The Mandel School Experience, Delivered Online

The online Master of Social Work (MSW) program from the No. 12-ranked Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University stands apart from other online, full-time social work programs.¹ Online since 2013, our program is established and boasts an intuitive digital campus, thought-provoking coursework and robust resources that will help you become the social work leader the future needs.

With an emphasis on educating social work leaders, our social work program made history as the country’s first university-based, graduate professional program in social work—more than 100 years ago. We have intentionally designed our online curriculum to support and empower students who have responsibilities outside of school.

The CSWE-accredited online MSW program continues our social work legacy—and furthers our commitment to making a high-quality social work education more accessible.

Our online master’s program and the technology that supports it were thoughtfully designed to bring students together to gain valuable social work experience. We created a curriculum that aligns with pedagogical best practices for online education, and researched the most effective ways to teach and learn online. Our digital campus accommodates many types of learners and fosters community among online students and faculty—bringing the Mandel School to you, no matter where you live, work or travel.

An Online Classroom that Fosters Collaboration

Creating a community of scholars and change leaders, even when we’re apart.

• Face-to-Face Connection: Take live, online classes—with no more than 15 students—where you’ll engage with professionally and culturally diverse classmates and faculty.
• Access to Leaders in the Field: Learn from the same dedicated professors who teach in our on-campus program—experienced and distinguished educators who enjoy engaging with students.
• Collaborative Interface: Live chat and presentation features allow you to ask questions, share insights and get feedback in real time.

State-of-the-Art Digital Campus

Everything you need to study, at your fingertips.

• Engaging, Specialized Coursework: Interactive modules, video lectures and other educational tools complement your in-class learning. Deepen your expertise with our three paths of study: Children, Youth and Families; Mental Health with Adults; and Community Practice for Social Change.
• Personalized Study Tools: Create your ideal learning environment with video playback, captioning, focus mode, searchable course transcripts, live streaming and more.
• Mobile App: Access to everything you need as a student is just a click away on our app. You can attend class, complete coursework and perform other tasks, from any device.
• Offline Mode: Download videos and assignments to complete from anywhere on the mobile app, and sync to update your progress next time you’re connected to the web.

Robust Student Resources

Support, academic tools and more, designed with your success in mind.

• Support Specialists: Our dedicated team is with you at every step. You’ll have 24/7 access to tech support and can reach out to academic advisors, field placement specialists and more for guidance.
• Placement Team: A specialist will help you secure a field education site in or near your community, and our placement portal will help you stay organized and on track as you arrange interviews and log hours.
• The Harris Library: Case Western Reserve University is home to the oldest social work library in the country. Our librarians are available virtually to help you navigate and access nearly 45,000 volumes of literature and scholarship.

“I enjoyed the online class structure that allowed me to have some form of independence. I enjoyed being able to interact with students from around the country and share their experiences.”

—Lisa Muhammad (’18)

Our commitment to social change is the driving force behind all that we do at the Mandel School. CWRU’s online Master of Social Work program offers the flexibility, tools and connections that make it possible for students everywhere to become part of our mission and experience our distinctive, vibrant community.

Earn your master’s in social work online from the No. 12-ranked Mandel School without putting your life on hold.¹

¹ U.S. News and World Report, Case Western Reserve University’s Graduate School Rankings, ranked in September 2024