Online Master's Degree in Social Work

Question:
How long does a master's program in social work take and what does it involve? Is an online degree viewed less favorably than an on-campus degree?

Answer:
If you attend school full-time, you should be able to complete your master's degree in social work in two years. While many Master of Social Work (MSW) programs accept students from diverse bachelor's degree programs, those who did not major in sociology, psychology or related fields may need to complete some prerequisite classes first. If this is your situation, you should be able to complete these courses in the summer or in advance, and still finish the program in two years.

Most MSW programs require coursework in such things as general social work, social welfare, law, human behavior, research, and clinical practice. In addition to taking classes, you'll probably need to complete one or two internships which should allow you to gain relevant work experience in the field. So if you sign up for an online master's program in social work, you'll need to anticipate the fieldwork component, which, of course, you can't do from home. As long as your master's program is completed at an accredited school, whether you take classes online or in a classroom should be irrelevant to potential employers.