25 Best MSW Programs in California (Online & Campus) – 2024
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Are you passionate about social justice? Are you committed to making a positive impact on the community you live in by working with members of California’s most vulnerable populations? Then you may want to consider enrolling in one of the many MSW programs in California. Social workers in the Golden State earn good money; their average annual salary is $88,380 a year. They also enjoy considerable job security since there will always be people who need advocates. If you’re serious about a career in social work, you’ll need a graduate degree. Keep reading to find out more about the 25 best MSW programs in California for 2024.
WHAT ARE THE BEST MSW PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2024?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 25 Best campus-based and online MSW Programs in California.
1. University of Southern California - Los Angeles
MSW Programs Offered: Accelerated MSW (On-Campus), Traditional MSW (On-Campus), Working Professionals MSW (On-Campus), Traditional MSW (Online), and Advanced Standing MSW (Online)
Traditional On-Campus MSW Concentrations Offered: Adult Mental Health & Wellness; Children, Youth & Families; and Social Change & Innovation
Working Professionals MSW Concentrations Offered: Adult Mental Health & Wellness and Children, Youth & Families
Traditional Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Adult Mental Health & Wellness; Children, Youth & Families; Social Change & Innovation; and Optional Tracks ( Military Social Work, School Social Work, and Medical Social Work)
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered Adult Mental Health & Wellness; Children, Youth & Families; Social Change & Innovation; and Optional Tracks (Military Social Work, School Social Work, and Medical Social Work)
About University of Southern California: The School of Social Work at the University of Southern California was established in 1939 and since then it has been pioneering social work education and research. The school offers some of the best MSW programs in California that equip graduates with skills to address the several challenges of modern society. To become a social worker in “The Golden State”, you can enroll in any of the five MSW programs on offer here.
University of Southern California MSW Program Details: No matter what your goals may be, this MSW school, will help you reach them in a way that suits you just right. Here, you can decide to study at a fast pace by entering the intensive accelerated program or choose the slower pace of the program designed for working professionals. Also, in addition to in-person classes, the college offers an online MSW that can be completed remotely and at a pace set by you.
While the accelerated MSW program takes 12 months to complete, the traditional on-campus requires a time commitment of 24 months. Whereas, the program, designed for working professionals can be completed within 28 months of part-time classes. If you have a bachelor’s in social work, you can earn your MSW within as little as 12 months through the advanced standing MSW online track.
Here, to complete your social work studies, you have three main areas to choose from, including Adult Mental Health & Wellness, Children, Youth & Families, And Social Change & Innovation. All three areas of focus are open to students of all the four programs, except for the Working Professionals MSW program, where the Social Change & Innovation specialization is not an option.
In addition, if you choose either the online or advanced standing programs, you can take an optional track in Military Social Work, School Social Work, or Medical Social Work and add it to your main area of specialization. This added optional coursework enriches your social work education and prepares you to help improve the lives of people within your chosen population focus.
Regardless of what you choose from any of USC’s MSW programs in California, you will focus on early intervention, prevention, wellness, and leadership. Depending on the program you enter, the credit requirements range from 37 to 60 units, with the advanced standing having the least requirement and the traditional program having the most number of units.
The MSW coursework, no matter the program or concentration, equips you with marketable skills in critical thinking, budgeting, workload management, creativity, accountability, and cross-discipline collaboration.
University of Southern California MSW Admission Requirements: To apply to any of these five MSW programs in California, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Also, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and 18 units of completed coursework in liberal arts.
Key Highlights For University of Southern California MSW Students
• Among all the MSW schools in California, USC stands out for providing diverse field experiences at its 700-plus partners spread across Los Angeles.• This school boasts of the fact that more than 90% of its MSW graduates find suitable placements within 6 months of graduation.
• If you are an on-campus MSW student you may be eligible for receiving a scholarship, considering 96% of students are rewarded scholarships.
2. University of California at Berkeley - Berkeley
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus), FlexMSW Advanced Standing (Hybrid), and FlexMSW Extended (Hybrid)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Advancing Health & Well-being across the Adult Lifespan; Strengthening Children, Youth and Families; and Strengthening Organizations & Communities
FlexMSW Advanced Standing Concentrations Offered: Strengthening Children, Youth & Families
FlexMSW Extended Concentrations Offered: Strengthening Children, Youth & Families; Advancing Health & Wellbeing across the Adult Lifespan; and Strengthening Organizations & Communities
About University of California at Berkeley: Are you passionate about serving communities, across the nation as well as globally? If you are ready to embark on a fulfilling career as a social worker, then applying to the University of California at Berkeley may be your next step. Counted among the best MSW programs in California, the school’s MSW education has been recognized for producing leaders in social work. Since the time it was founded in 1944, the school has produced 11,000 social workers who have significantly contributed to improving the lives of the state’s vulnerable families and communities.
University of California at Berkeley MSW Program Details: To complete your MSW at Berkley you can enroll either in its Traditional MSW program, the FlexMSW Advanced Standing program, or the FlexMSW Extended program. While the traditional program is open to anyone with an accredited bachelor’s, to be eligible for the advanced standing program, you specifically need a bachelors in social work. Whereas the extended program is typically for working professionals who prefer a part-time schedule and a stretched timeline for graduation.
Each of these three MSW programs in California comes with areas of specializations, mainly focusing on advancing health & well-being across the adult lifespan, strengthening children, youth, and families, and strengthening organizations & communities.
The traditional and extended MSW require the completion of 54 credits, whereas the advanced standing program comprises 27 credits worth of coursework. Given that you have already completed the foundation courses in your bachelor's in social work, the advanced standing track directly starts in the second year of specialization-specific courses.
The traditional on-campus MSW is a full-time program that takes two years to complete. This MSW program requires you to complete a minimum of 12 units per semester. On the other hand, the advanced standing program is a one-year coursework and if you enter the extended program, you will require to commit to three years of study.
No matter the program you enter, your coursework will be based on social science knowledge, social welfare policies, and social service organizations.
University of California at Berkeley MSW Admission Requirements: Being one of the best MSW schools in California, admission at Berkley is a competitive process. To enhance your chances, ensure you demonstrate a commitment to social work. Besides, in addition to having completed a liberal arts coursework, any working knowledge of the social work field is highly recommended.
Key Highlights For University of California at Berkeley MSW Students
• The FlexMSW extended program, meant for working professionals allows you to complete the field placement at your current place of employment. This means not only will you be able to immediately apply your theoretical skills to practice, but you will also benefit financially by continuing to work full-time, even when completing your placement.• In addition to these sought-after MSW programs in California, the college also offers dual degrees, including MSW/MPP, MSW/JD, and MSW/MPH.
3. University of California at Los Angeles - Los Angeles
MSW Programs Offered: 2-year Full-time MSW (On-Campus) and 3-year Part-time MSW (On-Campus)
2-year Full-time MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Well-Being; Health & Mental Health Across the Life Span; and Social & Economic Justice
3-year Part-time MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Well-Being
About University of California at Los Angeles: If you aspire to complete your MSW in California, then you may want to learn about the MSW programs offered by the University of California at Los Angeles. This MSW school offers practice-focused training that prepares leaders for the social work field. Here, social work agencies and the school work hand-in-hand to provide students with a learning experience that emphasizes practical experiences at various community agencies. Graduates of this MSW school are well prepared to play leadership roles by influencing change in social work practice, research, and policy.
University of California at Los Angeles MSW Program Details: The school offers two MSW programs; a part-time and full-time option. Both these programs are offered in the face-to-face format. While the full-time track offers specialization options in Child & Family Well-Being, Health & Mental Health Across the Life Span, and Social & Economic Justice, the part-time program focuses only on Child & Family Well-Being.
Both these MSW programs in California, regardless of the specialization, start with one year of core courses. The core courses in social welfare policy & leadership, theories of human behavior & social systems, and research statistics build a foundation for the second year of specialization courses.
Most students complete the full-time program within two years, while the part-time schedule spans three years.
University of California at Los Angeles MSW Admission Requirements: This MSW school in California follows a holistic admission process, so ensure you highlight areas that demonstrate your potential of being successful in the field of social work. To fulfill the admission requirement, you must at least have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum GPA of 3.0. Additionally, you are required to submit your resume, a copy of unofficial transcripts, and three letters of recommendation.
Key Highlights For University of California at Los Angeles MSW Students
• UCLA has created a state-of-art simulation center in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services. The simulation experience provides MSW students with learning opportunities through mock situations that replicate the real-world complex environment a social worker faces.• Should you plan an advancement in the future, you can transition into the school’s doctoral program in social welfare.
4. San Diego State University - San Diego
MSW Programs Offered: 1-year MSW Advanced Standing Program (On-Campus), 2-Year MSW (On-Campus), 3-Year MSW (On-Campus), and 4-Year MSW (On-Campus)
MSW-ASP Concentrations Offered: Direct Practice and Administration/Community Development
2-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Direct Practice / Clinical and Administration & Community Development
3-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Direct Practice / Clinical and Administration & Community Development
4-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Direct Practice / Clinical and Administration & Community Development
About San Diego State University: If are keen on enrolling in one of the best MSW programs in California, then you must learn about the MSW programs offered by San Diego State University. Established in 1963, this MSW school, known for its excellent education and unique learning opportunities, ranks among the top-ranking MSW schools in the nation according to the U.S. News & World Report. Furthermore, the school’s faculty is committed to change and actively engages in various research projects such as aging & longevity, alcohol & drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS.
San Diego State University MSW Program Details: SDSU offers four MSW programs; 1, 2, 3, and 4-year plans leading to an MSW degree. All these MSW programs in California are offered on campus with two methods of concentration; direct practice and administration/community development. Also, based on your interests, you can choose an area of focus from mental health, children/youth/families, and health/aging.
While the direct practice method prepares you to directly work with individuals, families, and groups, if you choose the administration/community development method, you will focus on impacting change at the organizational level.
No matter the program you choose, you will develop a strong foundation in core topics, including social welfare policy & services, human behavior in the social environment, and social work research methods. Also, you will learn to engage in social work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and committees. After completing the core courses, you will progress to the second year of specialization courses in your chosen area of focus.
San Diego State University MSW Admission Requirements: To be eligible for admission into any of these SDSU’s MSW programs in California, you must hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Also, a liberal arts foundation is required. In addition, the college requires you to have completed an undergraduate statistics course.
Key Highlights For San Diego State University MSW Students
• Out of all the social work master’s programs in California, the MSW programs here stand out for offering students with international learning opportunities. Here, you can explore education opportunities in countries such as Thailand, Ireland, and Tijuana, to name a few.• The school partners with more than 400 community agencies that provide students with a broad range of field experiences throughout San County.
5. California State University - Long Beach, Ventura, & Santa Rosa
MSW Programs Offered: 2-Year MSW (On-Campus), 3-Year MSW (On-Campus), and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and MSW (Online)
2-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Wellbeing; Adulthood & Aging; and Integrated Health
3-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Wellbeing; Adulthood & Aging; and Integrated Health
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Wellbeing; Adulthood & Aging; and Integrated Health
Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Wellbeing
About California State University: The best MSW programs in California produce graduates who are committed to the well-being of the state’s vulnerable and oppressed populations. California State University offers MSW programs that are known for their academic excellence, inclusion & diversity, community engagement, pursuit of social justice, and commitment to vulnerable populations. By maintaining meaningful affiliations with community partners, the school continually works to strengthen communities across the state.
California State University MSW Program Details: To complete your MSW in California, here, you have a choice of four programs with 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year plans. While the 1 year is an advanced standing program meant for students with a bachelor’s in social work, the 2-year plan is the traditional track offered on a full-time basis. Whereas the 3-year program offers a part-time schedule, best suited for students having full-time employment.
While the 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year programs are offered on-campus, if you prefer the online mode of study, you can instead enroll in the online 3-year program that can be completed part-time.
The three on-campus MSW programs in California offer three areas of focus; child & family wellbeing, adulthood & aging, and integrated health, whereas the online 3-year program offers only the child and family wellbeing specialization.
The 2-year and 3-year programs require the completion of 60 units. Whereas for the 1-year advanced standing program, the requirements for graduation are based on the courses you have completed in your undergraduate studies. Regardless, of the program, you will complete two 500-hour placements at a community agency under the supervision of a field instructor.
California State University MSW Admission Requirements: As a potential applicant for the 1-year advanced standing program, you must have a bachelor’s degree in social work with a minimum GPA of 3.0. To be eligible for either of the other programs on offer, you must have an accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Key Highlights For California State University MSW Students
• The school’s more than 1700 community partners offer students diverse field experiences which often translate into placement opportunities post-graduation.• CSU offers admission on a rolling basis. It is preferred that you apply early as here, seats are filled on a first-come-first basis.
6. San Jose State University - San Jose
MSW Programs Offered: MSW Full Time (On-Campus), MSW 3-Year (On-Campus), Online/Hybrid MSW (Online/Hybrid), and MSW Advanced Standing (On-Campus and Online/Hybrid)
About San Jose State University: San Jose State University is not only one of the best MSW schools in California but also a place where cultural diversity reflects in every aspect of the schooling experience. The school integrates a transcultural perspective into the curriculum and prepares leaders who strive towards the well-being of families and communities of diverse populations. Besides, it also offers students global experiences through learning opportunities in several other countries.
San Jose State University MSW Program Details: The school offers four MSW programs in California to cater to individual student needs. So, based on your needs, you can enter either the on-campus or online program, or decide to enroll in the part-time or full-time schedule. Additionally, the school offers an advanced standing track for students who have completed their bachelor’s in social work.
The three traditional MSW programs require completion of 60 credits while the advanced standing program comprises completion of 37 credits.
Regardless of the program you enter, you will learn about human behavior in social environment, transcultural practice, social policy & services, social policy analysis, and research methods & design. Additionally, these accredited MSW programs in California also focus on social work in health & aging, social work in mental health, social work & law, and child welfare practice in public & government systems.
San Jose State University MSW Admission Requirements: To be eligible for either of the three SJSU’s traditional MSW programs in California, you must have a minimum GPA of 2.50 in an undergraduate degree. To be eligible for the advanced standing track, you must have a minimum grade of 3.5 in your bachelor’s in social work.
Key Highlights For San Jose State University MSW Students
• This MSW school in California offers internships at various sites throughout the state as well as at a variety of other international locations. This enriches learning as you will work with diverse populations in varied work settings.• The school partners with several community-based agencies and organizations. As a student, you can participate by engaging in several research projects and several other community activities.
7. California State University - Los Angeles
MSW Programs Offered: MSW Advanced Standing (On-Campus), 2-Year MSW (On-Campus), and 3-Year MSW (On-Campus)
About California State University: What makes the master’s degree in social work offered at California State University-Los Angeles one of the best MSW programs in California? A combination of relevant courses, talented faculty and affordability. California State University-Los Angeles, which is part of the Golden State’s state university system, has consistently been ranked by publications such as Business Insider and Forbes as one of the California schools that offers the best bang for the buck. Social work is one of the most popular graduate majors at Cal State L.A.
California State University MSW Program Details: This MSW program in California has three tracks. The 33-credit Advanced Standing program, open to students who’ve earned a bachelor’s degree in social work, is taught at the university’s satellite center in downtown Los Angeles and takes 11 months to complete. Classes are generally scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The 60-credit traditional MSW curriculum is taught on the university’s main campus; full-time students will be able to complete the curriculum in two years, while part-time students should be able to complete it in three years. Students enrolled in the full-time option will attend classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while students enrolled in the part-time option will attend classes on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as well as one evening per week.
This is one of the accredited MSW programs in California that doesn’t offer a specific concentration during the second year. MSW candidates are oriented to social work through an Advanced Generalist perspective that focuses on learning how to implement various therapeutic and management techniques that are appropriate in a number of different client settings.
Fieldwork is an integral part of California State University-Los Angeles’s MSW program as it is of all MSW programs in California. If you’re enrolled in the 60-credit program, you’ll perform 1,080 hours of fieldwork; if you’re enrolled in the Advanced Standing program, you’ll perform 600 hours of fieldwork. Fieldwork placements include human and social service agencies throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
California State University MSW Admission Requirements: Successful applicants to this program will have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. You’ll also need to submit a resume, a personal statement and contact information for three individuals who can discuss your professional suitability for the social work career track.
Key Highlights For California State University MSW Students
• All MSW students at Cal State L.A. must complete a master’s thesis.• Several institutes and academic research centers are affiliated with Cal State L.A.’s School of Social Work, including the Applied Gerontology Institute and the Child Abuse and Family Violence Institute.
• In 2020, 140 students graduated from Cal State L.A.’s MSW program.
8. Azusa Pacific University – Azusa & San Bernardino
MSW Programs Offered: Two-Year Full-Time MSW (On-Campus), Four-Year Part-Time MSW (On-Campus), Three-Year Part-Time MSW Inland Empire Campus (On-Campus), Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
Two-Year Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice with Individuals & Families and Community Leadership & Program Administration
Four-Year Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice with Individuals & Families and Community Leadership & Program Administration
Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice with Individuals & Families and Community Leadership & Program Administration
Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice with Individuals & Families and Community Leadership & Program Administration
About Azusa Pacific University: Azusa Pacific University is an evangelical Christian institution, but it accepts students from all religious backgrounds. While this MSW in California integrates spiritual values into its social work curriculum, it does not incorporate specifically Christian doctrines, so non-Christian students will feel right at home. In 2023, 77 percent of the 246 students enrolled in this MSW in California came from a minority background. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Azusa Pacific University’s master’s degree in social work among the nation’s best MSW programs.
Azusa Pacific University MSW Program Details: Full-time, part-time and Advanced Standing options are available to students at this MSW school in California. The traditional 60-credit program takes two years to complete if you’re a full-time student. Classes take place on the university’s main campus in Azusa. Part-time students have the choice of enrolling in a three-year program taught at the Azusa campus or in a four-year program taught at the university’s Inland Empire regional campus.
The 36-credit Advanced Standing program, which allows you to complete your MSW in a single year, is open to students with a bachelor’s degree in social work. Its curriculum covers the second year of the traditional program. There’s also a part-time Advanced Standing option that can be completed in two years. Both Advanced Standing MSW tracks are taught at the Azusa campus.
Azusa Pacific University offers students two concentrations during their second year of classes. The Clinical Practice concentration will prepare you for one-on-one interactions with clients in settings like behavioral health clinics, shelters, group homes and schools. The Community Leadership and Program Administration concentration will help you identify and fulfill organizational needs at nonprofit and governmental social service agencies.
Every one of the master’s in social work programs in California prioritizes fieldwork, and Azusa Pacific University is no exception. The university maintains relationships with nearly 400 agencies and organizations in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and Ventura Counties that offer fieldwork placements. Students enrolled in the full-time, traditional MSW course must complete 16 hours of fieldwork a week, while students enrolled in the full-time Advanced Standing course must complete 20 hours of fieldwork a week.
Azusa Pacific University MSW Admission Requirements: You’ll need to have graduated from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 or higher GPA to be considered for admission into Azusa Pacific University’s MSW program. A statistics course is also required.
Key Highlights For Azusa Pacific University MSW Students
• Azusa Pacific University offers additional certificates and credentials for MSW students, including a Human Services Management Certificate and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance.• The university offers opportunities for international social work experiences in Kenya, Ecuador and India.
• Seventy-eight students graduated from Azusa Pacific University’s MSW program in 2020.
9. San Francisco State University - San Francisco
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus)
About San Francisco State University: San Francisco State University’s master’s of social work degree is one of the accredited MSW programs in California that’s known for social advocacy and activism for progressive change. Since SF State is part of the Golden State’s state university system, MSW program tuition here is much lower than private MSW programs in California, which is a big plus for students on a tight budget. San Francisco State’s School of Social Work is part of the College of Health and Social Sciences.
San Francisco State University MSW Program Details: San Francisco State University’s School of Social Work offers a single 60-credit master’s of social work degree track designed to be completed in two years. All classes are held on the university’s main campus, and all students admitted into this program must attend full-time. First-year core classes include “History and Philosophy of Social Work,” “Ethnic and Cultural Concept and Principles” and “Global Poverty.”
The SF State MSW program offers a second-year specialization in Individuals, Families and Groups (IFG). This concentration teaches students to identify and utilize effective interventions for one-on-one counseling in various settings, including hospitals, mental health agencies, child welfare agencies and school programs. During their second year, students will take courses that will teach them techniques for enhancing their clients’ coping abilities. Such courses include “Health, Illness and Disordered Behavior” as well as seminars in social casework and social group work.
Fieldwork is an essential part of the SF State MSW experience as it is with all social work master’s programs in California. Students must complete 480 hours of fieldwork during their first year of study and 720 hours of fieldwork during their second, for a total of 1,200 hours. The university maintains placement partnerships with more than 300 public and nonprofit social and human service agencies throughout San Francisco and Alameda Counties. Students are required to write a master’s thesis based on their fieldwork experiences before they will be advanced to graduation.
San Francisco State University MSW Admission Requirements: Admission into this MSW in California is highly competitive. Applicants must have graduated from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Key Highlights For San Francisco State University MSW Students
• SF State’s School of Social Work offers courses that lead to the Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) in Social Work, issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.• Students in this MSW in California can simultaneously enroll in the Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program administered by the California Social Work Education Center (CALSWEC), which trains MSW students for child welfare careers.
• At the end of the 2019-2020 year, SF State awarded 12 master’s degrees in social work.
10. California State University - Northridge
MSW Programs Offered: Two-Year MSW (On-Campus), Three-Year MSW (On-Campus), CalSWEC Three-Year MSW (On-Campus), Two-year MSW (Online), and Three-year MSW (Off-Campus)
About California State University: California State University-Northridge has been widely hailed as one of the most diverse schools in the nation and has been federally designated as a Hispanic-serving institution. Since the school is part of California’s state university system, MSW tuition at CSUN is significantly lower than the tuition you might pay to enroll in an MSW program at a private university. The Department of Social Work is associated with the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
California State University MSW Program Details: This MSW school in California offers five separate degree tracks. Three of these tracks are taught on campus: a full-time, two-year, 60-credit MSW track; a part-time, three-year, 60- to 63-credit MSW track; and a three-year CALSWEC track. The CALSWEC track is specifically designed to accommodate employees of the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCSF); classes are taught on weekday evenings and Saturdays.
In addition to the part-time track offered on campus, California State University-Northridge offers a two-year 60-credit MSW online. Except for one weekly field education class, online courses are offered in an asynchronous format, which means students can study at their own pace. This is one of the online MSW programs in California that has no campus residency requirement.
CSUN also offers a 63-credit MSW that is taught at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita and at Ventura College. The program is designed to be completed in three years. Classes are offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays at College of the Canyons and on Thursdays and Saturdays at Ventura College.
Though CSUN’s MSW offers a generalist curriculum without a specific concentration, its focus is on urban communities. Courses include “Advanced Social Work Practice With Urban Families,” “Urban Social Policy and Advocacy” and “Social Work Practice in Multicultural Situations.”
Fieldwork is as vital at California State University-Northridge as it is at every other one of the MSW programs in California. Students are required to complete a minimum of 900 hours of fieldwork before they are allowed to graduate. Placements include agencies in the San Fernando Valley and other parts of the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area.
California State University MSW Admission Requirements: You won’t be considered for admission into CSUN’s MSW program unless you’ve earned a baccalaureate from an accredited college or university. While academic credit isn’t given for prior work experience, the Department of Social Work prefers to accept students with post-baccalaureate work experience.
Key Highlights For California State University MSW Students
• California State University-Northridge’s MSW program sponsors many lively student organizations, including the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Social Work Collective, the Black Social Work Caucus and ¡CSUN Puede!• Social work is one of CSUN’s most popular master’s degree programs; in 2021, 184 students were enrolled.
• In 2020, California State University awarded master’s of social work degrees to 154 students.
11. California State University – Chico
MSW Programs Offered: MSW One-Year (Hybrid), MSW Two-Year (Hybrid), and MSW Three-Year (Hybrid)
About California State University-Chico: California State University-Chico’s School of Social Work is affiliated with the university’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Forty-one students are enrolled in this MSW in California, making social work Chico State’s most popular graduate major. Since Chico State is part of the Golden State’s state university systems, prospective MSW students will find its tuition rates considerably lower than what they might pay if they pursued a master’s of social work at a private university.
California State University-Chico MSW Program Details: All three of Chico State’s MSW offerings are hybrid programs that combine synchronous and asynchronous distance learning elements with occasional campus visits. The one-year MSW option—called Advanced Standing at most other MSW schools in California—is a 34- to 36-credit curriculum that’s only open to students who’ve previously earned a bachelor’s degree in social work. This MSW option covers the same material offered in the second year of the traditional two-year program.
The traditional MSW is a 61- to 63-credit program that should take two years to complete if you pursue it full-time. This traditional program is also offered as a part-time option that you should be able to complete in three years. Like many other MSW programs in California associated with the state university system, Chico State partners with CALSWEC to offer the Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program for students whose ambitions are to work with children and their families in welfare settings.
MSW students must attend a two-day orientation session on the Chico State campus before beginning classes. Thereafter, they will spend two weekends on campus each semester until they graduate.
California State University at Chico offers three concentrations: Mental Health Services, Gerontology and Families, and Children and Youth Services. Students are required to complete a total of 1,200 hours of fieldwork before they can graduate. Chico State’s School of Social Work chooses fieldwork placements from dozens of human services agencies and organizations in the Chico Metropolitan Area and other parts of Butte County.
California State University-Chico MSW Admission Requirements: Admission into Chico State’s MSW program is highly competitive. Successful applicants will have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Key Highlights For California State University-Chico MSW Students
• To satisfy graduation requirements, you must either do a thesis, a project, or a comprehensive case analysis (which will also commit you to taking two additional elective courses).• Chico State offers a Distributed Learning Program, which awards its graduates both a bachelor of social work (BSW) and an MSW degree. This program only opens to new students once every three years.
• In 2020, 37 students received their MSW degrees from Chico State.
12. California State University - Fresno
MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time MSW 2-year (On-Campus) and Part-Time MSW 4-year (On-Campus)
Full-Time MSW 2-year Concentrations Offered: Child Welfare; School Social Work; and Behavioral Health & Integrated Practice
Part-Time MSW 4-year Concentrations Offered: Child Welfare; School Social Work; and Behavioral Health & Integrated Practice
About California State University-Fresno: If affordability is one of your top criteria for a good MSW program, you should definitely take a look at California State University-Fresno’s master’s of social work degree. Since Fresno State is part of the California state university system, its tuition is a lot lower than the tuition at private universities. Fresno State and its MSW program also get high marks for diversity and the excellence of its instruction. The Department of Social Work Education at California State University-Fresno is part of the College of Health and Human Services.
California State University-Fresno MSW Program Details: Fresno State offers a traditional 60-credit MSW curriculum, which students can complete either in two years (full-time) or four years (part-time). Both tracks are taught on campus. Unlike many other master’s in social work programs in California, Fresno State does not offer an Advanced Standing MSW program for students with bachelor’s degrees in social work.
The first 30 credits of this MSW in California are dedicated to foundational coursework that teaches students generalist social work skills and techniques. During the second part of the program, students can choose to specialize in one of three concentrations. The Child Welfare concentration trains social work professionals to deal with children who’ve experienced neglect or abuse. The School Social Work concentration teaches social workers how to help students achieve positive experiences in the educational system. The Behavioral Health and Integrated Practice concentration teaches students a holistic approach toward interventions that can be useful when working in medical social work, the criminal justice system, hospices and related fields of practice.
As with practically all accredited MSW programs in California, fieldwork is essential to the Fresno State MSW curriculum. Students must complete 1,000 hours of fieldwork while pursuing their degrees: 400 (16 hours a week) in the first year and 600 (21 hours a week) in the second. Fresno State maintains relationships with federal, state, county and private agencies, including children and family services, schools, adult services, corrections, health and mental health programs and disability services throughout the Fresno metropolitan area and the central San Joaquin Valley.
California State University-Fresno MSW Admission Requirements: You’ll have to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school with a GPA of 3.0 or higher if you want to be admitted into Fresno State’s MSW program. You’ll also need to have taken undergraduate coursework in research methods and data analysis, human biological development and cultural diversity.
Key Highlights For California State University-Fresno MSW Students
• Students who pursue the second-year School Social Work concentration are eligible to attain the California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential with specializations in School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance.• California State University-Fresno is another one of the MSW programs in California that participates in CALSWEC’s Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program.
• Forty-nine students earned MSW degrees from Fresno State throughout 2019-2020.
13. California State University - Sacramento
MSW Programs Offered: Two-Year Full-Time MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Three-Year Weekend or Part-Time MSW (On-Campus)
Two-Year Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Behavioral Health; Children & Families; and Health & Aging
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Behavioral Health; Children & Families; and Health & Aging
Three-Year Weekend or Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Behavioral Health; Children & Families; and Health & Aging
About California State University-Sacramento: California State University-Sacramento ranks among the best MSW schools in California partly because of its location in the Golden State’s capital city. Students have the opportunity to do fieldwork placements at agency headquarters, where decisions are made that often affect operations throughout the rest of the state. Another thing that’s attractive about this MSW school in California? It’s part of the California state university system, so tuition here is comparatively less than tuition might be at a private university.
California State University-Sacramento MSW Program Details: Cal State Sacramento’s Division of Social Work is affiliated with the university’s College of Health & Human Services. This MSW program in California offers three MSW tracks: a 60-credit traditional MSW curriculum that can be pursued full-time (two years) or part-time (three years), and a 32- to 34-credit Advanced Standing curriculum that takes one year to complete and must be pursued full-time. All three tracks are taught on campus.
The part-time 60-credit MSW track is offered in conjunction with CALSWEC’s Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program and is specifically designed for students who are working full-time in county child protective services. Classes are scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate working students.
The Advanced Standing track is only open to students who’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university. Its curriculum is equivalent to the second year of the traditional 60-credit MSW program.
Cal State Sacramento offers MSW students three second-year concentrations. The Behavioral Health concentration focuses on a holistic approach to the assessment, treatment and prevention of mental illness, while the Children & Families concentration is mandatory for part-time students enrolled in the Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program. The concentration in Health & Aging imparts knowledge and skills to students planning to work with senior citizens after graduation.
MSW students must complete 1,280 hours of fieldwork. In their first year, students spend two days a week at their fieldwork placement; in their second year, they spend three days a week.
California State University-Sacramento MSW Admission Requirements: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning if you want to enroll in Cal State Sacramento’s MSW program. Your transcripts must also include a human biology class and a statistics class.
Key Highlights For California State University-Sacramento MSW Students
• Second-year students must either complete an independent thesis or present a classroom-based research project to graduate.• Every two years, the Division of Social Work collaborates with Sacramento State’s interdisciplinary Center for Health Practice, Policy & Research on a point-in-time count of Sacramento County’s homeless population.
• Cal State Sacramento awarded 101 MSW degrees in 2020.
14. California State University - San Bernardino
MSW Programs Offered: MSW Advanced Standing (On-Campus), Two-Year MSW (On-Campus), Three-Year MSW (On-Campus), and Distance Education MSW (Online)
About California State University-San Bernardino: For California-based MSW students, one of the significant advantages of the master’s in social work programs offered by California State University-San Bernardino is that as part of the state university system, the university charges residents of the Golden State lower tuition than they might be charged at private MSW programs in California. Other factors that make CSUSB’s program one of the best MSW programs in California are a dedicated faculty, a versatile set of MSW options and dynamic opportunities for fieldwork placement.
California State University-San Bernardino MSW Program Details: CSUSB’s School of Social work offers three tracks on its main campus near the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. The full-time 60-credit MSW curriculum was set up to be completed in two years. Classes are scheduled two days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Students in this track can also choose to participate in the Title IV-E training program offered in partnership with CalSWEC.
The part-time 60-credit MSW curriculum was designed to accommodate the needs of working students. Classes are scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 5:30 pm and 9:45 p.m.
California State University-San Bernardino’s Advanced Standing MSW track is only available to students who’ve completed an undergraduate degree in social work. The 36-credit curriculum is equivalent to the second year of the 60-credit program plus an additional summer bridge program. Classes meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
CSUMB also offers one of the best online MSW programs in California. Its 60-credit distance learning program was set up to take three years to complete: 18 credits in the first year, 22 credits in the second year and 20 credits in the third year. Your field placement will be with an agency or an organization in the community where you live and work.
CSUSB is one of the MSW programs in California that adheres to a generalist perspective throughout both years of the program. MSW candidates must complete 1,080 hours of fieldwork. Some fieldwork placements will satisfy Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential requirements; participating students can then finish the credential’s academic requirements at a partner university so they can be certified to work in a public school setting.
California State University-San Bernardino MSW Admission Requirements: Admission to CSUSB’s MSW program requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the most recent 90 credits of work. Preference will be given to candidates with volunteer or paid social work experience.
Key Highlights For California State University-San Bernardino MSW Students
• Cal State San Bernardino offers a concurrent MSW/Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree to prepare graduates for upper-echelon human services administration jobs.• Students must complete a research project as a condition of graduation. This project can either be a master’s thesis or a research project presented to faculty and field supervisors orally and in writing.
• CSUSB awarded 97 master’s degrees in social work throughout the 2019-2020 academic year.
15. Cal Poly Humboldt - Arcata
MSW Programs Offered: Full-time Two-year (On-Campus), Full-time Advanced Standing one-year (On-Campus), Part-time Advanced Standing 2-year (Online), and Part-time 3.5-year (Online)
About Cal Poly Humboldt: If you’re interested in becoming a social worker in a rustic setting, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt should be on your short list of MSW programs in California. Humboldt State’s Department of Social Work emphasizes working with rural and indigenous communities. Students at this school are encouraged to look at social issues from a global perspective. Another advantage of Humboldt State is that since it’s a member of the California state university system, tuition here is less expensive than it would be at one of the private MSW schools in California.
Cal Poly Humboldt MSW Program Details: Humboldt State’s two full-time MSW tracks are offered at its campus in the redwoods overlooking Humboldt Bay. Its two part-time MSW tracks, designed to accommodate the needs of working students, are offered online as Distributed Learning programs.
The traditional 60-credit MSW program is designed to be completed in two years. The first year is devoted to foundational courses such as “Generalist Social Work Practice,” “Dynamics of Groups, Agencies, Organizations, & Communities” and “- Social Work Practice in Native American & Rural Communities.” In the second year, content areas are integrated with greater specificity and include courses such as “Child & Family Welfare,” “Advanced Practice in Indigenous & Rural Communities” and “Clinical Social Work Practice.”
The 36-credit Advanced Standing MSW program was set up for students who’ve completed an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in social work. These students join the traditional 60-credit MSW program cohort in its second year after taking two “bridge” classes.
The 60-credit curriculum can also be taken as a distance learning track over 3.5 years, while the Advanced Standing track can be taken online over two years. Classes combine synchronous and asynchronous coursework, and students must visit the Humboldt State campus in January for an intensive learning session. Only California residents are eligible to enroll in California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt’s online MSW programs.
Students in the 60-credit MSW program must complete 960 hours of fieldwork, while Advanced Standing students must complete 480 hours of fieldwork. Humboldt State’s Department of Social Work has ongoing partnerships with schools, tribal services, non-profit organizations, county social services and integrated behavioral health settings in the sixteen counties that make up California’s Superior Region. Note that students enrolled in Humboldt State’s online MSW programs will also be assigned a fieldwork placement in one of these counties.
Cal Poly Humboldt MSW Admission Requirements: Serious applicants to this program will have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their most recent 60 credits of classes. They will also need to have completed a statistics course with a grade of “C” or higher.
Key Highlights For Cal Poly Humboldt MSW Students
• California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is another one of the MSW schools in California that participates in CalSWEC’s Title IV-E MSW Child Welfare Training Project.• Humboldt State offers unique fieldwork placement opportunities in tribal agencies and programs such as tribal family resource centers, Tribal Head Start, Indian Child Welfare, Suicide Prevention and various youth programs.
• Humboldt State awarded 48 MSW degrees in 2020.
16. California State University - Fullerton
MSW Programs Offered: Two-Year MSW (On-Campus), and Three-Year MSW (On-Campus)
Two-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Child Welfare; Community Mental Health; and Aging
Three-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Child Welfare; Community Mental Health; and Aging
About California State University-Fullerton: Social work is one of the most popular graduate programs at California State University-Fullerton in Orange County, the largest institution by enrollment in the California state university system. Affordability, a strong curriculum and enrichment opportunities such as international service-learning programs help Cal Fullerton rank among the best MSW schools in California. The Department of Social Work is a division of the College of Health and Human Development.
California State University-Fullerton MSW Program Details: Cal State Fullerton offers a traditional 60-credit master’s of social work degree both as a full-time two-year option and as a part-time three-year option. Both MSW tracks are taught at California State University-Fullerton’s main campus. Unlike many other MSW programs in California, Cal State Fullerton does not offer an Advanced Standing MSW track.
The first year of this MSW in California consists of basic foundational classes from a generalist perspective. In the second year, you’ll get to choose a concentration. The Child Welfare concentration prepares you to work in agencies and organizations that protect and counsel children. The Community Mental Health concentration prepares you to practice in various mental health settings, including psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment and county mental health clinics. The Aging concentration teaches you how to work with senior citizens, their families and their caregivers and emphasizes a multigenerational perspective.
Fieldwork is an essential component of Cal State Fullerton’s MSW education. Students are required to complete a minimum of 1,050 hours of fieldwork. Cal State Fullerton is unusual among social work master’s programs in California because all three of its concentrations are associated with programs that pay stipends for fieldwork placements in certain instances. The CalSWEC Title IV-E MSW Child Welfare Training Project supports social work students who are planning to work in children’s services.
Students working with the B-Heal program receive specialized training in Community Mental Health through supplemental seminars and workshops, and they complete their fieldwork placements in settings that emphasize an integrated care service delivery model. The Southern California Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium (GSWEC) also underwrites fieldwork stipends for some students enrolled in the second-year Aging concentration.
California State University-Fullerton MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants to Cal State Fullerton’s MSW program must have a baccalaureate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the most recent 60 units. Applicants with paid or volunteer experience that’s relevant to social work will have preference.
Key Highlights For California State University-Fullerton MSW Students
• Cal State Fullerton sponsors two international service-learning programs for MSW students: a two-week internship in Chile for bilingual Spanish-speaking students in partnership with Universidad Tecnológica de Chile and a two-week internship in South Korea in collaboration with Pyeongtaek University.• Students must complete a capstone master’s project that draws upon their experiences during fieldwork.
• In 2020, Cal State Fullerton awarded 106 master’s degrees in social work.
17. California State University, Monterey Bay - Seaside
MSW Programs Offered: Two Year MSW (On-Campus), Three Year MSW (On-Campus), and IVE Three Year MSW (On-Campus)
About California State University, Monterey Bay: Much of the impetus behind the formation of California State University-Monterey Bay’s Department of Social Work was the critical shortage of MSW-prepared social workers in the Central Coast Tri-County area. CSUMB is one of several California state university system schools that’s been dubbed a Hispanic-serving institution, so it’s not surprising that part of its Department of Social Work mission statement is to serve the region’s many Latino communities. MSW candidates will find earning their degree here less expensive than it might be at one of the private MSW programs in California.
California State University, Monterey Bay MSW Program Details: This MSW program in California offers three tracks, all taught on campus. The full-time 60-credit program takes two years to complete. This same curriculum is also offered as a part-time, three-year track. Additionally, if you want to enroll in both the traditional MSW program and the CalSWEC Title IV-E MSW Child Welfare Training Project, you can plan on graduating in three years. Unlike many other accredited MSW programs in California, California State University-Monterey Bay does not offer an Advanced Standing MSW track for people who’ve graduated with bachelor’s degrees in social work.
Classes are scheduled between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. to accommodate the needs of working students. Core classes include “Diversity & Social Justice,” “Foundations of Social Work” and “Cross-Cultural Human Behavior in the Social Environment”.
California State University-Monterey Bay’s MSW program follows a generalist perspective throughout both years, but electives like “Social Work With Latino Families” in the first year and “Gerontological Social Work” and “Veterans and Military Families” in the second year introduce prospective social workers to the challenges of working with specific demographics.
Fieldwork is a vital part of the CSUMB curriculum as it is in every one of the best MSW programs in California. Students must complete at least 960 fieldwork hours to graduate. Placements include human service organizations such as hospitals, non-profit agencies, prisons, county behavioral health, child welfare and social service departments, and schools throughout Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties.
California State University, Monterey Bay MSW Admission Requirements: If you want to enroll in CSUMB’s MSW program, you’ll need a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.75 or higher in your last 60 class credits. You’ll also need to have completed courses in human biology and statistics with a grade of “C” or higher.
Key Highlights For California State University, Monterey Bay MSW Students
• MSW students who complete elective classes such as “School Social Work” and “Social Work With Children, Youth & Families” may be eligible for the Pupil Personnel Services Credentials in School Social Work.• Graduating students must submit an applied social work research project that synthesizes their fieldwork experiences with information learned in didactic classes.
• In 2020, 44 students graduated from CSUMB with a master’s degree in social work.
18. California State University - Stanislaus
MSW Programs Offered: Two Year MSW (On-Campus), Three Year MSW (On-Campus), and MSW (Hybrid)
About California State University-Stanislaus: The Business Insider has ranked California State University-Stanislaus as one of the public universities that generate the best return on tuition investment, so if you’re thinking about pursuing an MSW degree but money is tight, you’ll want to learn more about this MSW in California. Stanislaus State’s Department of Social Work is a division of its College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. The university has been designated a Hispanic-serving institution, and many of its MSW fieldwork placements involve Spanish-speaking or bilingual social service agencies.
California State University-Stanislaus MSW Program Details: Stanislaus State offers a traditional, full-time 60-credit MSW program both on its main campus in Turlock and online. Both programs are designed to be completed in 24 months. The university also offers a part-time 60-credit MSW program on campus that you should be able to finish in 36 months. Unlike several other accredited MSW programs in California, Stanislaus State doesn’t offer an accelerated Advanced Standing degree for people with undergraduate degrees in social work.
California State University-Stanislaus’s hybrid MSW program is set up as four eight-week sessions. Students take two online classes every session and meet one Saturday a month at California State University-Stanislaus’s satellite campus in Stockton for an all-day class.
Stanislaus State’s MSW curriculum is a generalist approach to social work without the option for second-year concentrations. Core classes include “Social Welfare Policy and Services for Social Justice,” “Social Justice in Social Work” and “Social Work Theory and Practice with Groups and Communities”. Students can, however, take several electives such as “Gerontological Social Work,” “Social Work in Healthcare” and “Social Work Practice With Children and Adolescents Involved in the Justice System” that will prepare them to work with specific demographics.
MSW students at Stanislaus State must complete 1,000 fieldwork hours to graduate. The university maintains placement partnerships with various social and human service agencies throughout Stockton, Modesto and other communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley.
California State University-Stanislaus MSW Admission Requirements: This MSW school in California only accepts students with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university who’ve maintained a GPA of 2.5 or higher in their most recent 60 credits of classes. Additionally, applicants will need to submit an autobiographical statement.
Key Highlights For California State University-Stanislaus MSW Students
• California State University-Stanislaus’s Department of Social Work participates in the CalSWEC Title IV-E MSW Child Welfare Training Project.• Stanislaus State MSW students must write a thesis and participate in a capstone project before graduating.
• In 2020, 43 Stanislaus State students were awarded MSW degrees.
19. California State University - Bakersfield
MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time 60-Credit MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time 60-Credit MSW (On-Campus), and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
Full-Time 60-Credit MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist
Part-Time 60-Credit MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist
Advanced Standing Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist
About California State University-Bakersfield: California State University-Bakersfield is part of the California state university system, making it a reasonably priced choice for any Golden State resident considering earning an MSW. Cal State Bakersfield’s Department of Social Work, affiliated with the School of Social Sciences and Education, is expanding rapidly. In 2023, the department launched two new degree options: an MSW curriculum that can be pursued part-time and an Advanced Standing MSW option for students who’ve completed a social work undergraduate degree.
California State University-Bakersfield MSW Program Details: Cal State Bakersfield has three MSW tracks. The full-time 60-credit MSW program is taught on the university’s main campus in Bakersfield and is designed to be completed in two years. The university also offers a part-time 60-credit MSW program that uses a hybrid learning model: Many classes are offered online, but students meet one evening a week on campus. The part-time MSW curriculum is intended to be completed in three years.
This MSW program in California also offers a 30-credit Advanced Standing option that enables qualified students to earn their master’s of social work degree in a single year. The Advanced Standing curriculum is essentially the same curriculum that students enrolled in the traditional MSW program take in their second year.
CSUB teaches an advanced generalist approach to social work throughout both years of the traditional MSW curriculum. Within this framework, however, students may focus on children and family services or gerontology by taking electives such as “Social Work Practice in Child Welfare” or “Social Work Practice With Older Adults.”
Fieldwork is an integral component of all MSW programs in California, and California State University-Bakersfield’s MSW program is no exception. To graduate, students must perform 960 hours of fieldwork. You can plan on doing 20 hours of fieldwork a week throughout your enrollment in this MSW in California. CSUB maintains fieldwork placement partnerships with public and nonprofit human and social services agencies throughout metropolitan Bakersfield and surrounding Kern County.
California State University-Bakersfield MSW Admission Requirements: Admission requires two separate applications: an application to CSUB and an application to the Department of Social Work. Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree with a GPA of at least 2.5 in their most recent 60 credits.
Key Highlights For California State University-Bakersfield MSW Students
• Eligible students can complete CALSWEC’s Title IV-E program at the same time they’re earning an MSW from California State University-Bakersfield.• To graduate, students must participate in a culminating project in which they analyze data from their fieldwork experience to identify an organizational or community need.
• In 2020, students were awarded MSW degrees from Cal State Bakersfield.
20. California State University - East Bay
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (Hybrid)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Children, Youth, & Families (CYF) and Community Mental Health (CMH)
About California State University-East Bay: California State University-East Bay’s MSW program concentrates on the social challenges found in urban environments. The university is a designated Hispanic-serving institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, so it’s not surprising that its Department of Social Work focuses on problems particular to multicultural and multiracial populations. Affordability is one of the stand-out features of this MSW in California: As a member of the Golden State’s state university system, CSU East Bay’s MSW tuition is significantly lower than tuition at many private social work master’s programs in California.
California State University-East Bay MSW Program Details: California State University-East Bay offers a single 60-credit MSW curriculum designed to be completed in two years. The degree is a hybrid track, combining online courses with face-to-face classroom time. Throughout the first year, you’ll attend classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and participate in fieldwork on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Throughout the second year, you’ll attend classes on Mondays and Tuesdays and participate in fieldwork Wednesday through Friday. You must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 throughout these 60 credits.
First-year courses incorporate a generalist social work perspective. Representative classes include “Human Behavior in the Social Environment,” “Race, Gender & Inequality” and “Introduction to Social Welfare Policy”.
In their second year, students have the opportunity to focus on one of two concentrations: Children, Youth and Families, or Community Mental Health. The Children, Youth and Families concentration focuses on the risk and resilience model, in which social workers act as advocates and practitioners. The Community Mental Health concentration focuses on the implementation of innovative case management techniques. Representative second-year electives include “Advanced Psychosocial Assessment and Diagnosis,” “Family Violence Across the Lifespan” and “Legal Issues in Social Work Practice.”
You’ll be required to complete a total of 1,080 hours of fieldwork. California State University-East Bay maintains fieldwork placement partnerships with various social service organizations and agencies throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
California State University-East Bay MSW Admission Requirements: Cal State East Bay is one of the MSW programs in California that requires separate applications to the university and the Department of Social Work. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 2.8 or higher.
Key Highlights For California State University-East Bay MSW Students
• CSU East Bay participates in two specialized fieldwork stipend programs: the Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Training Program and the SF Bay Area Integrated Behavioral Health MSW Training Program.• As a condition of graduation, students at this MSW in California must submit either a master’s thesis or a yearlong research project.
• California State University-East Bay awarded 79 MSW degrees in 2020.
21. California State University - San Marcos
MSW Programs Offered: Two Year MSW (On-Campus), Three Year MSW (Hybrid), and One Year Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
Two Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist
Three Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist
One Year Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist
About California State University-San Marcos: One of the attractions of the MSW program at California State University-San Marcos is its versatility: This MSW in California offers options that can be completed in one, two or three years, and its second-year focus is the Advanced Generalist concentration, which is relevant to a broad scope of social work practice in many different community settings. Cost-conscious students will also be attracted to this program because Cal State San Marcos belongs to California’s state university system, so its tuition is comparatively low.
California State University-San Marcos MSW Program Details: Cal State-San Marcos’s traditional 60-credit MSW curriculum is intended to be completed in two years. Classes are held weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the main campus 35 miles north of San Diego. The university also offers a 30-credit Advanced Standing track for students who’ve completed their foundational studies while earning a bachelor’s degree in social work. The Advanced Standing track takes one year to complete and is equivalent to the second year of the traditional 60-credit MSW program.
The school also offers a part-time MSW track that’s designed to take three years to complete. This track was set up to accommodate the needs of working students. Most courses are taught on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 5:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. using a synchronous online platform, but some classes involve commuting to the San Marcos campus.
Foundational classes throughout the first 30 credits include “Foundations of Social Work,” “Social Welfare Policy” and “Law and Ethics in Social Work.” Classes throughout the final 30 credits include “Clinical Assessment and Evidence Based Treatment,” “Trauma and Addiction” and “Policy and Administration.”
Fieldwork is a vital component of Cal State San Marcos’s MSW programs as it is with the programs of all accredited MSW programs in California. To graduate, students must complete a minimum of 1,096 hours of fieldwork. Cal State San Marcos maintains fieldwork partnerships with schools, family service and child welfare agencies, in-patient and outpatient mental health clinics, substance abuse treatment facilities, medical units of hospitals, veteran’s and active duty military support programs, hospice and palliative care programs and forensic settings throughout San Diego, Orange County and Riverside Counties.
California State University-San Marcos MSW Admission Requirements: Admission to this MSW degree program requires a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the most recent 60 credits of classes. Candidates for the Advanced Standing MSW program are expected to have a 3.5 GPA or higher in their last 60 credits.
Key Highlights For California State University-San Marcos MSW Students
• CSUMB’s Department of Social Work is affiliated with the School of Health Sciences and Human Services.• As a condition of graduation, MSW at CSUSM students have the option of writing a thesis or passing a comprehensive examination.
• In addition to offering the Title IV-E Child Welfare program option, Cal State San Marcos offers a specialized Title IV-E Child Welfare option in Tribal Child Welfare
22. Loma Linda University - Loma Linda
MSW Programs Offered: 2-year Full-time Traditional MSW (On-Campus), 3-year Part-time Traditional MSW (On-Campus), 4-Year Traditional MSW (On-Campus), MSW 3-Year Part-Time (Online), and MSW Advanced Standing (On-Campus)
About Loma Linda University: One of the things that makes this program stand out as one of the best MSW programs in California is its many options: This MSW in California offers five different MSW tracks as well as both Advanced Clinical and Advanced Generalist concentrations. Though Loma Linda University is part of the Seventh-day Adventist educational system, the university admits students from many religious backgrounds. Loma Linda’s MSW degree program is affiliated with the university’s School of Behavioral Health.
Loma Linda University MSW Program Details: Loma Linda’s MSW curriculum consists of 78 credits of classroom courses and 21 credits of fieldwork experience. To remain in the program, students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
You can complete the traditional MSW curriculum on campus in two, three or four years, depending upon whether you attend school full-time or part-time. The university also offers a one-year advanced Standing option for students who are recent graduates of a bachelor’s of social work program. If you prefer distance learning, the university offers an online MSW option set up to be completed in three years.
If you enroll in one of the campus MSW options, you can expect to attend classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will be reserved for your fieldwork experiences. If you enroll in Loma Linda’s distance learning MSW program, your coursework will combine asynchronous and synchronous experiences. Your synchronous class will be on Wednesday evening between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Loma Linda’s second-year Advanced Generalist concentration teaches students how to apply critical thinking, evidence-informed practice and ethical principles to their work. The university’s Clinical Practical concentration emphasizes a holistic approach to interventions that support assessment, diagnosis and treatment of at-risk individuals.
Students in both the online and campus MSW tracks must complete 1,080 hours of fieldwork before graduating. Fieldwork placements use hospitals, clinics and sanatoriums affiliated with Adventist Health’s integrated healthcare network.
Loma Linda University MSW Admission Requirements: Loma Linda University only accepts students with an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university who’ve maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher into their MSW program. You’ll also need to write a personal statement and submit three professional references.
Key Highlights For Loma Linda University MSW Students
• Loma Linda offers classes that can enable you to become certified in Play Therapy or Drug and Alcohol Counseling.• Loma Linda offers two joint degree options: a 90-credit MSW/Master of Science (MS) in gerontology and a 90-credit MSW/MS in Criminal Justice. You can complete the necessary coursework for a joint degree in either two or three years.
• As an MSW student at Loma Linda University, you can participate in CALSWEC’s Title IV-E program.
23. California State University, Dominguez Hills - Carson
MSW Programs Offered: MSW Two-Year-Full-Time (On-Campus) and MSW Three-Year Part-Time (On-Campus)
MSW Two-Year-Full-Time Concentrations Offered: Children, Youth, & Families (CYF); Community Mental Health (CMH); and Community Capacity Building (CCB)
MSW Three-Year Part-Time Concentrations Offered: Community Mental Health (CMH)
About California State University, Dominguez Hills: If you’re looking for an MSW in California that combines affordability with high-quality academics, California State University-Dominguez Hills is well worth checking out. Money Magazine, U.S. News & World Report and Business Insider have all ranked CSDUH high in value. CSDUH’s MSW program is the only MSW program in the United States whose theoretical foundations are grounded in critical race theory and intersectionality.
California State University, Dominguez Hills MSW Program Details: Cal State Dominguez Hills offers two enrollment options. Both options are 60 credits, and both are taught on campus, but the first, for full-time students, is designed to be completed in two years while the second, for part-time students, is intended to be completed in three years. Unlike many other MSW programs in California, CSU Dominguez Hills does not offer an Advanced Standing option for students who’ve earned bachelor’s degrees in social work.
Full-time students attend classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Full-time students also have their choice of three second-year concentrations. Children, Youth & Families is designed for individuals interested in working with child welfare services or family service agencies. Community Mental Health is intended for individuals interested in increasing access to high-quality mental health services among underserved demographics. Community Capacity Building focuses on administrative tasks like designing assessment and research tools that will enhance the delivery of mental health services within the community.
Since the part-time option was set up to accommodate the needs of working students, many of the three-year MSW classes are scheduled on weekends. Students enrolled in the part-time MSW may only choose Community Mental Health as their concentration.
Compelling fieldwork experiences are a hallmark of all the best MSW programs in California, and CSUDH’s MSW program is no exception. Two-year students spend between 16 and 20 hours a week at their fieldwork placements for a total of 1,028 hours. Students enrolled in the three-year program don’t begin fieldwork until their second year of studies.
California State University, Dominguez Hills MSW Admission Requirements: Successful applicants to this program will have bachelor’s degrees from a regionally accredited college or university with a GPA of 2.75 or higher in their most recent 60 credits of classes. Student transcripts must show a class in statistics and a class in human lifespan development or its equivalent.
Key Highlights For California State University, Dominguez Hills MSW Students
• Cal State Dominguez Hills offers four stipend opportunities: CalSWEC’s Title IV-E child welfare training program; a stipend funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), intended for individuals who are committed to working with DCFS after graduation; a stipend funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), intended for individuals who are committed to working with LACDMH after graduation; and a stipend funded by the Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium, intended for individuals who are interested in working with the elderly.• To graduate, you’ll need to complete a culminating experience, either a project based on your fieldwork experiences, a thesis or a passing score on a comprehensive examination.
• Throughout 2019-2020, CSDUH awarded MSW degrees to 99 people.
24. California Baptist University - Riverside
MSW Programs Offered: Traditional MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing (On-Campus), and MSW (Online)
About California Baptist University Hills: California Baptist University is a Christian university that’s affiliated with the California Southern Baptist Convention. While the school accepts students of all faiths, CBU incorporates faith-based principles into its MSW curriculum, and if this is uncomfortable for you, you may want to consider one of the other MSW programs in California. CBU’s Department of Social Work operates under the auspices of its College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
California Baptist University Hills MSW Program Details: California Baptist University offers three options for students who want to pursue a master’s of social work degree. The traditional MSW program is a 60-credit curriculum that’s intended to take two years to complete. This program is offered both on CBU’s campus in Riverside and online. Classes are scheduled during the fall and spring semesters.
The online MSW program follows the same curriculum as the campus MSW program except that coursework is delivered through an asynchronous distance learning format that allows students to balance work and family obligations most effectively. Students enrolled in CBU’s online MSW program must attend four two-day residencies at the Riverside campus over the two years they’re students.
CBU also offers a one-year, 30-credit Advanced Standing program for students who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree in social work.
Like several other accredited MSW programs in California, CBU offers a generalist approach to social work that prepares students to become practitioners in a variety of different settings. First-year courses include “Social Work Practice,” “Case Management” and “Human Behavior and Social Environment,” while second-year courses include “Advanced Generalist Practice,” “Mental Health and Psychopathology” and “Social Work Management and Leadership.” Students also have the opportunity to take electives that focus on challenges associated with specific demographics.
Like all the best MSW programs in California, California Baptist University places a high premium on fieldwork. Students enrolled in the 60-credit MSW program must complete 900 hours of fieldwork; Advanced Standing students must complete 500 hours of fieldwork.
California Baptist University Hills MSW Admission Requirements: If you want to enroll in California Baptist University’s MSW program, you’ll need to have graduated from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 2.75 or higher. You’ll need three professional references, and you’ll need to submit a comprehensive essay that addresses your professional goals and why you think California Baptist University can help you meet them.
Key Highlights For California Baptist University Hills MSW Students
• CBU’s Department of Social Work houses the Center for Community Engagement and Social Innovation, a resource that connects, churches, government agencies, schools, nonprofits and other community organizations connect with scholars who can help them with research ideas.• CBU’s syllabus includes a number of unique electives you won’t find at other MSW programs in California such as “Social Work With Survivors of Human Trafficking” and “Social Work Practice With Displaced Populations” (which includes an international travel component).
• Seventy-five students were awarded master’s degrees in social work from California Baptist University in 2020.
25. University of Massachusetts Global - Irvine
MSW Programs Offered: MSW Advanced Standing (Online) and MSW Standard (Online)
About University of Massachusetts Global - Irvine: University of Massachusetts Global offers one of the best online MSW programs in California because the university takes an innovative approach to adult education. All classes are taught online using a technique called iDEAL (Instructional Design for Engaged Adult Learning). This makes UMass Global a better fit than other MSW programs in California for someone who may be returning to school after a long break. UMass Global’s MSW degree is offered under the auspices of its School of Arts and Sciences.
University of Massachusetts Global - Irvine MSW Program Details: University of Massachusetts has two MSW options: a traditional 69-credit MSW program that should take two years to complete and a 39-credit Advanced Standing program that can be completed in one year. The Advanced Standing option is open to students who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree in social work at an accredited college or university. Students in both MSW programs must maintain a 3.0 grade point average throughout their course of study to avoid being placed on academic probation. The delivery platform is asynchronous and no campus residency is required.
During their first year, students enrolled in the 69-credit program take foundational classes such as “Diversity and Social Justice,” “Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families” and “Social Work Practice With Groups, Communities, and Organizations”.
University of Massachusetts Global is one of the accredited MSW programs in California that focuses on an Advanced Generalist concentration because the university feels this is the best way to prepare students to think critically and meet competing demands. Second-year courses taught from the Advanced Generalist perspective include “Social Work Law and Ethics,” “Social Work and Human Sexuality” and “Advanced Generalist Practice”.
Students enrolled in the 69-credit MSW program are required to complete 1,000 hours of fieldwork. Students enrolled in the 39-credit MSW program are required to complete 600 hours of fieldwork.
University of Massachusetts Global - Irvine MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school with a GPA of 3.0 or higher for their most recent 30 credits of work. Additionally, they must write an essay that references two personal life experiences that influenced their choice of social work as a career, and they must submit two professional references.
Key Highlights For University of Massachusetts Global - Irvine MSW Students
• UMass Global’s curriculum is specifically designed to satisfy all the academic requirements for LCSW licensure in California and Washington State.• Social work is UMass Global’s most popular course of study. For the 2020-2021 academic year, UMass Global had 122 students enrolled in its MSW programs.
• Students without a baccalaureate degree in social work may petition for admission into the Advanced Standing MSW program by submitting a portfolio that demonstrates preparation for graduate studies at the Advanced Standing level.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Are The Total Number Of Accredited MSW Programs In California?
As per the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), currently, there are 29 accredited Master Of Social Work programs in California.| Total MSW Programs in California |
| 29 |
How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Hour In California?
The average salary of an MSW graduate per hour in California is $40.72.How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Year In California?
The average salary of an MSW graduate per year in California is $84,690.
Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.
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