Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
30-60 Credits
2 Specializations
CSWE Accredited
GRE/MAT Not Required
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Earn Your Online MSW with Sacred Heart University
Social workers are an essential part of American health care. They strive to anticipate and respond to the critical issues facing individuals, families, communities, and society at large. Along with exerting a positive affect on quality of life, social workers aim to provide people with the tools they need to lead more fulfilling and meaningful lives. If this sounds like something you see for yourself, then earning a CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work from Sacred Heart University should be part of your plan. The advantages are clear – from enabling you to specialize and prepare for clinical work to the experience you can gain and the higher salary you can command.
- 7% projected job growth from 2023 to 2033, faster than the national average1
- Top 10% of social workers earned more than $94,910 in May 20232
- Average MSW salaries are 27% higher than BSW salaries3,4
Customize Your Degree
Along with the Advanced Standing Option – which enables you to earn your MSW by completing just 30 credits over 12–20* months – Sacred Heart offers two specializations for your MSW degree.
cswe-accredited; two tracks available
Learn to assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, chemical dependency, chronic illnesses, domestic conflicts, and work in clinical practice settings.
Foundation Track: 60 Credits; 2-3 Years
Study coursework in both generalist and specialized social work practice.
Advanced Standing Track: 30 Credits; 12-20* Months; BSW Degree Required
Deepen your social work skills and knowledge through coursework focused on specialized practice.
cswe-accredited; two tracks available
Explore social welfare, human behavior, social justice and research methods, and gain an understanding of how policy impacts social work. Graduate prepared to work in community settings.
Foundation Track: 60 Credits; 2-3 Years
Study coursework in both generalist and specialized social work practice.
Advanced Standing Track: 30 Credits; 12-20* Months; BSW Degree Required
Deepen your social work skills and knowledge through coursework focused on specialized practice.
You Belong with SHU!
Our mission to prepare students for lives of professional success and personal and spiritual growth excludes no one. And it’s because of that mission — and the spirited way we live it — that students of different faiths, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds have made SHU the launching pad for their dreams and ambitions.
Get StartedWhy Online Learning is Right for You
The advantages of online learning are obvious – you don’t have to pause your career or rearrange your life to earn the degree you need to take your career to the next level. Another key factor is fit – making sure a school feels right to you. Sacred Heart’s Center for Career & Professional Development will welcome you as if you had just walked through the door here in Fairfield. With an exclusive, online recruiting system of 10,000+ employers, one-on-one career counseling, resume workshops, and an active alumni network of more than 35,000, you can rest assured knowing that our campus reaches wherever you are.
How the Curriculum Boosts Your Skills
Our MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), demonstrating the curriculum, practicum education experience and faculty qualifications are at the forefront of the industry. Along with learning to harness the power of technology to advocate for vulnerable communities, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of human behavior, human diversity and social welfare policy. The practice-based courses focus on clinical assessments, research methods and more. You’ll also complete electives that dive deeper into the primary disciplines of social work, including mental health and addiction, children and families, loss and life transitions and anti-racist social work practice.
The curriculum is divided into four components.
Take Your MSW Anywhere
Be your own boss! Becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) means you can go into private practice and work with clients on your schedule. If you plan to pursue an alternate career path, then keep this in mind – many employers only hire candidates with a CSWE-accredited degree. Emerging fields in which the demand for social workers continues to increase include probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, substance abuse counselors, school/career counselors, and child and family social workers. Regardless of where you choose to direct your talents, Sacred Heart will be behind you with career coaching, resume workshops, and an extensive network of professional alumni.
Top Career Options for MSW Graduates5
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker ($68,034)
- Marriage and Family Therapist ($63,508)
- Social/Community Service Manager ($63,959)
- Social Service Program Director ($63,228)
- Hospice Social Worker ($61,127)
- Social Policy Advocate ($58,958)
- Mental Health Counselor ($52,578)
- Youth Counselor ($39,646)
Get Started Today!
Request Info*Students who enroll in the advanced standing MSW program in fall can complete the program in as few as 12 months. Students enrolling during the spring terms can complete the program in 15 months.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 August 29). Social Workers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 August 29). Social Workers: Pay. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov.
- Payscale (2025 December 24). Master of Social Work (MSW) Degree. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/.
- Payscale (2025 December 24). Average Social Worker (BSW) Salary. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/.
- Payscale (n.d.). Job Salaries. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/.