Master of Social Work (MSW)

Build essential skills grounded in practical training through our CSWE-accredited online MSW program.

Start date

5/26/2025: Course-Based

Believe & Achieve Scholarship®

Walden rewards your progress with special tuition savings – request info to learn more. 

CSWE Accredited

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Walden is the No. one granter of MSW degrees in the U.S.

You feel called to make a bigger impact for your community. Walden’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program can empower you to shape a better, more equitable world. Our program combines a purposeful curriculum with immersive learning experiences to help you become the confident and highly capable social work practitioner you know you can be.

Build Practical Skills

Practice what you learn in a safe, supportive environment through authentic online simulations and Skills Labs.

Student-centered Learning

Build your empathy and broaden your cultural and social perspectives within a diverse community of faculty and students.

Choose a Focus

Prepare to sit for your licensure exam with free tools, resources, and practice exams.

Multiple Learning Tracks

Choose from Traditional Track, Traditional Fast Track, and Advanced Standing degree completion options to align your goals with your schedule.

Walden University's Master of Social Work (MSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CSWE -BOA is responsible for developing standards that define competent preparation for professional social workers and ensuring that social work programs meet these standards.

Master of Social Work Focus Areas

Focus on the career and future you want.

Three Completion Options

Choose the track that is right for you.

Traditional Option

Walden gives you choices for earning your Master of Social Work online as well as 8 start dates throughout the year.

The best fit if you’re looking to balance your studies with work, family, and other responsibilities.

Advanced Standing

MSW students who already hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program and graduated with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

This option lets you skip foundational courses and start your MSW with advanced-level courses.

My long-term goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker, and without Walden’s CSWE accreditation, that would just be a dream.
Charlene McCleoud | Master of Social Work (MSW) Graduate

More about our MSW Program

Choose an online Master of Social Work program grounded in experiential learning.

1Walden's Believe & Achieve Scholarship® is available for new students starting on February 6, 2023, and later. For a full list of eligible programs and details on award amounts and eligibility visit www.waldenu.edu/financial-aid/grants-and-scholarships-details. Tuition-free coursework must be applied to the final courses in the program of enrollment prior to graduation.

2A 10% tuition reduction combined with Walden’s Believe & Achieve Scholarship® is available for new students who are service members, veterans of the U.S. armed forces, or employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who enroll in programs eligible for the Believe & Achieve Scholarship. For programs not eligible for the Walden’s Believe & Achieve Scholarship, the tuition reduction is 15% for the life of the program. This tuition reduction is also available if you are a spouse of a service member, veteran, or employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs. This tuition reduction cannot be retroactively applied. Tuition reductions are applicable to tuition only and do not apply toward books, materials, and other supplies or fees needed for a course. It may not be combined with other tuition reductions, unless specified in another offer.

Accreditation

Walden University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by CSWE-BOA indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the BOA has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.

Note on Licensure:

The Walden University Master of Social Work (MSW) program is designed to prepare graduates to practice as licensed social workers in many states. However, the requirements for licensure as a social worker vary greatly from state to state. Each state board that is responsible for regulating the practice of social work has its own academic requirements and issues its own license to practice as a social worker in that state. Additionally, students should be advised that the Walden MSW program is not designed or intended to prepare graduates for licensure as a school social worker; however, graduates might be eligible for licensure as a school social worker in their particular state of residence.

While Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide general information relating to the state-by-state educational requirements for social work licensure or certification, it remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to field education experiences, licensing or certification, authorization, or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of its coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure, certification, authorization, endorsement, or other state credential. Licensure eligibility determinations are ultimately determined by the appropriate state board that issues the credential to practice.

Prospective students enrolling in licensure-leading programs are advised that relocation to another state may impact the student’s ability to complete field experiences and/or to obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credential in another state. Prospective students are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate.

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