Featured News
Your Portal to the BU Community
BU Connects is a new platform exclusively for Boston University alumni, students, faculty, and staff. Join now for personal and professional networking on a global scale.
Top 4%
ranked #10 by U.S. News & World Report out of 262 graduate social work schools (2019-2021)
2
nationally-recognized research centers
88%
pass rate for social work master's level licensing exam
10,000+
global alumni network
CONNECT WITH US
Explore Our Programs
Master of Social Work (MSW)
On-Campus
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Fall entry only
On-Campus | Full-Time- Location
- Boston (Charles River Campus)
- Tracks
- Traditional Track: 65 credits
Students typically complete the program in two years.
Advanced Standing: 40-43 credits
Students typically complete the program in one year. - Majors
- Clinical Practice
Macro Practice - Field Experience
- Traditional Track: Two field placements required
Advanced Standing: One field placement required
- Cost
- $35,136 per year
- Financial Support
- Scholarships Available
Financial Aid Available
Additional options for the program may apply.
Click “Learn More” below to view full program details.
Fall entry only
On-Campus | Part-Time- Location
- Boston (Charles River Campus)
- Tracks
- Traditional Track: 65 credits
Students typically complete the program in 3-4 years.
Advanced Standing: 40-43 credits
Students typically complete the program in 2-3 years. - Majors
- Clinical Practice
Macro Practice - Field Experience
- Traditional Track: Two field placements required
Advanced Standing: One field placement required
- Cost
- $1,098 per credit
$60 per semester student services fee - Financial Support
- Scholarships Available
Financial Aid Available
Additional options for the program may apply. Click “Learn More” below to view full program details.
Off-Campus
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Fall entry only
Off-Campus | Part-Time- Location
- Bedford, Cape Cod, Fall River
- Tracks
- Traditional Track: 65 credits
Traditional Off-Campus students typically complete the program in three years over 8 consecutive semesters with classes held on weekends.
Human Service Experience (HSE) Track: 65 credits
Off-Campus HSE students typically complete the program in three years over 8 consecutive semesters with classes held on weekends.
Advanced Standing: 40-43 credits
*Available at the Bedford and Fall River locations only
Off-Campus advanced standing students typically the complete program in two years over 6 consecutive semesters with classes held on weekends. - Majors
- Clinical Practice
- Field Experience
- Traditional Track: Two field placements required
Human Service Experience (HSE) Track: One field placement required
Advanced Standing: One field placement required - Cost
- $727 per credit
$60 per semester student services fee - Financial Support
- Scholarships Available
Financial Aid Available
Additional options for the program may apply. Click “Learn More” below to view full program details.
Online
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Spring | Summer | Fall entries
Online | Part-Time- Location
- Online
- Tracks
- Traditional Track: 65 credits
Traditional online students typically complete the program in three years over 9 semesters.
Human Service Experience (HSE) Track: 65 credits
Online HSE students typically complete the program in three years over 9 semesters.
Advanced Standing: 40-43 credits
Online advanced standing students typically complete the program in two years over 6 semesters. - Majors
- Clinical Practice
Macro Practice - Field Experience
- Traditional Track: Two field placements required
Human Service Experience (HSE) Track: One field placement required
Advanced Standing: One field placement required - Cost
- $850 per credit
- Financial Support
- Financial Aid Available
Additional options for the program may apply. Click “Learn More” below to view full program details.
Worcester Hybrid
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Fall entry only
Worcester Hybrid | Part-Time- Location
- Online, Worcester
- Tracks
- Traditional Track: 65 credits
Human Service Experience Track: 65 Credits
Semesters 1-4: Classes are held once per week (Tuesdays, 4-9pm) at the Worcester campus. Students take one course at a time over 7 weeks.
Semesters 5-9: Students transfer to the Online Program and complete their MSW by taking practice, advanced, and elective courses online. Each course is taken one at a time over 7 weeks. - Majors
- Clinical Practice
Macro Practice - Field Experience
- Traditional Track: Two field placements required
Human Service Experience (HSE) Track: One field placement required - Cost
- $727 per credit (semesters 1-4)
$850 per credit (semesters 5-9)
$60 per semester student services fee
- Financial Support
- Financial Aid Available
Scholarships Available
Additional options for the program may apply. Click “Learn More” below to view full program details.
Other Programs
PHD
Other Programs
Fall entry only
PHD | Full-Time- Location
- Boston (Charles River Campus)
The PhD in Social Work is a competitive full-time program of study designed to enable significant development of competency in social work values and ethics, theory, research methods, a substantive interdisciplinary specialization, and teaching.
The program features a 63-credit plan with coursework completed in four semesters (two years). Specifically, we require a minimum of 27 credit hours in research methods courses, which includes quantitative and qualitative approaches, 12 credit hours in a specialization, 16 credit hours in core social work courses, and 8 credit hours in teaching methods and training.
We are pleased to offer a generous multi-year funding package of up to five years, which includes tuition, paid stipends, and health care. PhD students are funded through a combination of tuition scholarships, and research and teaching assistantships. While students gain hands-on research and teaching experience, assistantships supported by the School of Social Work are paid as stipends during the eight-month academic year.
Professional Education
Other Programs
Rolling admissions
Professional Education | Instructor-Led or Self-Paced- Location
- In-Person, Online
Professional Education Programs (PEP) at BU School of Social Work offers courses, workshops, and postgraduate certificate programs to individuals and organizations throughout the human service field. We focus on theory-based skill development, application of new areas of research, and advancement of critical thinking. Most PEP programs are evidence-based, skills-oriented, and tailored to focus on contemporary practice issues in both macro and clinical social work.
The School is an approved provider of Continuing Education Credits (CECs) and has been authorized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Social Work Registration to approve offerings from other institutions for CECs.
Discounts for current BUSSW students, alumni, field instructors, and faculty advisors are available. Group discounts also available.