University of New Hampshire Online MSW Program

The University of New Hampshire’s (UNH) Department of Social Work offers a full-time advanced generalist online MSW program that focuses on preparing students for advanced interventions and working with clients in a variety of social work settings. Students can choose from electives that include health and mental health, addictions and substance abuse, children, youth, and families, and working with people with disabilities. UNH’s online MSW program can be completed in 28-29 months. Students must complete 20 courses, or 62 academic credits. At this time, UNH does not offer an advanced standing online MSW program.

 Learn More: Interview with Dr. Patrick Shannon – Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Online MSW Program at UNH
“We have a great infrastructure here at UNH to support us. Our program is small and focused on quality…” Read more

For students who live in New Hampshire and who wish to pursue licensing post-graduation, the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice requires students to have completed a portion of their MSW program with face-to-face instruction. To meet this requirement, UNH offers a hybrid program for students in New Hampshire that allows them to take classes with MSW students in the Durham campus program (14 weeks semesters) or with MSW students in the Manchester Executive program (6 week classes that meet on the weekends).

The majority of the classes that comprise UNH’s online MSW program are asynchronous, allowing students to complete readings, modules, discussion boards, and assignments on their own time, as long as they meet assignment deadlines. However, some courses use synchronous instruction and require students to meet course faculty and fellow students for live, real-time classes. For courses with synchronous instruction, faculty survey students to determine what times work best to meet in order to optimize flexibility.

Students must complete two field education internships while enrolled in the program for a total of 1,160 hours of field education. During their first year internship, students must complete 16 hours of field per week. In their second year, students must spend 24 hours per week at their field placement. Students are generally expected to work weekdays during normal working hours. Students who work full-time should therefore work with their current employer to arrange time off to fulfill their field placement hours.

Once accepted into the program, students are responsible for submitting their registration for field placement, along with their agency preferences. The field coordinator at the University of New Hampshire’s School of Social Work assigns students to agencies near their residence, and students complete several interviews to determine the best match. During their field placement, students work under the supervision of field seminar instructors, who in turn communicate regularly with the faculty advisor and the field coordinator to ensure that students receive the support they need during their internships.

UNH’s School of Social Work requires students to have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Applicants must submit a personal statement, transcripts of all college coursework, and three letters of recommendation.

UNH’s School of Social Work’s online MSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). UNH is also regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.