Earn Your MSW — 100% Online

No GRE/MAT
Required

CSWE
Accredited

96%
Grad Employment1

Top 15
Program in the Nation2

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Programs Curriculum Careers

Prepare to Help Improve Qualities of Life

An online social work master’s degree (MSW) from Widener University helps you learn to treat issues at the source. You’ll understand the impact trauma — a leading factor in mental health, substance abuse, and other social-emotional issues — has on quality of life. You can earn a master of social work (MSW) or hybrid dual master of social work/master of education in human sexuality studies degrees. With a strong focus on social responsibility and a hands-on learning approach, our degrees will ignite your leadership potential.

Our faculty of professionals engage you in a unique, experiential curriculum. Widener University’s online graduate program gives you the knowledge and skills to ensure that your voice and influence are seen, heard, and known in both your organization and community. Founded in 1821, Widener University offers an online degree in social work that continuously embodies the school’s commitment to higher education and career advancement.

The Widener Advantage

With a degree from Widener University, you’ll take the inside track to long-term success. Small, interactive classes and an engaged faculty give you the advantages of focused mentorship and continual feedback. Our curriculum addresses current and emerging trends and technologies to help you hit the ground running and embrace change in your chosen field.

  • The social work MSW at Widener University is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
  • Students who graduate with an MSW from Widener University have a 96% employment rate.1
  • Recognized as the best trauma-focused MSW program in the nation.3

Online Degree Options

Widener University offers two master’s degree options and a graduate certificate in social work.

Learn to deliver culturally competent, evidence-based social work services to diverse populations. This program offers additional experiences and community partnerships that prepare you for counseling, therapy, and clinical supervisory positions in mental health settings. We offer two different options to meet your educational needs. Students without a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited institution can apply for the 57-credit hour MSW program and earn their degree in three years. Students with a CSWE-accredited BSW degree are eligible to apply to the Advanced Standing 36-credit hour program that can be completed in just two years. Both program options prepares you to sit post-graduation for the Licensed Social Work Exam (LSW) in your state.*

This hybrid degree option prepares you to teach, consult, provide counseling, and therapy, and conduct research on complex issues related to human sexuality. This degree encompasses two tracks: Sex Education emphasizes the developmentally and culturally appropriate design, delivery, and assessment of educational interventions across the broad spectrum of human sexuality; Sex Therapy explores how to help others through sex therapy or related work. While the master of social work degree is 100% online, the MEd degree coursework is a blend of online classes and convenient weekend classes. You’ll graduate with two degrees in three years, and be eligible for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) certification.

The Graduate Certificate in Practices in Trauma Recovery program is designed to provide enhanced experiences for adult learners who work in social work settings with populations impacted by individuals and/or community trauma. Students in this program will gain the necessary skills to identify and treat the root causes of trauma. This program is built to help busy learners meet their career goals with coursework that fits into their busy lives.

Required for Admission:

  • Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited institution
  • Currently working in a clinical placement or work environment

Why Widener?

At Widener University, academics, leadership, and service come first. This is apparent in the personalized attention and support you’ll receive from your professors. As a graduate, you’ll benefit from connections to our ever-growing group of accomplished and influential alumni.

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The Flexibility You Need

Whether you’re looking to start, change, or elevate your career, you can earn a degree from Widener University on your schedule. The MSW specialization is offered in a 100% online format, which means you can maintain your daily commitments and train for your dream job. The MEd in Human Sexuality Studies. specialization is a blend of online and campus-based courses offered in our unique weekend format. You can even customize your degree path by adding one of our Advanced Practice Options to gain an additional area of expertise.

Our Courses

At Widener, you’ll have an opportunity to deep-dive into the field of social work, viewing issues from different perspectives. Some of the courses you may take are featured below.

SW 655 Social Work Practice with People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Increase your understanding of many of the issues relating to people who have developmental disabilities and who exhibit challenging behaviors.

SW 664 Treating Trauma

This course concentrates on conditions that contribute to the development of acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, dissociative disorders, and other disorders of extreme stress.

SW 636 Organization and Program Development

Considering agencies as the foundation from which most services emanate, this course prepares students both to effectively work within the organizational context, including developing new programs, and to enhance organizational capacity and treat the agency as a client when necessary.

SW 541 Social and Economic Justice

Explore and understand community and communities, analyze community problems, formulate community-level interventions, and develop advocacy skills appropriate to such tasks.

Careers

Overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. About 78,300 openings for social workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.4 The $50,470 median annual wage for social workers across all specializations ranks significantly higher than the median wage for all U.S. occupations, which is $41,950.4

Primary Jobs for Professionals with an MSW:5

  1. Clinical Social Worker
  2. Healthcare Social Worker
  3. Community Health Worker and Administrator
  4. Healthcare Administrator
  5. Public Health Administrator

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Disclaimer and Sources

  1. “College Rankings,” GradReports.com. Retrieved on October 1, 2021, from https://www.gradreports.com/.
  2. “Best 15 Online MSW Programs in 2021,” Best Value Schools. Retrieved on October 21, 2021, from https://www.bestvalueschools.org/.
  3. “Best Master’s in Social Work (MSW) Degree Programs of 2022,” Intelligent.com. Retrieved on October 21, 2021, from https://www.intelligent.com/.
  4. “Social Worker,” Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved on September 28, 2021, from https://bls.gov/.
  5. “Master of Social Work,” Social Work Guide. Retrieved on September 28, 2021, from https://socialworkguide.org/.

*Licensure requirements vary by state. Students are responsible for understanding the requirements for social work licensure in their resident state.

*Licensure requirements vary by state: https://socialworkonline.widener.edu/msw/masters-of-social-work/license-requirements. Students are responsible for understanding the requirements for social work licensure in their resident state.