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

Sponsored Online MSW Program

• Boise State University
• Boston University
• Columbia University
• Florida State University
• Louisiana State University
• Rutgers University
• Simmons University
• The Catholic University of America
• University at Buffalo (SUNY)
• University of Central Florida
• University of Houston
• University of New England
• University of New Hampshire
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Widener University

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.

Table of Contents

• What is Clinical Social Work?
• List of Online MSW Programs with Clinical Social Work/Mental Health Concentration
• 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

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Sponsored Online Social Work Programs

Sponsored Social Work Programs

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 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.

Where do Licensed Clinical Social Workers Work?

Clinical social workers work in a variety of healthcare and mental health care settings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS notes that clinical social workers can work in hospitals and other primary care environments, community health and mental health clinics, secondary schools and universities, military facilities, substance abuse clinics, and child welfare agencies. LCSWs can also work in private practice, running their own office and serving their clients independently.

To become an LCSW, students must complete a masters in social work (MSW) from a program that has been accredited by the Council on Social Work (CSWE) and complete additional requirements for licensure (currently, 41 states will accept a doctorate in social work in lieu of an MSW degree). The MSW degree and licensure as a clinical social worker typically allow social workers more versatility in their role and work environment, relative to earning only a bachelor’s degree in social work.

For example, while direct service/non-clinical social workers are able to provide advice to individuals struggling with challenging life events and refer them to additional resources, licensed clinical social workers are able to fulfill these duties while also making mental health diagnoses and providing counseling to their clients. In many states, healthcare social workers and substance abuse social workers must complete an MSW and earn licensure as a clinical social worker prior to practicing.

Licensed clinical social workers can also choose to specialize in a specific area of mental health care and support through their graduate education, which may expand the settings in which they are qualified to work. For instance, some MSW programs, like our partner the University of Southern California’s online MSW program, have a social work in business concentration that trains social workers to work in private corporations to help employees manage emotional and mental health issues alongside their professional responsibilities.

Similarly, MSW programs that allow for a clinical specialization in violence and trauma, such as our partner Simmons University online MSW program, can prepare students to enter such work settings as correctional facilities and courts, or in community-based agencies that work with victims of domestic violence or abuse. MSW programs with health and aging / elderly care concentrations can qualify clinical social workers to work in both clinical and administrative roles at medical centers, hospice programs, senior-care community centers, and rehabilitation hospitals.

Students who are interested in multiple social work environments should not only research the clinical social worker licensure regulations / requirements in their state, but also explore different accredited MSW programs, the concentrations they offer, and where graduates of these programs found jobs. Informational interviews with practicing clinical social workers can also provide insight into the myriad environments where clinical social workers can practice.

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

OMSWP Competitive Table: Programs

School Name	Live Classes	Mobile App (Offline Capable)	Field Placement Services	Class Size Under 15
Boise State University
Boston University
Columbia University
Florida State University
Louisiana State University
Rutgers University
Simmons University
The Catholic University of America
University at Buffalo (SUNY)
University of Central Florida
University of Houston
University of New England
University of New Hampshire
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Widener University

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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. In New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice requires applicants to complete at least one year of face-to-face instruction during their MSW program; therefore, students are actually required to attend a campus or hybrid program if they want to pursue licensing after graduation.

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

OMSWP Competitive Table: Sponsored Programs

University Name	Live Classes	Offline Mobile App	Field Placement Services	No Campus Visit Required
University of Denver Master of Social Work
Fordham University Master of Social Work
Simmons University Master of Social Work
Case Western Reserve University Master of Science in Social Administration
University of Southern California (USC) Master of Social Work
Baylor University Master of Social Work

Sponsored Programs

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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 September 2019, the average salary for social workers within these fields is as follows:

• Healthcare Social Workers: $56,200
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers: $46,270
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: $44,840
• All Other Social Workers: $63,140

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.