Online Masters in Social Work No GRE Required

Social workers get a bad rap in the media. They’re often painted as sadistic baby snatchers or uncaring bureaucrats. In reality, social workers do a lot more than what you hear on true-crime podcasts. Individuals who choose social work tend to be caring, empathetic individuals willing to spend their careers supporting others and fighting for societal change.

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What Is an Online Master’s in Social Work (NO GRE Required)?

Graduate degrees in social work equip students to practice social work at a professional level. While there are undergraduate degrees in social work, most higher-level social work jobs require a master’s degree.

The National Association of Social Workers defines social work as “The professional activity of helping individuals, families, groups or communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning or creating societal conditions favorable to that goal” (NASW, 1973). Social workers work with different populations across all sectors of society. They might function at the micro level, working with individuals one-on-one, or the mezzo level, leading community organization efforts. Some social workers work at the macro level, where they advocate for changes in laws and systems to improve the quality of life for millions of individuals.

A Master’s in Social Work (MSW) opens the door to a staggering number of job opportunities. You can find social workers in almost every people-oriented field.

Hospitals employ social workers to diagnose and treat mental illness or support discharge planning.
Fire and police departments hire social workers to support victims of crimes or those navigating crises or tragedy.
School social workers help students overcome personal and learning barriers to learning and success.
Nonprofits employ social workers to implement their programs, such as homeless outreach or drug treatment.
The government hires social workers to investigate allegations of abuse against children, the elderly, and developmentally delayed people. They also manage their care and ensure they are treated well.

Social workers are also allowed to obtain a license to become mental health therapists. That means that they can go into practice for themselves, treating individuals and billing insurances. Upon graduation, MSW students who wish to be therapists must complete a certain number of supervised work hours and continuing education. They can then apply to sit for the Association of Social Work Board’s Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker Exam.

Except for teaching at a college level, there are very few jobs in social work that require anything higher than a Master’s degree. That means that almost any job in the field is available to you upon graduation.

Many (if not most) MSW programs do not require applicants to provide GRE test scores with their application. Instead, they will look at GPA, previous work experience, and personal statements for making admissions decisions.

How Much Does a Master’s in Social Work Cost?

As with most degree programs, your costs will depend heavily on the program you choose.

The cheapest options are available only to those who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW). These programs are referred to as Advanced Standing programs. For BSW graduates, acceptance to an Advanced Standing program means getting to skip a large portion of a regular program on their way to graduation. Some Advanced Standing programs allow you to graduate in as little as one year, saving a considerable amount in tuition costs.

If you don’t already have your BSW, you can expect to pay for two years of full-time tuition to get your MSW. In-state tuition for an in-person program might be affordable, depending on the state. For example, if you live in New Mexico, you can get your MSW from Western New Mexico University for around $20,000. However, if you live in California, it will cost you around $115,000 to get your MSW at the University of Southern California.

If you happen to live in a high-cost state, a great option is to check out online MSW programs. Online programs tend to be less expensive than on-campus options, running between $20,000 and $45,000.

Keep in mind that these estimates are for tuition only. Students will also be responsible for the cost of books, fees, and living expenses. They may also need to provide their own transportation to and from any internships.

Average Salary for a Master’s in Social Work

The salary for social workers depends heavily on the field they work in and their years of experience. Social workers who have their own private therapy practice tend to make more than those who work for state governments. Social workers who work in hospitals tend to make more than those who work in nursing homes. A social worker is generally paid more when the environment is intense and when they have to utilize more skills.

Salaries also differ depending on where you work—social workers make the most in states like Washington and California and the least in states like Mississippi and Florida. For example, a healthcare social worker in California earns a median salary of around $83,000 per year. Meanwhile, a social worker in the same role in Georgia will probably make between $35,000 and$50,000 per year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median social worker salary in 2020 was around $51,000. Payscale.com puts that figure slightly lower, at$49,000 per year. The median wage of healthcare social workers is around $57,000 per year, and it’s around $48,000 for mental health and substance abuse social workers. Child, family, and school social workers had a similar median salary of around $48,000 in 2020.

What Is the Job Outlook for Master’s in Social Work Holders?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average rate of growth for all occupations is around 4% for the next 10 years. That means that there will be 4% (or about 6 million) more jobs in 2029 than there were in 2019. Comparatively, the number of jobs in the social work field is projected to rise by 13% by 2029. That means that the demand for social workers will increase much faster than can be explained by usual economic and population growth.

Throughout the country, people seem to be considering how individuals become productive, healthy members of society, which will lead to more funding going to the field of social services. We are learning to value wellness and health in all aspects of personhood. Demand for social workers to support childhood development, treat mental illness, and assist individuals during a crisis will only grow.

Courses in Master’s in Social Work Programs

MSW programs must do more in two years than BSW programs do in four. If students don’t have a background in social work, they spend the first year “catching up” on the basic tenets that provide the foundation for social work practice. First-year courses may include:

Social Work Theory
Human Behavior & the Social Environment
Social Work Policy
Generalist Practice
Research Methods
Social Work Ethics

The second year builds on the first by introducing the skills needed to practice social work at a graduate level. Second-year courses may include:

Advanced Practice with Families
Advanced Practice with Individuals
Advanced Policy Practice with Organizations/Communities
Advanced Research
Advanced Clinical Practice

All MSW programs certified by the Council of Social Work Education require completing one or two internships to gain the skills needed to practice social work independently. Advanced Standing students completed the first internship during their BSW program. Regular program students must complete both internships during their graduate studies. These internships represent a significant number of hours and are often accompanied by classes in which students can debrief with faculty.

Scholarships for Master’s in Social Work Programs

Social work isn’t a lucrative career choice — social workers go into the field for philanthropic, not financial reasons. For this reason, many scholarships and financial aid programs exist to help social workers pay for their education.

Many states have programs whereby social workers can exchange years of service for student loan forgiveness. For example, at some schools in Washington State, MSW students can have their student loans forgiven by working in child welfare for as many years as they were in school. This program is called CWTAP.

Other scholarship opportunities for MSW students include:

Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship, administered by the National Association of Social Workers for MSW students with an affinity to working with Native American or Latino populations.
Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund, a need-based scholarship awarded to students who are actively working toward social change.
USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program is granted to students (MSW and otherwise) committed to international aid work.
Foundation for Child Development’s Young Scholar Program is open to MSW students who intend to pursue research that will support early childhood education professionally.
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation supports students who answer the call to public service.

Each individual university has its own scholarship funds and endowments. To find out if the program you’re interested in has scholarships, visit their website or contact their financial aid office. Completing a FAFSA application will reveal if you may be eligible for federal need-based grants or loans.

FAQs on Master’s in Social Work

What does an online master’s in counseling program curriculum typically include?

Students who earn an online master’s in counseling study mental health treatment, addiction treatment, legality and ethics of counseling, case conceptualization, and more.

What jobs require a Master’s in Social Work?

In 36 out of the 50 states, any job with the words “Social Worker” in the title requires a degree in social work. It’s called “title protection” and prevents anyone without the requisite education from calling themselves a social worker. To get around the education requirement, many organizations have begun using terms like “Social Services Specialist.”

Typical social work jobs include:

– Hospital social worker
– Child welfare social worker
– School social worker
– Mental illness social worker

While organizations hiring for these jobs may accept social work related fields such as psychology, social services, or counseling, they almost certainly will accept applicants with a social work degree.

Jobs that will usually permit (but not require) a social work degree include:

– Crime victim advocate
– Community organizer
– Elementary school counselor
– Mental health therapist
– Discharge planner

Does a Master’s in Social Work offer good job prospects?

In the next decade, demand for social workers is projected to rise 14%, which is more than three times faster than the average rate of growth for job demands. This demand is likely driven by our increased understanding of the psychosocial needs of humans, including childhood development and mental illness. Graduates with their Master’s in Social Work will find their skills in demand for many years to come.

Although social workers aren’t likely to become rich in their line of work, they can expect to make a living wage. In certain roles and states, they might be able to earn around $83,000 per year.

Most importantly, jobs in social work offer significant work helping others. If your measurement for a “good job” is how much you are able to impact others positively, social work is an incredibly good choice.

What are the different fields of Social Work?

All social workers are trained as generalists, meaning that they have the theories and knowledge foundation required to work in almost any field of social work. Most social workers, however, prefer to choose a certain population to work with and specialize. These specializations may include:

– Mentally ill individuals
– Children
– Developmentally delayed individuals
– Elderly
– Sick or injured people (hospital social work)
– Marginalized people (individuals with HIV/AIDs; homeless; individuals convicted of a crime)
– Individuals seeking therapy
– Families

How long does it take to get a Master’s in Social Work?

MSW programs take between one and three years to complete. If you are a BSW graduate admitted to a full-time Advanced Standing program, you can expect to spend one year to get your MSW. If you are in a regular MSW program, it will take you two years to complete. Some MSW programs are part-time and take three years.

What does a Master’s in Social Work program curriculum typically include?

To practice social work at a graduate level, students must understand both social work basics and advanced skills. Most programs are split into two stages, laying the foundation of theory basics before continuing on to advanced practice learning.

Stage one learning may include:

– Social Work Theory: Students studying social work are trained to think about the clients they help by studying various theories that can help them address issues in a creative and helpful manner.
– Human Behavior & the Social Environment: Similar to Social Work Theory, Human Behavior & the Social Environment focuses on why people act the way they do and how their environment influences their actions.
– Social Work Policy: Policy focuses on how organizational structures and governmental laws have impacted people, especially marginalized people. It also challenges students to think about how those laws and policies could change.
– Generalist Practice: Generalist Practice helps social work students understand how to create change in whatever setting they might work in.
– Research Methods: Graduate social work students should be able to understand whatever research they read and should be able to plan research themselves.
– Social Work Ethics: The National Association of Social Workers has a strict code of ethics for social workers. It includes rules and guidelines for everything from gifts to dual relationships with clients.

Stage two learning might include:

– Advanced Practice with Individuals: Building on the theoretical base laid in stage one, students need to learn practical methods for working with clients one-on-one. This may include learning about mental illness or stages of childhood development.
– Advanced Practice with Families: Social work primarily views people in terms of what surrounds them, and families are usually the first layer. The dynamics of families are complex, and making changes can be difficult, so social workers learn how to support positive change.
– Advanced Policy Practice with Organizations/Communities: Students learn about government and organizational systems and the best way to advocate for changes that will help the individuals inside those systems.
– Advanced Research: Most programs will require graduates to at least design, if not implement, a basic research project to study a social work-related question.
– Advanced Clinical Practice: Therapeutic methods will be studied, giving students an overview of what research-based methods will work best for which populations.

Summary Information

Standard and Advanced Standing options are available.
Online, on-site, or hybrid programs available.
Full-time and part-time program options.
Programs can take anywhere from 12 to 36 months.
MSW students can complete the degree program completely online.

Provides essential training for a career in social work.
Qualifies graduates to sit exams to become a licensed therapist.
It can be completed in as few as 12 months.
Many programs do not require GRE for admission.
Job demand is predicted to increase rapidly in the next 10 years.

Degree costs vary widely depending on the program.
At the low end, programs can cost as little as $14,000.
At the high end, programs may cost as much as $100,000.
Scholarships may be available.

University Name	Program’s Name	GRE Required?
Capella University	Master of Social Work	Not Required
Case Western Reserve University	Master of Social Work	Not Required
Columbia University	Master of Social Work	Not Required
Edinboro University	Master of Social Work	Not Required
Fordham University	Master of Social Work	Not Required
Simmons University	Master of Social Work	Not Required
Syracuse University	Master of Social Work	Not Required
Texas A&M University	Master of Social Work	Not Required
Texas State University – San Marcos	Master of Social Work	Not Required
The Catholic University of America	Master of Social Work	Not Required
Tulane University	Master of Social Work	Not Required
University of Denver External link	Master of Social Work	Not Required
University of Kentucky	Master of Social Work	Not Required
University of Louisville	Master of Social Work	Not Required
University of Nevada, Reno	Master of Social Work	Not Required
University of Southern California	Master of Social Work	Not Required
University of Tennessee at Knoxville	Master of Science – Social Work	Not Required
University of Texas – Arlington	Master of Social Work	Not Required
University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley	Master of Science – Social Work	Not Required
University of Utah	Master of Social Work	Not Required
Western Kentucky University	Master of Social Work	Not Required
Western New Mexico University	Master of Social Work	Not Required

Online Masters in Social Work No GRE Required Degree Programs