3 Best MSW Programs in South Carolina (Online & Campus) – 2024
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Is a career as a licensed social worker in South Carolina the right move for you? It may well be if you’re interested in a profession that offers job security, a comfortable salary, and the opportunity to help others. Licensed social workers in the Palmetto State make $59,270 annually, and job opportunities in this field are expected to rise by 17 percent in the coming decade. MSW programs in South Carolina are offered as classroom and online options, so you can choose a learning option that will fit your lifestyle. Reading through the list below of the 3 best MSW programs in South Carolina for 2024 is the perfect way to get started.
RECOMMENDED ONLINE MSW PROGRAMSWHAT ARE THE BEST MSW PROGRAMS IN SOUTH CAROLINA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2024?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 3 Best campus-based and online MSW Programs in South Carolina.
1) University of South Carolina - Columbia, Charleston, & Greenville
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (Two-Year Full-time MSW (On-Campus), Three-Year Part-time MSW (On-Campus), and 11-Month Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus))
MSW Concentrations Offered: Children, Youth & Families; Health & Mental Health; and Community, Social, & Economic Development
About University of South Carolina: The University of South Carolina is the largest institution of higher learning in the Palmetto State, with seven campuses throughout the state. Its campus-based Master’s of Social Work degree is offered at its Columbia, Greenville, and Charleston campuses.
USC is widely considered one of the best MSW programs in South Carolina because it offers flexible enrollment options and more variety in its fieldwork placements than other MSW schools in South Carolina. USC’s MSW degrees have three specialized areas of practice: Children, Youth, and Families; Health and Mental Health; and Community, Social, and Economic Development.
University of South Carolina MSW Program Details: USC’s traditional MSW curriculum includes 60 credits and nearly 1,000 hours of fieldwork. During your foundational year, you will take generalist courses such as “Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II” and “Advanced Theory for Social Work Practice.” During your advanced year, you’ll take electives and perform fieldwork that will help you gain expertise in your chosen practice area.
USC’s advanced MSW curriculum is designed for students who have completed a baccalaureate social work degree. You’ll take one semester of bridge classes such as “Professional Development Bridge” and “Advanced Theory for Social Work Practice” before proceeding into the advanced year curriculum associated with the traditional MSW program. Bridge classes are scheduled Mondays through Fridays during the summer semester.
The university offers three completion pathways: a two-year track for full-time students, a three-year track for part-time students, and an 11-month track for students enrolled in the Advanced Standing program. Full-time students attend classes Mondays through Thursdays during the fall and spring terms; part-time students attend classes on Saturdays.
You’ll begin doing two days of fieldwork a week starting the fifth week of your 16-week field instruction course. Placements will be chosen according to your specialization area. The University of South Carolina maintains fieldwork partnerships with more than 400 community organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, including community health agencies, schools, and hospitals.
University of South Carolina MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants to USC’s traditional MSW program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants to USC’s advanced MSW program must have a BSW from an accredited college or university. You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in your undergraduate studies. You’ll need to submit a current CV or resume, a statement of purpose, and two professional references with your application.
Key Highlights For University of South Carolina MSW Students
• The University of South Carolina awarded 153 MSW degrees in 2021.
•
U.S. News & World Report ranks USC’s Master’s of Social Work program as the 62nd best in the nation.
• This MSW in South Carolina offers opportunities for international fieldwork experiences.
• USC’s College of Social Work offers four combination MSW degrees: a dual MSW/MPH (Health Service Policy and Management) in conjunction with the Arnold School of Public Health; a dual MSW/MPH (Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior) in conjunction with the Arnold School of Public Health; a dual MSW/MPA in conjunction with the Department of Political Science; and a dual MSW/JD in conjunction with the University of South Carolina’s School of Law.
2) Winthrop University - Rock Hill
MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time Traditional MSW (On-Campus), Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Traditional MSW (Online), and Advanced Standing MSW (Online)
Full-Time Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Empowerment Practice Across Systems
Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Empowerment Practice Across Systems
Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Empowerment Practice
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Empowerment Practice
About Winthrop University: Though Winthrop University is a public school, its small class sizes and engaged faculty are more reminiscent of a private university. Winthrop offers two MSW programs in South Carolina: a 60-credit traditional MSW and a 39-credit Advanced Standing MSW. Both MSW choices can also be pursued as distance learning options. Winthrop’s MSW curriculum combines generalist classes with a focus on empowerment practice across systems. This specialization will train you to assess the impact structural power has on vulnerable populations.
Winthrop University MSW Program Details: It will take you two years to complete the 60-credit traditional MSW if you enroll full-time. Classes begin in August and are generally scheduled to meet late afternoons and early evenings. Your courses will include “Human Behavior in the Social Environment,” “Empowerment Practice Concepts,” and “Psychopathology & Empowerment Practice.” You’ll begin doing fieldwork during the second semester of your first year. First-year students do 16 hours of fieldwork a week in their first year and 24 hours in their second year.
You can also enroll in the 60-credit MSW on a part-time basis. Your coursework will be identical to the coursework that full-time students take, and you’ll attend classes one long weekend per month. Starting in your second semester, you’ll participate in 12 hours of fieldwork per week. This enrollment path is designed to be completed in three years.
The 39-credit Advanced Standing MSW is intended for students who graduated from a college or university with a social work baccalaureate degree. Classes begin in May and comprise the second-year classes that traditional MSW students take. The entire curriculum takes one year to complete.
Both the traditional and Advanced Standing MSW degrees are also offered as distance learning options. Online classes begin in the spring, summer, and fall, and the curriculum has no campus residency requirement.
This traditional MSW involves 900 hours of fieldwork, while the Advanced Standing MSW involves 660 hours of fieldwork. Campus-based students will be able to take advantage of the more than 300 partnerships Winthrop University’s Department of Social Work has forged with community organizations throughout Rock Hill and the surrounding communities. Online MSW students are responsible for finding their own fieldwork placements, but the Department of Social Work’s dedicated field placement specialist can assist you with that endeavor.
Winthrop University MSW Admission Requirements: If you’re applying to the traditional MSW program, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. If you’re applying to the Advanced Standing MSW program, you’ll need a BSW degree from an accredited institution. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in your undergraduate studies. For admission into this MSW in South Carolina, you’ll also need to submit a current resume, three professional references, and a 3- to-5 page statement of purpose.
Key Highlights For Winthrop University MSW Students
• In 2021, Winthrop University gave out 56 MSW degrees.
• Non-degree-seeking students can enroll in two graduate-level MSW courses: “Psychopathology & Empowerment Practice” and “Psychodiagnostics & Social Work Practice.”
• Winthrop University lets you complete an MSW while completing a Graduate Professional Certificate Program in Management through the College of Business Administration.
• The Department of Social Work also offers part-time traditional and Advanced Standing MSW programs that meet weekends on campus.
3) Limestone University - Gaffney
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice in Mental Health
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice in Mental Health
About Limestone University: Though Limestone University has been offering a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree since 1985, the university is relatively new to social work master’s programs in South Carolina. Like other MSW programs in South Carolina, the university offers a traditional MSW degree and an Advanced Standing MSW degree. The program’s specialization is Advanced Generalist Practice in Mental Health, which will provide you with the skills necessary to work independently in mental health organizations.
Limestone University MSW Program Details: The 84-credit traditional MSW program takes two years to complete. Foundational first-year coursework includes classes like “Diversity, Social Justice, and Culturally Competent Social Work Practice,” “Advanced Social Welfare Policy and Services,” and “Legal and Ethical Issues in Clinical Social Work.” Advanced second-year coursework includes classes like “Social Work Intervention” and “Human Behavior & The Social Environment.” This MSW in South Carolina entails 900 hours of fieldwork.
The Advanced Practice MSW, which is open to students who’ve earned a baccalaureate degree in social work, only takes a year to complete because you’ll skip foundational coursework. You’ll be required to complete 400 hours of fieldwork.
Fieldwork is a collaborative partnership between the university and the social service agency. While you’ll have some say over your fieldwork placement, you can only select a placement from a list of agencies the university has already vetted.
Limestone University MSW Admission Requirements: This program is only available to residents of South Carolina. You’ll need a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university for admission into the traditional MSW program and a BSW degree from an accredited college or university for entry into the Advanced Practice track.
Key Highlights For Limestone University MSW Students
• Limestone University did not award any MSW degrees in 2021
• Limestone University provides students with liability insurance during their field education experiences.
• Though Limestone University is not yet one of the accredited MSW programs in South Carolina, graduates have been approved to sit for the South Carolina LMSW licensure exam.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Are The Total Number Of Accredited MSW Programs In South Carolina?
As per the
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), currently, there are 3 accredited Master Of Social Work programs in South Carolina.
Total MSW Programs in South Carolina |
3 |
How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Hour In South Carolina?
The average salary of an MSW graduate per hour in South Carolina is $27.34.
How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Year In South Carolina?
The average salary of an MSW graduate per year in South Carolina is $56,870.
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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