Best Social Work Degree Programs of 2023

Social work is the primary focus of the University of Texas's Steve Hicks School of Social Work. A wide variety of programs are offered within the school, including bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral programs. Extensive fieldwork opportunities are available through the school's hundreds of partnerships with agencies and professional social workers in Austin and beyond who provide structured learning for B.S.W. and M.S.S.W. students. At the bachelor's degree level, students complete 122 credit hours of coursework along with 480 hours of field internships and 60 hours of service learning in a community agency. Study abroad programs are available, including international field placements. A B.S.W. honors program is available that challenges students to conduct their own research and write a thesis under the direction of a social work faculty member.

Indiana University's School of Social Work offers several degrees for students interested in social work, including B.S.W., M.S.W., and labor studies, as well as a social welfare advocacy minor. The school's faculty are leaders in the field who work with students on research projects and are recognized experts in topics including anti-bullying, food insecurity, and autism. Students combine classroom learning with community-based experiences through the university's extensive range of partner organizations. The master's program includes a specialized focus on mental health and addictions, with knowledge gained through foundational coursework, clinical and community practice, research, and evaluation. A fast-track option allows qualifying students to complete the M.S.W. degree in just one year. The labor studies program is entirely online and includes asynchronous credit and non-credit courses.

California State University at Fresno offers two degree-level programs for social work students, a bachelor of arts to prepare students for beginning generalist social work practice or graduate school and an M.S.W. Both degrees prepare students for advanced multi-systems of social work practice or doctoral studies. M.S.W. students do not need a B.S.W. degree to apply for the program, which can take either full-time or part-time. The university also offers a two-year Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program to master's-level candidates. Seventy percent of Fresno State's College of Health and Human Services students are first-generation college students. An Advising and Career Development Center helps all students adjust to university life and manage their academic studies.

University of Chicago's Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice includes several graduate-level programs for social workers. These include a master's degree in social work, social policy, and social administration; a dual master's in social work and social sector leadership; a master's in social sector leadership and nonprofit management; and a Ph.D. program in social work. Fieldwork is undertaken at one of the university's 600 partner agencies in Chicago, guided by practitioners who teach them best practices while providing services to their communities. There are also opportunities for global studies, with several programs that emphasize international education, including a certificate in global social development, a global social development practice program of study, and a global health certificate program. There are a number of research centers at the university for students, including the Center for Health Administration Studies and the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality.

California State University at Bakersfield offers a master of social work program that prepares students for advanced generalist social work practice. Upon graduation, students are equipped to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in mental health, physical health, corrections, and youth services. Students may specialize in child and family services, mental health, or gerontology. Students can enroll full-time or part-time in the program, held at CSU's Bakersfield location. If taking courses full-time, the program takes two years to complete. Part-time students may choose to take the courses in a hybrid format, with face-to-face classes only one evening each week. There is also a full-time advanced-standing program of study that includes 30 credits and takes one year. M.S.W. students take 20 credit hours of field practicum courses and apply their knowledge in the field for 960 hours during their studies.

California State University at Los Angeles has both undergraduate and graduate programs in social work. The B.A.S.W. degree allows students to explore and develop values, knowledge, and generalist skills so that they are able to practice in a multi-ethnic environment. The degree is designed to be completed in two years of upper-division coursework, with courses both during the day and in the evening. The M.S.W. program can be completed in two or three years. Both undergraduate and graduate students perform fieldwork in the LA area. Cal State LA was recently named a 2022 Champion of Higher Education for Excellence in Transfer by the Campaign for College Opportunity. The university was also named an Equity Champion of Higher Education for Black Students and for Latinx students for supporting transfer students as they transitioned to CSU.

The University of Michigan offers interdisciplinary master's and doctoral degrees in social work, as well as an undergraduate minor in community action and social change. Full-time master's students have their choice of eight specializations, which include community change, global social work practice, management and leadership, and policy and political social work. Students taking the online M.S.W. program and on-campus part-time evening program are enrolled in a single specialization: interpersonal practice in integrated health, mental health, and substance abuse. There are more than 300 scholarship opportunities available for M.S.W. students, as well as other funding options. The school also offers a master's international volunteer program in conjunction with the Peace Corps and dual degree programs in business administration, law, public health, urban planning, and other areas of study.

University of Connecticut's School of Social Work offers courses across the higher education spectrum, including B.S.W., M.S.W., and Ph.D. programs, as well as a non-degree program that enables students to register for graduate-level social work classes without matriculating. A robust continuing education program also allows social workers and other human service professionals to keep informed of current research, theory, and techniques. Students in the M.S.W. program may choose one of three concentrations: individuals, groups, and family practice; community organizing; and policy practice. There are also options available for both full-time and part-time study, including two-, three-, and four-year plans. Master's candidates who have an undergraduate degree in social work and a GPA of 3.0 or higher may be able to earn their master's degree in a year. Students may pursue dual degrees that lead to a joint MSW/MBA or MSW/MPH.

Samford University offers several variations on Master's in Social Work degrees: a basic master's of social work, a fast-track M.S.W., and joint degrees that give graduates an M.S.W. plus a master of public health, a master of divinity, or a master of arts in theological studies. The focus for all programs is clinical experience, which equips students for direct practice with individuals, families, and small groups. Graduates are prepared for practice in various settings, including counseling centers, mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities, correctional facilities, and child welfare agencies. The programs are offered both in person and online, taught by faculty with a diverse range of experience and expertise. As a faith-based institution, students will find an environment where their faith is fostered and integrated into discussions related to topics such as clinical practice, mental health, inequality, and more.

At Colorado State University at Fort Collins, the School of Social Work includes bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. programs, along with a dual MSW/MPH degree and graduate certificate programs in several areas, such as nonprofit administration and conflict resolution, and mediation. Students gain knowledge and skills about human behavior and social systems, at the undergraduate level, focusing on helping vulnerable or oppressed people. The B.S.W. program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and includes 450 hours of field internship education. Students who wish to continue with their education may enroll in the school's advanced-standing M.S.W. program, which can be completed within one year. B.S.W. students master six foundational social work practice roles: advocate, broker, community change agent, counselor, mediator, and researcher. They may also choose a concentration in addiction counseling, which includes coursework for Certified Addictions Counselor CAC Level 1 credentials in Colorado.