Social workers address – and help to minimize – society's greatest challenges. The following 30 Best Master's Degrees in Social Work address a wide range of social and economic issues and human needs. They prepare graduates to serve individuals in clinical settings; to address the needs of groups and communities, and even to promote social justice on a macro level. Many of the programs listed are highly customizable to students' individual goals and interests. Most are built on a foundational curriculum that builds generalist social work skills. Students then often move on to an advanced curriculum with multiple specializations and concentration options to choose from. These options may include areas such as aging populations, children and families, grief and trauma, mental health, and more. Each program also incorporates field education, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in their field.
Graduates of these Social Work programs leave prepared to become licensed social workers in the state of study. Social workers must be licensed in the state in which they practice. Social work master's degree holders can go on to work in a variety of settings, such as nonprofit agencies, direct clinical practices, and community leadership settings. According to the most recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2018 median salary for social workers was $49,470. The field is growing at a projected rate of 16 percent, which is much faster than average. This is due to an increased demand for health and social services and the complexity of contemporary social issues.
Explore these promoted online degree programs.
These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master's or PhD programs.
