Curriculum
Explore your Master of Social Work curriculum
Coursework in Ohio University’s online Master of Social Work can prepare you to better support people in underserved communities, helping them overcome challenges including addiction, poverty, abuse, trauma, and injustice.
Our MSW Online Social Work program is considered part-time, allowing students to complete a Field Practicum of 10 hours a week while taking one additional practice course each semester.
The program offers two entry points — the one that’s best for you will depend on your educational background and experience prior to enrollment.
Advanced Standing Curriculum
Current Bachelor of Social Work holders may be eligible for our online Master of Social Work Advanced Standing program. This 10-course, 36-credit-hour track can be completed in as few as two years (six semesters). It offers an accelerated pathway where students learn how social workers function at multiple levels and roles, diagnose, assess, and offer treatment for mental illnesses and addictions, and utilize different methods of practice to effectively communicate with a diverse client base.
Those entering the program as Advanced Standing will complete only the Clinical Field Practicum.
| Semester | Courses | Total Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | SW5101 Rural Orientation (3 Credit Hours) SW5702 HBSE 2 (3 Credit Hours) | 6 |
| Semester 2 | SW6101 Rural Soc. Agency (3 Credit Hours) SW6810 SW Assessment (3 Credit Hours) | 6 |
| Semester 3 | SW6812 Direct Prac. w/AFC (3 Credit Hours) SW6921 Advanced Field 1 (3 Credit Hours) | 6 |
| Semester 4 | SW6811 Direct Prac. w/CAG (3 Credit Hours) SW6921 Advanced Field 1 (3 Credit Hours) | 6 |
| Semester 5 | SW6941 Research 1 (3 Credit Hours) SW6922 Advanced Field 2 (3 Credit Hours) | 6 |
| Semester 6 | SW6942 Research 2 (3 Credit Hours) SW6922 Advanced Field 2 (3 Credit Hours) | 6 |
| Semester | Course Number | Time Commitment | Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | SW 6921a | 10 hours/week | 140 total hours |
| Semester 2 | SW 6921b | 10 hours/week | 140 total hours |
| Semester 3 | SW 6922a | 10 hours/week | 140 total hours |
| Semester 4 | SW 6922b | 10 hours/week | 140 total hours |
Total Advanced Hours = 560
This is a Clinical placement, the focus should be on clinical activities including diagnostic assessment, containing mental health factors, addiction factors, and trauma history, using the DSM, therapeutic intervention of mental and emotional disorders, and other clinical practice activities.
Foundation Plan Curriculum
Our online Master of Social Work Foundation Plan is intended for those looking to refocus or pivot their careers. This 17-course, 62-credit track is open to all eligible students with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and can be completed in as few as 10 semesters (40 months). It uses a strengths-based problem-solving approach, helping students learn to support individuals, families, and communities in overcoming adversity, understand how populations are affected by social needs and policy, and facilitate outreach to those facing accessibility needs and other adverse circumstances.
Students entering the program without a bachelor's degree in Social Work, or those receiving their BSW more than five years ago, will complete two Field Practicum experiences, Foundation and Clinical.
| Semester | Courses | Total Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | SW5101 Rural Orientation (3) SW5601 Social Policy 1 (3) | 6 |
| Semester 2 | SW5701 HBSE 1 (3) SW5602 Social Policy 2 (3) | 6 |
| Semester 3 | SW5702 HBSE 2 (3) SW6101 Rural Soc. Agency (3) | 6 |
| Semester 4 | SW5801 Foundation Practice 1 (4) SW5921 Foundation Field 1 (4) | 8 |
| Semester 5 | SW5802 Foundation Practice 2 (3) SW5922 Foundation Field 2 (3) | 6 |
| Semester 6 | SW6810 SW Assessment (3) SW5922 Foundation Field 2 (3) | 6 |
| Semester 7 | SW6812 Direct Prac. w/AFC (3) SW6921 Advanced Field 1 (3) | 6 |
| Semester 8 | SW6811 Direct Prac. w/CAG (3) SW6921 Advanced Field 1 (3) | 6 |
| Semester 9 | SW6941 Research 1 (3) SW6922 Advanced Field 2 (3) | 6 |
| Semester 10 | SW6942 Research 2 (3) SW6922 Advanced Field 2 (3) | 6 |
| Semester | Course Number | Time Commitment | Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | SW 5921 | 10 hrs a week | 112 total hours |
| Semester 2 | SW 5922a | 10 hrs a week | 140 total hours |
| Semester 3 | SW 5922b | 10 hrs a week | 140 total hours |
Total Foundation Hours = 952
This is an Advanced Generalist Placement, the focus should be on Generalist Practice: Case Management, Group Work, Home Visits, Assisting with Community Events, and other Advanced Generalist activities.
Online Field Practicums
OHIO's Online Master of Social Work program is a clinical MSW program focused on preparing students in advanced clinical practice while also providing them with skills transferrable across all practice levels. Students in their Advanced Clinical Field Practicum will engage in activities involving diagnostic assessment, including mental health factors, addiction factors, and trauma history, while utilizing the most current DSM criteria, engage in therapeutic intervention of mental and emotional disorders, clinical documentation, and other clinical practice activities.
Our online MSW program has established relationships with over 500 agencies nationwide. Students attending the online MSW program will work with the Department of Social Work online field faculty to identify appropriate field placement settings in their geographic area.
Students may be eligible to utilize their current employment and employee roles as field practicum hours when tasks and roles can be directly linked to the nine CSWE 2022 Social Work Competencies, behaviors, and levels of practice. Employment-Based Placements are not guaranteed. Students will submit an Employment-Based Field Application for review to determine if the agency and employment meet the criteria for the student’s current practicum level.