MSW - Master of Social Work Primarily Online

Program Overview

Since 1965, The University of Alabama School of Social Work has been preparing Master of Social Work students to make a difference in the lives of others. Thanks to this innovative, primarily online program, you can earn this premier MSW while maintaining your other commitments.

Primarily Online Program Format

42-60 Credit Hours

$480 Tuition Per Hour

All Work is Social Work

Join our community of alumni serving clients across our state, nation and world when you earn this degree. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, our primarily online MSW will equip you for a rewarding career in social work.

The MSW program includes online coursework, virtual skills labs and a practicum education placement. UA offers two options for earning your MSW: the Advanced-Standing Program and the Traditional Program. The MSW Program curriculum emphasizes Advanced Generalist Practice ensuring our graduates can concurrently address complex situations within and across multiple levels and systems. The Traditional MSW is open to all undergraduate degrees, while the Advanced-Standing Program is for those who hold a CSWE-accredited BSW degree.

Application Deadline	Advanced Standing Program Deadline is February 1 for summer admission Traditional Program Deadline is April 1 for fall admission
Application Priority Deadline	Advanced Standing Priority Deadline: November 1; Traditional Prioirty Deadline: December 1
Accreditation	Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Orientation Required	Yes
Practicum and Skills Lab	Yes
Scholarships and Grants Available	Discover a range of scholarships and grants to support your educational journey

Curriculum

The MSW Program at The University of Alabama offers an innovative and engaging curriculum designed to equip our graduates with advanced knowledge and skills to address the complex social issues of the state, nation and the world. Our Advanced Generalist Practice approach ensures that students can address issues at all levels of social work practice helping individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

Please note that courses are subject to change.

Advanced Standing Program

The Advanced-Standing Program is a 42-credit-hour program for only those who hold a CSWE-accredited BSW. It can be completed in three semesters when pursued full-time. One cohort of Advanced-Standing students begins every year in late May for the summer term. Applications are due by February 1, with a priority deadline of November 1 for consideration for SSW scholarships. Advanced-Standing students will complete 500 hours of in-person practicum education with online coursework and skills labs. Courses with an asterisk (*) indicate a skills lab.

Summer Semester (12 hours)

SW 502 Foundations of Social Welfare Policy
SW 512 Advanced Generalist Practice I: Components of Social Work Practice*
SW 571 Social Work Research
SW 576 Diversity, Oppression and Anti-Racism

Fall Semester (15 hours)

SW 530 Advanced Generalist Practice II: Psychopathology & Differential Diagnosis*
SW 531 Advanced Generalist Practice III: Mental Health Intervention Across the Lifespan*
SW 584 Social Work Leadership and Management
SW Elective Cluster Area
SW Elective Cluster Area

Spring Semester (15 hours)

SW 580 Advanced Policy Analysis
SW 582 Practicum
SW 583 Seminar
SW Elective Cluster Area

Traditional Program

Traditional MSW

The Traditional Program is for those who do not currently hold a CSWE-accredited BSW. It can be completed in two years when pursued full-time. One cohort of Traditional students begins every year in August for the fall term. Applications are due by April 1, with a priority deadline of December 1 for consideration for SSW scholarships. Traditional MSW students will complete 1,000 hours of in-person practicum education with online coursework and skills labs. Courses with an asterisk (*) indicate a skills lab.

Fall Semester (15 hours)

SW 503 Human Behavior in the Social Environment
SW 504 Social Work Practice with Groups*
SW 505 Social Work Practice with Individuals & Families*
SW 576 Diversity, Oppression and Anti-Racism
SW 538 Seminar
SW 592 Practicum

Spring Semester (15 hours)

SW 502 Foundations of Social Welfare Policy
SW 543 Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations*
SW 571 Social Work Research
SW 539 Seminar
SW 593 Practicum

Fall Semester (15 hours)

SW 530 Advanced Generalist Practice II: Psychopathology & Differential Diagnosis*
SW 531 Advanced Generalist Practice III: Mental Health Interventions Across the Lifespan*
SW 584 Social Work Leadership and Management
SW 574 Seminar
SW 597 Practicum
SW Elective Cluster Area

Spring Semester (15 hours)

SW 580 Advanced Policy Analysis
SW 575 Seminar
SW 598 Practicum
SW Elective Cluster Area
SW Elective Cluster Area

Elective Clusters

Elective Cluster Areas

All MSW students receive training in Advanced Generalist Practice and will have the option to complete courses in one of three Elective Cluster areas.

Child Welfare Cluster Area

SW 508 Social Work Practice in Child Welfare
SW 509 Child & Adolescent Mental Health
SW 516 Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice

Clinical and Behavioral Health Cluster Area

SW 516 Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice
SW 544 Substance Use and Social Work Practice
SW 550 Innovations in Clinical and Behavioral Health

Policy and Advocacy Cluster Area

SW 519 Community-Based Policy Advocacy
SW 520 Legislative & Policy Advocacy
SW 521 Juvenile & Criminal Justice Policy: Implications for Social Work Practice

Dual Degree Programs

MSW/JD Dual Degree Program

The goal of the dual-degree MSW/JD program is to offer comprehensive preparation to individuals interested in becoming leaders in their communities, their state, or the nation, as well as leaders in promoting and enhancing social justice and individual well-being, through interventions, advocacy, organizational management, and public policy. Students will acquire knowledge of legal and social work strategies that can improve the lives of individuals and groups, by understanding forensic social work, the justice system, domestic violence, child protection, human rights, and more.

Students must be admitted to each program before they will be considered to be students in the joint program.

Admission requirements for the proposed dual-enrollment program are those currently established for both the MSW program and the JD program.

MSW/MPH Dual Degree Program

Social Work and Public Health are perfect partners. This program offers students interested in a career in social work and public health an alternative to the existing course of study for two separate programs. Graduates of the MSW/MPH Dual Degree program will have the skills needed to pursue leadership roles in community healthcare settings, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.

The MSW/MPH Dual Degree Program allows students the opportunity to earn two graduate degrees, a Master of Social Work (MSW) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) in two academic years, including two summers. All MSW students, including advanced standing, may apply for entrance into this program. If both degrees are earned sequentially, the completion period is three and one-half years and may permit some overlapping of transferred MSW/MPH credits.

Students who choose this dual degree plan must first secure admission to the School of Social Work, and then separately apply to the Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, The University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Public Health, for admission to the MPH Program.

The MSW/MPH Dual Degree Program is coordinated between the School of Social Work at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and the School of Public Health/Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, concentration in Maternal and Child Health Policy and Leadership at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Legendary Change Starts Here

Advanced Generalist Practice

This approach to social work practice is defined as the practitioner’s ability to simultaneously address complex situations within and across multiple levels and systems. This strength-based orientation incorporates core social work knowledge, skills, values and ethics preparing students to adequately assess and intervene at all levels of practice. Advanced generalist practice is differentiated from generalist practice in that it includes the complexity of the problem and context of service provision, has enhanced technical abilities and more refined direct and indirect skills. Through this new focus, paired with social justice and trauma-informed frameworks, our graduates will be able to competently engage in independent application of advanced social work knowledge, theories, skills, values and ethics into assessment and intervention at all system levels.

Elective Cluster Areas

Within our curriculum, students can can complete elective courses in the following cluster areas:

Child Welfare
Clinical Behavioral Health
Policy & Advocacy

Admission

Advanced-Standing Program

Students will be admitted to the program in the summer semester. Deadlines for submitting completed Graduate School applications are February 1 with a priority deadline of November 1.

In addition to satisfying all admission requirements of the School of Social Work, admission with advanced standing also requires a “B” average or better in social work courses, with no more than one “C” in professional social work courses and grades of “B” or better in field education courses. Students must hold a bachelor of social work degree from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Advanced-Standing Conditional Admits

Students who completed a BSW more than ten years before their anticipated start to the MSW Advanced Standing program may be considered for Conditional Admittance. In addition to the standard admissions requirements (Statement of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation, Resume and Transcripts), these students must also:

Submit a Professional Statement: A 1–2 page, double-spaced statement (Times New Roman, 12-point font) that provides a summary of your professional experience in social work or related fields since completing your previous degree that includes:
- An overview of your work experience in social work, human services, or related settings.
- Any professional development or continuing education you have pursued, such as licensures, certifications, workshops, trainings, or conferences related to the social work profession.
- Any trainings, workshops, and/or presentations that you have facilitated related to the social work profession.
Submit a Technology Statement: A 1–2 page, double-spaced statement (Times New Roman, 12-point font) describing your experience using technology since completing your most recent academic degree that includes:
- Experience with online learning platforms (e.g., Blackboard, Canvas, etc.) or virtual training sessions.
- Familiarity with videoconferencing tools (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet) for meetings, supervision, or service delivery.
- Use of productivity tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Google Workspace.
- Experience with any technology used in social work practice, such as electronic health records (EHR), case management systems, or telehealth platforms.
- A brief reflection on your comfort level with learning and using new technologies, and how you plan to stay engaged in a technology-supported learning environment.

Students with a BSW and a GPA ranging from 2.5 to 2.99 (on a 4.0 scale) or those who don’t meet the specific social work course grade requirements noted above may be considered for Conditional Admittance for the MSW Advanced-Standing Program. In addition to the standard admissions requirements noted (Statement of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation, Resume, and Transcripts), these students must also:

Submit an Academic Success Plan: A 1–2 page, double-spaced statement (Times New Roman, 12-point font) describing your plan to achieve academic success in graduate school. Your statement should include:
- Reflection on past academic challenges: Briefly explain any factors that may have contributed to your lower GPA.
- Lessons learned and changes made: Describe what you’ve learned from those experiences and how you have grown since that time, including personally, academically, and professionally.
- Plan for graduate-level success: Outline strategies you will use to succeed in a rigorous academic environment.

Note: If an Advanced-Standing applicant does not successfully meet the above requirements for Regular or Conditional Admittance, they may be considered for the Traditional MSW Program.

Traditional Program

Students must satisfy all admission requirements. Admission applications should be completed by April 1 for fall enrollment with a priority deadline of December 1.

Find more information and learn about restrictions related to this degree program that may exist regarding licensure in the state in which you reside.