Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the online MSW (now in its 10th year) offers the same rigorous degree in social work as our world-class on-campus master of social work degree program and the intensive weekend master of social work degree program. Coursework is all online, with no campus visits required.
You can choose from two online program tracks based on your educational background.
View course descriptions for both tracks.
Students also have the option to pursue a Certificate in Trauma-Informed Practice to further specialize their masters-level studies.
Designed for students on the traditional track, CWRU’s Change Agent Intensive (CHAI) seminar introduces what it means to be an effective change agent. During the first two weeks of the program, CHAI students and faculty come together to examine the values, perspectives and self-awareness required of social workers to address today’s most challenging social justice issues.
At CWRU we are committed to social equity. As an extension of CWRU’s university-wide initiative, Diversity 360, CHAI presents students with opportunities to reflect upon the role of privilege, oppression and discrimination in their own lives and the lives of others. Exposure to diverse worldviews, perspectives and individuals enables students to approach the field of social work with cultural humility, empathy and effective strategies to address social, educational, health and other types of disparities.
Within CHAI’s unique and interactive framework, students will be challenged to engage, understand and discuss real cultural obstacles in the context of current events. Consequently, students are better prepared to address key issues in the field of social work, such as structural racism, systemic inequality and educational disparities.
Elevate your career and impact lives with a Master of Social Work degree.
You will start leading change long before you complete your master’s in social work program.
The field education experience for the online social work program enables you to immediately apply what you learn in the online classroom to the field, connecting theory with real-life social work. We partner with more than 1,000 placement sites so you’ll be able to complete your field experience near your community. You may even be eligible to complete the required fieldwork at your current place of employment.
At the Mandel School, we prepare and empower students to confidently enact change at every level. We offer three paths of study for you to pursue: Children, Youth and Families; Mental Health with Adults; and Community Practice for Social Change.
Help someone transform their life. Provide a broad range of services to families and individuals of all ages. Courses explore themes such as autism, adoption, child abuse, childhood trauma, mental health transitions to adulthood and LGBTQA youth.
Support psychological growth and personal change. Clinical social workers and therapists address violence, trauma, suicide and co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Prepare for community-based mental health practice across a variety of professional settings, such as hospitals, substance abuse treatment programs and mental health centers.
Help communities foster change. For those who want to make systemic improvements across society to create a more just world, this specialization will help you develop an understanding of the broad social challenges facing communities—and how you can work alongside community members to change them. Those challenges include cultural diversity, globalization, human rights, inequality, oppression, poverty and women’s issues
“I am a macro social worker focused on environmental, food and health equity. My brand of social work isn’t traditional, but I believe this field uniquely prepared me to be an important part of the collaborative solution. From fieldwork to class projects, I got to shape what I learned to fit the change I want to be in this world.”
—Emily Jennings (’16) Portland, Oregon
Become a social work leader with a Master of Social Work from the Mandel School.
Our innovative social work curriculum is led by some of the leading researchers, trainers and practitioners in the field. Because we value your commitment to social justice and your lived experiences, we offer you three flexible program formats to achieve your professional goals. Our admissions standards are the same across all our MSW formats: online, on-campus and through our intensive weekend option.
To support your professional and personal lifestyle, we offer three cohort start dates: January, April and August.
We value inclusive perspectives, and believe that diversity enriches our community of learners. For more information about applying to our online MSW program, visit our admissions page.
When the Mandel School was first chartered in 1915, social work was not yet considered a profession. Much has changed over the last 100 years, but our mission remains the same: a steadfast commitment to advancing leadership in social work and nonprofit education to help change lives and communities.
At the Mandel School, we prepare social work leaders to:
Our world-class faculty members are leading researchers, trainers and practitioners that are shaping public policy, informing social change and transforming lives. We emphasize interdisciplinary and interprofessional education, which equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills to support change on the individual, family community and policy levels.
As an online MSW student, you’ll have access to the Lillian & Milford Harris Library, the oldest social work library in the country and one of only a handful dedicated to social work literature and scholarship. Our dedicated librarians are available online and in person to help you navigate the library’s nearly 45,000 volumes.
Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Online Social Work at CWRU fulfills the requirements for social work licensure through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
The Online Master of Social Work at Case Western Reserve University’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences has been fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation since 1919, the first year graduate social work education was available. In addition, Online Social Work at CWRU fulfills the requirements for social work licensure through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).
Upon completion of the Master of Social Work online at CWRU, you will have fulfilled the requirements needed toward obtaining advanced social work licensure.
9% Growth
The number of social work jobs is expected to grow 9% between 2021 and 2031.1
8,300+ Alumni
Our alumni are making a lasting impact across industries, from schools and hospitals to financial companies and professional sports teams.
50 States, 41 Countries
You can network with alumni located across the U.S. and around the world to make a difference in a range of communities.
Over the past 100 years, CWRU’s work has proven one thing: We’re up for the challenge of building a more just world. And we’re looking for change leaders like you to help us imagine and influence the future. Request more information about our online master’s in social work program.
1 Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of September 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2023.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
