Fordham University MSW | OnlineFordham University MSW | OnlineFordham University MSW | Online

Earn an Online MSW from Fordham’s Top-Ranked and CSWE-Accredited Graduate School of Social Service.Earn an Online MSW from Fordham’s Top-Ranked and CSWE-Accredited Graduate School of Social Service.Earn an Online MSW from Fordham’s Top-Ranked and CSWE-Accredited Graduate School of Social Service.

Flexible Time to Start and Complete — Tailor your education to your experience level and choose between full- or part-time pacing. Each track offers multiple annual start dates.
Top-Ranked — Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service is ranked No. 28 on the U.S. News & World Report’s August 2024 list of top social work graduate schools in the United States.¹
Bring Your Whole Self to the Field of Social Work — Develop your sense of caring for the whole person, and learn what it means to bring that to your professional work through an MSW program rooted in social justice and service to others.

Pursue an esteemed online MSW from the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service (GSS), and gain the skills you need to practice effectively across social work contexts while advancing the profession in the 21st century.

Online MSW Admissions

The Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service is now offering our future-focused online MSW program to students across the country. You are eligible to apply to the online Master of Social Work program if you earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

You can choose to begin classes in January, May, or September.

Learn more about the admissions requirements.

Application Deadlines

Full Time applicants must apply before November 5, 2024 and Part Time applicants must apply before November 22, 2024 for the January 2025 cohort.

Multiple Plans of Study to Fit Your Needs

We have designed the online MSW program with multiple plans of study so you can choose the one that best fits your educational and professional background as well as your schedule.

Traditional online MSW:

This program is designed for those who earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. You will complete 62 credits of generalist and advanced direct practice coursework that can be completed in as few as 16 months full time, 24 months part-time, or 32 months part-time.

Advanced standing online MSW:

If you earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or completed the first year of a CSWE-accredited MSW program, you may be eligible for advanced standing. This plan of study enables you to bypass the foundation coursework you have already completed and earn your advanced MSW degree in as few as eight months full time or 16 months part time.

Learn more about planning your studies.

Tailor the Online MSW Curriculum to Your Interests

You will gain the skills you need to work effectively across all social work contexts through our future-focused, advanced integrated practice curriculum. The first half of the curriculum focuses on foundation master’s-level social work concepts related to theory and practice. In the second phase of the curriculum, you will take advanced integrated practice courses and have a choice to concentrate on one or more practice areas.

With the guidance of an academic adviser, you will create your own curriculum of courses, providing you with all the professional skills you need to reach your career goals.

The following four areas of focus are currently offered as part of the online MSW program:

Individuals and Families:

Learn how to provide direct services that address clients’ environment and overall well-being.

Organizations and Community:

Be prepared to work effectively with entire communities and various types of organizations, including private and public companies and not-for-profits.

Evaluation:

Become a more versatile social worker as you study and apply new ideas in the field.

Policy Practice and Advocacy:

Develop skills related to managing organizations; navigating systems; creating policy; and advancing social, economic, and political change.

Field Education Near Your Community

Field education is a critical part of a social work education for both on-campus students and online Master of Social Work students. Our online MSW program has been designed to give you the richest field experience possible by having you begin field education shortly after you start classes.

OnlineMSW@Fordham has partnered with agencies across the country that share our core values and meet our high standards for practice. While enrolled, you will complete field education at faculty-approved agencies near your community. You will work with a placement specialist to identify partner sites near your area where you can apply theory to practice to help clients in need.

After completing field education and graduating from the program, you will feel confident pursuing employment in a setting where you can apply your classroom knowledge and hands-on skills to benefit clients.

Learn more about field education.

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service (GSS) has been educating practitioners for more than a century and is one of the largest schools of social work in the nation.

Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service is ranked No. 28 on U.S. News and World Report’s August 2024 list of top graduate social work schools in the United States.²

Online MSW Student Experience

OnlineMSW@Fordham offers a fulfilling, transformative academic experience that connects you to a community that shares your values from wherever you have an internet connection.

Earn your degree without relocating to attend classes on campus in New York.
Attend weekly live classes and gain diverse perspectives from peers and faculty.
Complete engaging, self-paced assignments that reinforce concepts learned in class.
Receive faculty mentoring through the online campus.
Gain in-person feedback from your placement site supervisor.

Student Support

We take a holistic approach to online social work education, offering comprehensive support that starts when you inquire about the program and continues after you graduate. Here are a few ways we support you:

personalized guidance throughout the application process
dedicated advising and field placement assistance
invitations to industry events and exposure to new research in the field
24/7 technical support

Visit our student experience page to learn more about how we support you as you pursue your Master of Social Work online.

Graduate Prepared to Pursue Licensure and Employment

The need for social workers is growing according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has projected the number of jobs in the field to increase 12 percent from 2020 to 2030. After earning your Master of Social Work online from Fordham University, you will be prepared to help meet that demand as you develop into a social work leader with abilities that cut across practice settings.

We provide both the foundation and specialized education you need to serve others and advance the profession at all levels. Here is a sample of professional environments where you could pursue employment after earning your MSW online and obtaining the required licensure: