Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
Earn your online Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Kansas. KU's CSWE-accredited program prepares working professionals for advanced social work practice through flexible online coursework, supervised field education and full-time or part-time study option
Earn Your Online MSW at KU
The University of Kansas offers an online Master of Social Work (MSW) that combines the flexibility working professionals need with the academic quality of a leading public research university. Through online coursework, supervised field education and instruction from faculty in KU's School of Social Welfare, students prepare for advanced social work practice in a variety of professional settings.
The program is offered through the KU School of Social Welfare, the oldest school of social welfare in Kansas. Its curriculum is grounded in KU's Strengths Perspective, an approach developed at the University of Kansas that emphasizes the strengths and potential of individuals, families and communities. As one of only 38 public universities in the Association of American Universities (AAU), KU is recognized for excellence in research and graduate education.
Students can choose Traditional or Advanced Standing pathways, with full-time and part-time study options available. The program combines the convenience of online learning with field education completed in your community, allowing you to build professional experience while earning your degree.
Program at a glance
The KU online MSW in six facts
Cost, length, format, and accreditation — the four things applicants check first, before anything else on this page.
Tuition is quoted at the current published rate and fees are additional. Totals are calculated from published credit requirements and cover tuition only — course fees, campus fees, books, and living costs are not included. Confirm current figures with KU Financial Aid & Scholarships.
Quick answers
The four questions applicants ask first
Short answers to the questions that otherwise send people back to search. The full set of ten sits further down this page.
Online MSW tuition is a flat $695 per credit hour for every student regardless of residency. At that rate the 38-credit Advanced Standing pathway is about $26,410 in tuition and the 64-credit Traditional pathway is about $44,480. Course and campus fees are additional — see KU Financial Aid & Scholarships.
The Advanced Standing pathway takes one year full-time or two years part-time and requires 38 credit hours. The Traditional pathway takes two years full-time or three to four years part-time and requires 64 credit hours. Your undergraduate degree determines which pathway you enter.
Coursework is online, combined with live online class sessions held every other week. Field education is the exception: practicum hours must be completed in person at an approved social service agency, arranged near where you live whenever possible.
Advanced Standing is for applicants who already hold a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program; it recognizes that foundation coursework and shortens the degree to 38 credit hours. Traditional is for applicants whose bachelor's degree is in any other field and requires 64 credit hours.
Six more answers — practicum hours, placements, working while enrolled, accreditation, licensure, and deadlines — are in the full FAQ further down this page.
Career outcomes
What Can You Do with a Master of Social Work (MSW)?
An MSW qualifies you for advanced practice and clinical licensure across mental health, health care, schools, child welfare, and community leadership — roles a bachelor's degree alone will not open.
A Master of Social Work (MSW) is the graduate degree required for clinical social work licensure in every U.S. state. It combines coursework in human behavior, social policy, and ethical practice with supervised field education, and it qualifies graduates to sit for the clinical licensure examination that a Bachelor of Social Work does not.
Across the broader social work and human services occupation family, Lightcast reports 946,071 jobs nationwide, 98,085 annual openings, $58,400 median annual earnings, and 13.9% projected growth through 2035. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social Workers; and Lightcast via KU Public Affairs. Wages vary by license, setting, and metro area.
Where MSW graduates work
Four practice settings account for most MSW careers. Each pairs a different licensure path and daily caseload with the same accredited degree.
Clinical and mental health practice
Clinical social workers diagnose and treat mental health, behavioral, and substance use conditions. The MSW plus supervised post-graduate hours is the standard route to the LCSW credential, which permits independent practice and insurance billing. KU's clinical concentration prepares students for this path.
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)Independent therapy practice
- Mental Health TherapistCommunity mental health centers
- Substance Use CounselorTreatment and recovery programs
- Behavioral Health Care ManagerIntegrated primary care teams
Health care and hospital settings
Health care social workers help patients and families navigate diagnosis, discharge planning, insurance, and long-term care. Hospital systems, hospice organizations, dialysis centers, and veterans' health facilities all staff MSW-level positions, and hospital-based roles carry some of the profession's highest median wages.
- Medical Social WorkerHospitals and health systems
- Hospice and Palliative Care Social WorkerEnd-of-life and family support
- Discharge Planning CoordinatorTransition and readmission prevention
- Veterans Health Social WorkerVA medical centers and clinics
Schools, children, and families
School social workers connect students to mental health services, address attendance and behavior barriers, and coordinate with families and teachers. Child welfare roles cover investigation, foster care, adoption, and family preservation. Many states require an MSW for school social work certification.
- School Social WorkerK–12 districts and special education
- Child, Family, and School Social WorkerState and county agencies
- Foster Care and Adoption SpecialistPublic and private placement agencies
- Family Preservation CaseworkerPrevention and reunification services
Macro practice, policy, and leadership
Macro social work operates on systems rather than individual caseloads: program design, agency administration, grant management, policy analysis, and community organizing. KU's macro concentration is a distinct 32-credit-hour curriculum built for leadership and administration in social service organizations.
- Social and Community Service ManagerNonprofit and agency leadership
- Program DirectorBehavioral health and human services
- Policy AnalystState agencies and advocacy organizations
- Community OrganizerCoalition and grassroots initiatives
Skills employers hire for
Job postings for MSW-level roles consistently ask for the same practice competencies, all of which map to required coursework and practicum performance.
- Mental and behavioral health assessment
- Treatment planning
- Crisis intervention
- Case management
- Advocacy and ethical practice
- Trauma-informed care
- Interdisciplinary coordination
- Documentation and clinical notes
Organizations that hire social workers
Health systems, government agencies, school districts, and nonprofits are the profession's largest employers. Organizations commonly hiring social workers include:
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- CVS Health
- Kaiser Permanente
- Optum
- State of Kansas
- Children's Mercy
- HCA Healthcare
Employer list source: Lightcast, via KU Public Affairs. Employer listings reflect national hiring activity and are not placement guarantees.
Program format
How the Online MSW Program Works
KU's online MSW is delivered through online coursework plus live class sessions every other week, with supervised field education completed in person at an approved agency near where you live. You choose a pathway based on your undergraduate degree, then set your own full-time or part-time pace.
Choose your pathway
A CSWE-accredited BSW puts you on the Advanced Standing track. Any other bachelor's degree puts you on the Traditional track.
Set your pace
Full-time or part-time, declared at application. Part-time extends the timeline without changing the degree or the credit requirement.
Take coursework online
Online coursework paired with live online class sessions every other week, taught by KU School of Social Welfare faculty.
Complete practicum locally
The Practicum Education Office arranges placements with your input and works to secure sites close to your home.
Compare the two pathways
The pathways differ in length, credit hours, practicum requirement, and total tuition. Everything else — faculty, curriculum standards, accreditation, and the degree conferred — is identical.
Credit hours
38 total24 classroom + 14 practicum
Time to complete
1 year full-time2 years part-time
Practicum
512 hoursTwo consecutive semesters, 16 hours per week
Start term
SummerAll Advanced Standing students begin in summer
Preferred GPA
3.0 or above in the BSW
Tuition estimate
$26,41038 credit hours at the $695 flat rate. Tuition only; course and campus fees not included.
Credit hours
64 total36 classroom + 28 practicum
Time to complete
2 years full-time3 to 4 years part-time
Practicum
928 hours416-hour foundation placement, then a 512-hour advanced placement
Start term
Summer or fall
Preferred GPA
3.0 or above
Tuition estimate
$44,48064 credit hours at the $695 flat rate. Tuition only; course and campus fees not included.
Tuition is charged at a flat $695 per credit hour for all online MSW students regardless of residency. Totals above are calculated from published credit requirements and do not include course fees, campus fees, books, or living costs. Confirm current figures with KU Financial Aid & Scholarships before making a decision.
Field education, explained
Practicum is the supervised, in-person portion of the degree and the one requirement online study does not remove. Placements happen at approved agencies in your own community, arranged by KU's Practicum Education Office with your input. Students already employed by a social service agency may be able to count eligible employment hours toward the requirement.
Learn more about this online program
Get more info on admission, deadlines, tuition and financial aid, career paths, and more when you fill out the form below. We’ll be in touch to answer any questions and help you get started.
Why Choose KU for Your Online MSW?
The University of Kansas has been preparing social workers for more than 80 years. The School of Social Welfare has maintained continuous accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 1947, reflecting a long history of preparing graduates for professional social work practice.
As Kansas' flagship university, KU is one of only 38 public universities in the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization of the nation's leading public research universities. That distinction reflects KU's commitment to research, scholarship, and academic excellence while giving students access to the resources and opportunities of a nationally recognized public university.
KU's online Master of Social Work (MSW) is designed for working professionals who need flexibility without sacrificing quality. Choose from Traditional and Advanced Standing pathways, available in full-time and part-time formats, while completing field education in your community. You'll learn from faculty with experience in research, policy, and professional practice while developing the knowledge and skills needed for advanced social work careers.
Before you apply
FAQ: Online Master of Social Work
The questions applicants ask most — including the three that otherwise send people back to Google: what it costs in total, how long it really takes, and how practicum works when the coursework is online.
The Advanced Standing pathway takes one year full-time or two years part-time and requires 38 credit hours. The Traditional pathway takes two years full-time or three to four years part-time and requires 64 credit hours. Your undergraduate degree determines which pathway you enter.
Online MSW tuition is a flat $695 per credit hour for every student regardless of residency. At that rate the 38-credit Advanced Standing pathway is about $26,410 in tuition and the 64-credit Traditional pathway is about $44,480. Course and campus fees are additional — see KU Financial Aid & Scholarships.
Advanced Standing is for applicants who already hold a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program; it recognizes that foundation coursework and shortens the degree to 38 credit hours. Traditional is for applicants whose bachelor's degree is in any other field and requires 64 credit hours.
Coursework is online, combined with live online class sessions held every other week. Field education is the exception: practicum hours must be completed in person at an approved social service agency, arranged near where you live whenever possible.
Advanced Standing students complete 512 practicum hours across two consecutive semesters at 16 hours per week. Traditional students complete two placements totaling 928 hours: a 416-hour foundation placement followed by a 512-hour advanced placement. Placements typically run from August through April.
KU's Practicum Education Office arranges every placement with your input and works to secure a site close to your home. Students already employed by a social service agency may be able to count eligible employment hours toward the practicum requirement.
Yes. Both pathways offer part-time study built for working professionals, and coursework is delivered online around a working schedule. Plan realistically for practicum, which requires roughly 16 hours per week on site during placement semesters in addition to your coursework load.
Yes. The University of Kansas Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education(opens in a new tab) and has held continuous accreditation since 1947. Graduates earn the same accredited degree whether they study online or on campus.
A CSWE-accredited MSW satisfies the graduate degree requirement for clinical licensure in every state. Licensure also requires supervised post-graduate hours and a passing examination score, and the specific requirements are set by the board in the state where you intend to practice. See KU state authorization.
For the 2026 cycle, Advanced Standing applicants and Traditional full-time applicants applied by February 3, and Traditional part-time applicants by April 1. The application opens October 1 each year. Confirm current dates at socwel.ku.edu/msw-apply.