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An MSW degree can open doors to a wide variety of purpose-driven career paths, including substance abuse; medical, clinical, and health care social work; therapeutic services; community program administration; criminal justice; suicide prevention; and nonprofit administration, to name just a few.

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µÛÍõ»áËù’s MSW program does not require the GRE or GMAT for admission. Scores will not be reviewed as part of the application.

Yes. µÛÍõ»áËù’s MSW degree program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The Advanced Standing track requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program completed within the past seven years. All other applicants will need to apply for the foundations track.

OHIO's Online MSW curriculum is aligned with CSWE accreditation standards preparing students for state licensure eligibility.

Licensure requirements may vary by state. Please research .

The practicum offers students the opportunity to integrate the knowledge, skills, and values acquired in the classroom with the practical experiences offered in an agency setting. Practicum is a required course in the Foundation and Advanced curricula. It is important for students to understand that Practicum is a class and should be treated as such. Students in the MSW program adhere to the CSWE curriculum guidelines for field hours.

The online MSW program is considered a part-time program; therefore, students are required to have a set practicum schedule, consisting of three or more-hour increments in which they will complete 10 practicum hours per week (140 hours per semester).

Students in the Foundation face-to-face program complete 16 hours/week across 7 weeks in fall semester and 20 hours/week for spring in the first/generalist year, then 20 hours/week for fall and spring semesters in the second/advanced year. Advanced standing face-to-face students complete 20 hours/week for fall and spring semester.

Foundation Students

Students entering the program and who likely do not have an undergraduate degree in SW or received it more than 7 years ago will complete two separate practicums: Foundation and Advanced/Clinical.

The Foundation Practicum spans 3 semesters in the online program and 1½ for face-to-face, during which students remain with a single agency for the duration. Examples of Foundation practice activities include Case Management, Community Outreach, and Group Work.

Advanced Standing Students

Students entering the program who likely have an undergraduate degree in SW within the last 7 years will complete only the Advanced/Clinical practicum.

The Advanced/Clinical Practicum spans 4 semesters in the online program and 2 in face-to-face, during which students remain with a single agency for the duration. Examples of Advanced/Clinical practice activities include Diagnostic Assessments, Counseling, and Program Evaluation. 

Online MSW

Students in the Online MSW program complete a pre-placement orientation prior to the semester they are set to begin their Field Practicum. For example, if you are scheduled to begin your first Practicum in the Summer 26 semester, you would complete the Pre-placement process during your Spring 26 semester.

The Pre-placement Orientation will provide you with all the information needed to help you find a Foundation or Clinical Practicum site. All relevant information will be covered in full during the live orientation session that all students are required to attend. Additional information and resources will be provided on the Online MSW Pre-placement Orientation Canvas site, which you will be added to during the semester before you are set to begin your placement.

All Online MSW students are required to participate in a face-to-face interview with any prospective placement site (in person or remote) and complete a Field Practicum Application. Students should note that no placement is approved until the application is reviewed by the Field Director or other designated field faculty, and no placement is guaranteed.

Hybrid MSW

Students in the Foundation face-to-face program begin the placement process in their first semester; class in the first half of the semester is dedicated to pre-placement orientation, which includes preparing to contact agencies for interviews and learning practicum requirements. When interviews are complete, students submit a Preference Form to rank their interview choices, then faculty contact agencies to match the student. In spring semester, Foundation students repeat this process to establish their Clinical Practicum site for the following fall.

Face-to-face Advanced Standing students begin the placement process in the summer semester before their practicum begins. This process includes the pre-placement orientation, interviewing agencies, and being matched by faculty.

Students may be eligible to use their current employment agency when tasks and roles can be directly linked to social work competencies, practice behaviors, and levels of practice (i.e., generalist foundation or advanced clinical). Learning opportunities must exceed present job skills and knowledge, which can be achieved through different roles and/or completing hours in another department at the agency. Students cannot use their current employment role/duties towards Practicum hours. The students' employment role and Practicum must be separate, with no overlap.

Students in the Online MSW program may complete one Practicum (either Foundation or Advanced/Clinical) at their place of employment. Students will not be permitted to complete both their Foundation and Advanced/Clinical Practicum with their employment agency.

Students can receive payment or a stipend from an agency or its representative for their designated weekly practicum hours while completing a university-based field placement, provided they have not previously been employed by the agency. A paid placement differs from an Employment-Based placement in that the student is not currently employed by the agency or has not previously been employed by the agency. 

It is important to note that at no time should students completing a paid placement be held to a productivity standard. Additionally, all practicum expectations and requirements must still be met for paid placements. 

Students can complete their Practicum hours during evenings and weekends, provided all practicum requirements can still be met within these time frames. It is important to note that many agencies are unable to accommodate evening and weekend hours. Students should understand that the more restrictive their schedule, the more difficult it may be to locate an agency. 

One day a week program — Wednesday for the Foundation program, and Wednesday OR Thursday for the Advanced program.