Master of Social Work (MSW) - Program Overview

The urban setting of CSUN's graduate-level social work program supports its focus on urban community practice. Based in the heart of Los Angeles County’s San Fernando Valley, our program gives students the opportunity to work with vulnerable and at-risk populations and cultivates an appreciation of the planned-change process.

Unlike many social work programs, CSUN’s Master of Social Work expands students' career possibilities by offering a generalist approach. The curriculum also enables students to gain the skills and perspective to work at any level: individual/family (micro); group/community (mezzo); and societal/policy (macro).

Convenient online format

Designed in collaboration with the Department of Social Work in CSUN's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the program is offered fully online in two- and three-year formats. The two-year option is a full-time program with an intensive curriculum designed to help students complete their degrees and enter the field in as little time as possible. The three-year option, on the other hand, is an excellent choice for those who would prefer the same great curriculum at a less intensive pace.

In addition to completing regular online assignments, the MSW program typically meets weekly for live, online sessions one weeknight per week, in each class, between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Pacific Time, with a start time no later than 6:30 p.m. All classes (except practicum classes) are asynchronous, which means you can attend the live class or watch the recording later at a more convenient time. The specific day and time for live sessions will be announced no later than one month before the cohort launch. Rare exceptions may apply. Practicum classes meet weekly for one hour at a time determined by the instructor and 7-8 students depending on their schedule.

Delivers the best value in education

All courses are taught by distinguished CSUN faculty members who are experts in their fields. Delivered fully online, the program offers outstanding instructional quality together with personalized support, at a state-university price. In fact, CSUN’s online program can prepare students in less time, and can cost half as much, as a private university program.

CSUN's Master of Social Work offers other distinct advantages:

• Outstanding support - Students admitted to the program are guaranteed enrollment in all required courses. What’s more, the complete and on-going support of a designated Program Manager, from application to graduation, frees them to focus on their studies and their practicum placement requirements.
• A cohesive and supportive learning community – The cohort format of this program facilitates on-time completion of the degree through student interaction on weekly assignments, which also leads to the development of strong professional relationships.
• Well-designed, effective distance learning - As one of the first American universities to offer graduate degrees online, CSUN does not entrust its learning community to commercial providers. Rather, CSUN faculty and practitioners receive training and support to ensure instructional excellence. Students also benefit from the beginning-to-end support of the Tseng College's professional Distance Learning staff.

CSUN's MSW degree prepares students for careers as direct service providers, administrators, community advocates, counselors, policy makers, researchers, supervisors and service workers in a wide variety of settings, including community and government organizations, health care centers, schools, and more.

All CSUN academic programs are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This program is also fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Note: CSUN has not made any determination as to whether this program meets the educational requirements for licensure in any state outside of California.  Your state may have its own specific licensure requirements for social work practitioners. Please check with your state's licensing department for more information. You may find contact information for your state through the Association of Social Work Boards.

This program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

* Important Note to Applicants: Due to a large volume of interest, the MSW application system automatically closes once applications reach a pre-determined capacity. Based on volume in any given cycle, this cap could technically be reached at any time after applications open. For that reason, we encourage all applicants to apply as soon as possible. Applications that are pending or incomplete when applications close will be automatically removed from the system. Although University staff are happy to assist, please be advised that they cannot reopen or reinstate an unsubmitted application, and that there is no appeals mechanism for such; moreover, applicants in that situation will be encouraged to apply to the next offering of the program in the following term. Thank you for your understanding and interest in CSUN’s MSW program.