Degree Description
Live and work anywhere in the U.S. while earning a top-ranked, fully online, part-time MSW degree taught by renowned BU faculty. You’ll experience a high-quality, evidence-based education delivered in a user-friendly web-based format that’s designed to fit a working adult’s busy schedule. With both self-paced learning and a virtual Live Classroom component, you’ll also gain access to our national network of 2000+ field agencies that provide you with hands-on, practical field experience close to home.
We offer an innovative part-time format where you can choose between a Clinical or Macro major, with 3 track options depending on your experience: Traditional Track, Advanced Standing (AS), and the Human Service Experience (HSE) Track, ensuring that your program is tailored to you. Clinical majors may also choose to minor in Macro Practice.
You’ll also have full access to the same high-caliber curriculum, faculty, and support as our On-Campus Program, while you complete a multi-method curriculum guided by experienced experts and dedicated practitioners who prepare you for success in a range of social work careers.
Degree Requirements
- You’ll take required and elective courses in a convenient online format that includes both self-paced learning and a live component.
- Attend weekly required Live Classroom sessions.
- Complete 1 or 2 field internships (depending upon your track) close to where you live or work.
Application Requirements
All applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, preferably in the liberal arts, from an accredited college or university. Additional requirements apply for accelerated tracks including Advanced Standing and Human Service Experience.
Choose from Two Majors, Three Track Options & Four Specializations
Clinical Practice: Interested in empowering individuals, families, and groups?
Our clinical major will provide you with the expertise to assess, diagnose, treat, and prevent a range of mental and behavioral challenges. Clinical majors may also choose to minor in macro practice.
Macro Practice: Are you a big picture thinker?
Consider a macro major or minor and explore how a community and systems-level lens will prepare you for leadership roles in public and private sector organizations addressing critical social issues. Macro focuses on community organizing, human services leadership, advocacy, and program planning and development. All students take introductory courses in both clinical and macro practice.
Three Track Options
- Traditional Track: A nine-semester, 65-credit program with two practicum/field internships.
- Advanced Standing: For candidates with an undergraduate social work degree from a CSWE accredited program completed within the last six years, minimum 3.0 GPA. A six-semester, 40-43 credit program with one practicum/field internship.
- Human Service Experience (HSE): Designed for applicants with a minimum of two years of full-time supervised human services experience, which must include weekly supervision by a master’s level supervisor. A nine-semester, 65-credit program with one practicum/field internship.
Choose from four specialization options:
- Aging
- Behavioral Health
- Children, Youth and Families
- Trauma, Violence and Justice
Pursuing an optional specialization helps you deepen your knowledge and expertise through advanced elective courses and a field placement in your focus area.
The BUSSW Online MSW: Statistics
of 298 graduate social work schools ranked by U.S. News & World Report (2022-2024)
global alumni network
pass rate for social work master's level licensing exam
Why Choose BUSSW?
- Small classes No more than 15-25 students per course section.
- Strong peer support Same student group (cohort) throughout your program where you build supportive connections while learning from their lived experiences.
- Dynamic class content Featuring online lectures, simulations, videos, audio, interactive animations, discussion boards, and weekly Live Classroom sessions.
- Professionally guided practicum (also know as field) placement You’ll have one-on-one support to find an internship near you. More than half of our students find a job through their placements.
- License Prep Prepare for social work licensure as specified by your state of residence after graduation.
Career Paths
Your MSW degree opens the door to a wide array of career paths across macro and clinical social work settings, from private practice to public policy work.
Substance Use Counselor
School Adjustment Counselor
Outpatient Clinician
College Counseling Social Worker / Clinician
Chief of Staff in local government
Union Organizer
Clinical Director
MSW Field Instructor and Advisor
Hospice Social Worker
Clinical Social Worker in Veterans Administration
In-Home Therapist
Student/Alumni Testimonials
The Cognitive Behavioral Theory course not only taught me the skills & techniques I needed to have in place, but how to put them into practice immediately.
Carmetra Johnson
(SSW’18)
Practicum Experience
Practicum education (also known as field) is a dynamic and integral part of the MSW curriculum. It allows you to gain essential practice skills that can make a real impact in people’s lives, before you even graduate.
Our field education team has extensive experience working with students on field placement in the areas in which they live, throughout the U.S.
Featured Faculty
Luz Lopez
Clinical Professor – School of Social Work
Luz Marilis López leverages strength-based and culturally responsive partnerships to advance health equity, social work, and public health practices around the globe.
Social Work Faculty
Mark Gianino
Clinical Associate Professor
Social Work
Hyeouk Chris Hahm
Professor
Social Work
Hope Haslam Straughan
Clinical Associate Professor
Social Work
Yoonsook Ha
Associate Professor
Social Work
