There are two universities with campuses in Massachusetts that offer online Master of Social Work (MSW) programs. These programs, which includes Boston University, offer online MSW programs with Clinical Social Work Practice concentrations and are 100% online in that they do not require students to visit the campus during the program.

Please note: All online MSW programs require students to complete field education at a local health services agency.

The Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) offers an online MSW program with three tracks, two designed for traditional standing students (those who have not earned a Bachelor of Social Work) and one for advanced standing students (students who have earned a BSW from a CSWE accredited institution). BUSSW’s traditional standing program is unique in that it offers a Human Experience Track designed for students who have at least two years of experience in the social services. Students in this track are required to complete fewer field education hours compared to the traditional program at BUSSW (1,000 versus 1,200 hours). All three tracks are offered in a part-time format.

In addition to schools with a physical campus in Massachusetts, there are dozens of graduate schools that offer online MSW programs that accept students from Massachusetts. The majority of the programs are offered fully online and do not require students to visit the campus during the program, but some schools do require a limited number of campus visits per year.

For students who are interested in out-of-state programs, some schools offer the same tuition for in-state and out-of-state students, while others do not. Check with the school for more information on tuition costs.

In the tables below, click on the school name to learn more about the programs offered by that school.

All online MSW programs require field education at a local health services agency. Programs that are 100% online do not require students to visit the campus during the program.

The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers issues four types of social work license: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and Licensed Social Work Associate (LSWA). Below are some common steps to become a social worker in Massachusetts, which you should confirm with Massachusetts’ board of social workers. Information regarding licensure in Massachusetts was last retrieved in August 2020.

For more detailed information on becoming a social worker in Massachusetts, visit the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers. You can also refer to our guides on general requirements for becoming a social worker and becoming an LCSW.

Last updated: September 2020