Winthrop University - Online Master of Social Work (MSW) Program (Traditional and Advanced Standing Tracks)

The College of Arts and Sciences at Winthrop University offers an online Master of Social Work (MSW) program with Traditional and Advanced Standing pathways. The MSW degree focuses on empowerment practice, which assesses how vulnerable groups in society are affected by personal, structural, and societal power systems. Topics covered may include human behavior and biopsychosocial development, social welfare policy, building relationships, assessments and creating change plans, interviewing strategies, empathetic communication skills, and social work research.

Graduates will be eligible to take master’s-level social work licensure exams.

The Traditional MSW program consists of 60 credits and can be completed part-time in three years. Students also complete internships, fulfilling 930 hours of field practice. The Advanced Standing program comprises 39 credits and can be completed in two years part-time. Students complete internships totaling 720 hours of field practicum.

The programs begin in fall or spring and courses are 100% online with no campus visits required. Students receive field placement assistance, and may be able to fulfill field hours at their current place of employment.

Online courses are delivered asynchronously through the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS). While assignments and assessments have specific due dates, students have the flexibility to determine when to log in and complete their work.

Learning formats include video lectures as well as online discussion boards, chat, and student groups. Students have access to faculty support, student services, career counseling, technical support, and enrollment assistance.

The Traditional MSW program includes courses such as Human Behavior in the Social Environment; Social Welfare Policy I-II; Generalist Social Work Practice I-III; Empowerment Practice Concepts; Interpersonal Helping Skills; Advanced Practice: Micro Systems; Advanced Practice: Macro Systems; Social Work Research; Advanced Social Work Research; and Psychopathology and Empowerment Practice. Students also complete the Advanced Practice Capstone.

The Advanced Standing MSW program includes courses such as Social Work Foundation Review; Social Welfare Policy II; Empowerment Practice Concepts; Psychopathology Empowerment Practice; Advanced Social Work Research; Advanced Practice: Micro Systems; Advanced Practice: Macro Systems; Leadership and Empowerment Practice; and Advanced Practice: Capstone.

Winthrop University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). The MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).