, promote, and maintain functioning between individuals, families and small groups. The course is grounded in behavioral and social science theories, and informed by social work values and ethics. The course also teaches clinical interventions as they relate to individuals, families, and small groups.

Mental Health and Human Behavior
This course centers on developing students’ foundational knowledge of human behavior by reviewing human development theories. Key concepts within mental health, such as the notions of mental ill-health and mental illness are discussed, and explored within a conceptual framework. The classification of mental illness is also explored.

Psychopathology
Psychopathology is focused on the study of mental illness in order to best diagnose and treat it. In a psychopathology course, students familiarize themselves with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSM-5) which provides categories of mental disorders, such as the schizophrenia spectrum, and the criteria needed to evaluate them.

The course helps students to recognize some of the major mental disorders and appropriate treatment practices.

Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis
This course helps to build assessment competency in students. There is a strong focus on the use and application of the DSM-5 in understanding mental disorders. The limitations of the DSM are also explored.

A course in clinical assessment and diagnosis often considers the history of diagnosis. Diagnostic criteria are usually studied from a biopsychosocial perspective that also integrates neurobiological understanding. This course may also cover clinical interventions and treatment approaches.

Evaluation of Research Methods and Social Work Practice
An understanding of research methods is critical for clinical social workers to enhance their understanding of client needs and improve the services offered. This course provides an overview of different theoretical frameworks and methodologies to help students use a scientific and analytic approach to building knowledge and evaluating clinical services.

A course in research methods always explores the importance of ethical standards in research to protect vulnerable and marginalized populations.

In addition to coursework, all students are required to complete field education at a local health services agency. Typically, students in traditional MSW programs complete their clinical field rotation during their advanced standing year in the program, which usually occurs in the second year for full-time programs.

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Sponsored CSWE-Accredited Online Social Work Programs

All Online Master's in Clinical Social Work Programs

There are several schools that offer CSWE accredited online Master of Social Work programs with a clinical social work or mental health concentration. Click on the school name for more information about the program, admission requirements, and more. As with all degree programs, this information can change at any time (especially student eligibility and admission requirements), so students should speak with an admission advisor before applying to ensure that they have the most up-to-date information.

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Clinical Social Work Program FAQs

What can you do as a licensed clinical social worker?

Licensed clinical social workers can choose to work in a wide range of settings supporting diverse sectors of the community. Some of the options available include: the criminal justice system, children and their families, schools, geriatric communities, the LGBTQI community, and medical and psychiatric settings.

Interviews with licensed clinical social workers can help you learn more about the specific roles and responsibilities within different fields.

What is the difference between an MSW and LCSW?

An MSW refers to a graduate degree program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. An LCSW is a social worker who holds a master’s of social work and has been licensed by his or her state of residence to provide clinical services to patients. To practice as a clinical social worker in the United States, you must first earn a master’s degree and a professional license. Learn more about the difference between an MSW and LCSW.

How long does it take to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)?

The title of LCSW is the highest level of licensure available to social workers. Only licensed clinical social workers are permitted to practice in private settings. To become an LCSW, candidates must obtain a masters degree from a university course accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, which typically takes two years.

Students must then complete two to three years of supervised experience under the supervision of a licensed clinician. When the student has attained sufficient experience required for eligibility, they then sit the ASWB Clinical Examination. They will need to submit proper documentation of their work responsibilities and experience to the licensing board, as well as hours logged on the job.

Is clinical social work a good career?

Clinical social work is a rewarding career for those looking to work directly with clients in a therapeutic setting. Clinical social workers can help to change the lives of individuals and influence positive change within social structures.

Becoming a clinical social worker also represents an effective method of advancing a career in social work, accessing higher pay, and undertaking more varied and challenging work within the field.

How much does a clinical social worker make a year?

The average salary for a licensed clinical social worker depends on factors such as their location and field of practice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of March 2021, the average salary for social workers within these fields is as follows:

• Healthcare Social Workers: $56,750
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers: $47,390
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: $46,650
• All Other Social Workers: $61,230

Licensed clinical social workers within these fields can expect to earn above the average salary.

What is the difference between an LCSW and LPC?

An LPC refers to a licensed professional counselor. While the roles of LPC and LCSW are functionally similar in that they provide psychotherapeutic services, social work encompasses additional responsibilities. An LCSW also offers healthcare assistance, social services, job placement, and other services to clients that generally fall outside the purview of counseling.