Online social work degree programs in Virginia provide a convenient pathway for aspiring social workers to pursue their education and career goals. These programs offer a blend of rigorous academic coursework and practical field experiences, tailored to meet the needs of students balancing work and personal commitments.
Virginia’s online social work programs ensure that graduates are well-prepared to advocate for social justice, provide support to diverse populations, and meet the challenges of modern social work.
This guide highlights some of the popular online social work programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels in Virginia. Explore each option to make an informed decision about your educational path.
Online Social Work Programs in Virginia
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online social work degree programs in Virginia:
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Liberty University
- George Mason University
- National University
- Walden University
- Grand Canyon University
- Simmons University
- Chamberlain University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
The online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) requires you to complete 120 credits, including 46 credits in the major.
Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through 2027, the BSW degree from VCU prepares you for beginning-level generalist social work practice, which demands a broad base of knowledge and field experience about how individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations function, as well as an appreciation of cultural diversity.
This practice model equips you with a broad base of knowledge about individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations, coupled with an appreciation of cultural diversity. General education courses provide an essential foundation for the upper-level professional curriculum and are required for admission to junior and senior social work courses.
With online courses, your studies will be guided by principles of promoting social justice, human rights, diversity, cultural competence, and ethical practice. Class attendance is critical to mastering the knowledge and skills taught in specific courses.
Throughout the program, you develop essential social work skills and professional competencies through activities that include live presence and interaction, collaborative teamwork, team projects (written and oral), presentations, and experiential activities, such as role plays and videotaping of clinical simulations. another time or through an alternate means.
The primary goals of the BSW program at VCU are to provide:
- An integrated curriculum based on the knowledge, skills, ethics, and values essential for beginning generalist social work practice.
- An educational experience that facilitates the critical analysis of social work knowledge and practice.
- Classroom and field instruction experiences designed to promote culturally sensitive practice with diverse and oppressed groups.
- An environment that encourages lifelong learning and prepares you for professional growth and development.
Upon completing this program, you will know and know how to do the following:
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Engage diversity and difference in practice.
- Advance human rights and social, economic and environmental justice.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Engage in policy practice 6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
During the program, you will be exposed to a variety of skills and interventions — in the classroom and through field education — to use in social work settings. When you enter the field as professionals, you do so equipped with a nuanced understanding of the day-to-day demands of the job.
Field education in this BSW program consists of three sequential courses. They are SLWK 395 (Social Work Field Preparation) and SLWK 494 and 495 (Senior Field Instruction I and II). During Senior Field Instruction, BSW students complete a total of 400 hours over fall and spring semester at the rate of approximately 14 hours per week.
With more than 500 local nonprofits, organizations, and agencies, you will have an opportunity to spend your required field placements in the Greater Richmond community, gaining real-world training that builds on their in-class learning. Many of the on-site field instructors who are helping guide field education are themselves VCU social work alumni.
Due to the nature of field education, the actual learning activities at each agency vary widely. However, there are general objectives, or competencies, that you are expected to meet by the end of the internship. These competencies are demonstrated through your practice, as well as through several standard written assignments. Within the first few weeks of fieldwork, you will develop a learning plan with your field instructor that will specify what you will learn and how the learning will take place.
You will also be required to write at least one monthly process recording, which is an integral part of the learning experience in the field. These recordings provide you the opportunity to reflect on your work, build your self-awareness and share your experiences and thoughts with your instructor, and teach you how to relate theory to practice. The focus of any process recording could be work with an individual, family or couple; a small client group; a professional meeting; or a critical analysis of macro practice.
Upon completion of field education courses, you are expected to utilize knowledge, values, skills and cognitive and affective processes essential for entry-level generalist practice in such a way as to demonstrate:
- A understanding of the social work profession and commitment to its goals and ethics.
- The ability to assess professional strengths and weaknesses and to set goals for continued development of self-awareness.
- Skills in problem-solving with client systems. This includes the ability to identify and assess problems, select, implement and evaluate a plan of intervention.
- The ability to use theory and research to guide practice; – skill in understanding, developing and effectively using and terminating professional relationships.
- The ability to recognize the impact of diversity on client systems and professional relationships.
- The ability to understand the impact of oppression on all people and basic strategies to alleviate the impact.
- Skill in determining community resources and in making effective referrals,
- The ability to set appropriate priorities, organize work and manage time.
You may apply for admission to the BSW professional program when you have completed the required general education pre-professional curriculum, have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50, and have junior standing (54 credits minimum). It will be necessary to attend advising before submitting this application.
To continue in the professional preparation curriculum, you must meet the program admission standards. You must earn a “C” or better in all 300-level social work courses before entering 400-level courses. They must have a “C” or better in all required social work courses before graduation.
You can apply for support such as scholarships and the Child Welfare Stipend Program.
Liberty University
Online Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW)
Liberty University’s CSWE-accredited 120-credit online Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) degree can assist you in addressing critical social challenges through an understanding of human psychology. You will learn to evaluate, engage with, and intervene for individuals, families, and communities. With the skills you acquire from this online bachelor’s degree in social work, you can assist the people of your community in taking a step toward healthier lives.
To earn your online BSSW degree, you will need to complete 120 credit hours, including 21 credits for Major Foundational Courses and 63 credits for Major Core. You must also maintain 2.5 overall grade point average (GPA) throughout the program.
Liberty University’s online BSSW is taught by expert professors with years of real-world experience and a vested interest in your success. The program’s curriculum has been carefully developed using extensive research, the knowledge of social work professionals, and rigorous accreditation requirements.
Moreover, at Liberty, you won’t have to put your life on hold to earn your bachelor’s in social work degree online. The flexible nature of this online BSSW program allows you to complete your assignments when it’s most convenient for you.
The online delivery of the program also allows you to complete your field experience requirements at a location near you, so you can begin serving your community in a human-services capacity before you finish your degree.
Social work is not a one-size-fits-all field which is why Liberty University’s offer a variety of specializations tailored to meet diverse needs and interests. Each specialization is designed to help equip you with the specific knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience needed to begin your journey in your chosen area. You can study the ways to assess and address individual and community needs, develop and implement effective intervention strategies, and advocate for those who can’t always speak for themselves.
- Generalized Track (No Specialization): This track can give you a deep understanding of the practice of social work and develop effective intervention strategies to address social challenges. The flexible online coursework is paired with real-world field placements, allowing you to apply what you learn in your own community. This track can help you prepare for entry-level positions in healthcare, schools, and human services agencies, or for further education to advance your career in social work.
- Child and Family Track: This track is designed to help empower you with the knowledge and skills to help bring hope and healing to families facing a myriad of challenges. From addressing grief and family stress to tackling issues like neglect, substance abuse, bullying, poverty, and immigration, you can explore a range of critical areas that impact youth and their families today.
- Healthcare, Aging, and Medical Track: This track can help equip you with the core knowledge, competencies, and abilities essential for excelling in diverse healthcare settings. This track is meticulously designed to train you to address vital social issues through a comprehensive lens of human psychology. You can dive deep into assessing, connecting with, and providing crucial interventions for individuals, families, and communities, guiding them toward healthier lives.
Through Liberty’s online social work classes, you can receive specialized training in assessments, intervention strategies, and counseling techniques. These skills can help prepare you to practice as a human services professional in diverse communities. As a social worker, you can be empowered to help families and individuals make positive life changes, no matter their background.
Liberty University’s online BSSW degree can benefit you in several career paths. You can sharpen the skills you need for a career as a social worker — preparing for future graduate studies or for other behavioral science roles.
Your skills and hands-on experience with a degree in human services can lead to various career opportunities. Research, criminal justice, education, government, and other important management roles all require advanced training. Liberty University’s online BSSW degree can help prepare you to fill the increasing needs in the private, public, and nonprofit markets. With people-focused understanding, you can be a valuable human services asset.
To apply, you need to:
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor.
- Send official high school transcripts or official GED test scores.
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system).
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment.
George Mason University
Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
George Mason University’s online CSWE-accredited MSW program is suitable for students of all academic backgrounds. Whether you are currently a social work professional aiming to enhance your skills or new to the field, this program is designed to assist you in advancing your career through direct client service. Work experience is not necessary; merely a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required.
The part-time online MSW is 60 credit hours and can be completed in 10 semesters. MSW classes for part-time online students are offered in an asynchronous format, allowing you to view sessions interactively at your convenience. However, some courses may offer synchronous participation opportunities.
George Mason University’s online MSW also offers an Advanced Standing program for those qualified with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited institution. This competitive program allows you the opportunity to complete your MSW in less time, requiring just 33 credit hours.
Graduates of this program are prepared to work in a variety of social work settings, including, but not limited to, services for aging and disability, family assistance, alcohol and drug abuse counseling, international NGOs, child protection, lobbying and advocacy, poverty alleviation, employee assistance, and school social work.
Courses for George Mason University’s online MSW are offered in a convenient, part-time, online format that is mostly asynchronous so you can study when and wherever works best for you. You will also complete two supervised field practica which are in-person learning opportunities in local communities to apply your social work learning to real-world practice. The online curriculum mirrors George Mason’s on-campus program.
George Mason University’s MSW program offers a choice between two specializations: 1) Adults & Healthy Aging or 2) Children, Youth, & Families. To graduate with the MSW degree, you must successfully complete the generalist courses and the courses for one specialization. Before beginning specialization courses, you must complete all generalist courses.
Generalist courses include:
- Foundations of Social Work and Social Welfare
- Human Behavior and Social Systems
- Poverty, Oppression, and Inequity
- Organizing and Advocating for Change
- Foundations of Direct Practice
- Generalist Field Practicum and Seminar I and II
- Psychopathology
George Mason University’s Practicum Education Program Office works to support students by placing them in a broad range of interdisciplinary social work settings where they gain hands-on field experience. These structured interactive learning experiences prepare you for professional practice in environments that provide a globalized approach to learning.
You will have opportunities to demonstrate social work competencies in your home communities through local, in-person internships. The university works with over 400 field practicum agencies in Northern Virginia, the Washington Metropolitan area (DMV), and within the United States (50 states) to ensure its students have access to organizations that span beyond the traditional divisions of social work.
The online MSW program accepts applications on a rolling basis. Admissions requirements for the program are:
- Completed online application.
- $75 application fee.
- Up-to-date resume.
- 2 Letters of Recommendation.
- Statement of Purpose essay.
- Undergrad GPA-minimum 3.0.
- GPA Addendum Essay if undergrad GPA below 3.0.
- All official undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
- One Letter of Recommendation must be from a supervisor
Additional requirements for Advanced Standing include:
- A BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
- BSW must have been received in the past 5 years.
- Letters of Recommendation (one must be from BSW program director or full-time faculty).
- BSW field evaluation.
- Undergrad GPA minimum of 3.2 (must submit undergraduate and graduate transcripts).
- Video interview.
National University
Online Master of Social Work (MSW) – General Track
National University’s CSWE-accredited 60-credit online MSW program prepares you for a wide range of careers in social services. The program is tailored to meet CSWE standards, ensuring you acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and practical experience to excel in professional settings.
The Generalist Track requires you to complete 60 credit hours, beginning with foundational courses and progressing to advanced courses. Your final project, or capstone, will conclude the program.
Throughout the program, you will study modern social work practices, ethics, and communication, developing essential social work skills. The program integrates online coursework with hands-on practicum experiences, where you will work directly with individuals, groups, and communities, under the guidance of a local field supervisor.
Your foundational courses will include:
- Introduction to Social Work: This course provides an overview of social work practices, covering theories, concepts, and populations-at-risk. You will explore values, ethics, and the context of family and community in social work.
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment: This course focuses on diversity, cultural humility, and human rights, exploring social work with diverse populations. You will apply theories to social environments and human development.
- Social Work in Behavioral Health: This course introduces social work practice within behavioral health, examining laws, evidence-based practices, and service models related to mental health services.
- Ethics and Diversity in Social Work: This course explores ethical decision-making in social work and governmental policies guiding ethical practices. You will examine ethics necessary for effective advocacy for diverse populations.
- Social Work in Interdisciplinary Settings: This course introduces you to teamwork within interdisciplinary settings, exploring communication styles and research-based interventions used in integrated care.
- Generalist Practicum I and II: In these courses, you receive training in social work practice through supervised experiential learning within a social work or social services agency. You apply social work values and ethics, focusing on social justice and cultural competency, applying general intervention models across individuals, families, groups, and communities.
Advanced courses you will take include:
- Advanced Social Work with Children and Families: This course focuses on applying evidence-based practices with clients with complex needs. You will examine ethical considerations for working with individuals and families.
- Advanced Social Work in Medical Practice: This course covers theories, research, and practice models used in medical social work. You will explore theories related to resilience and behavior change.
- Advanced Social Work Practice in Mental Health: This course examines DSM-5 inclusion, focusing on mental health interventions. You will learn to differentiate between evidence-based practices and emerging research.
- Forensic Clinical Social Work Practice: This course prepares you for forensic social work, examining social issues related to health and justice disparities. You will evaluate practice methods with various populations, including children and adults.
- Advanced Practicum I: The first of two advanced practicum courses provides supervised practice experience in a community agency. You will apply advanced skills working with families, groups, and individuals in real-world settings.
- Advanced Practicum II: This practicum builds on your previous learning. You will further refine your skills in ethics, assessment, and intervention through evidence-based models
- Capstone: The capstone course is designed to consolidate your program learning, allowing you to apply concepts in social work practice. You will choose and assess a project in partnership with your field placement.
Central to your MSW education at National University is the practicum experience, also known as field placement or internship, which provides practical learning in a social work setting. This practicum connects you with applied learning settings and real responsibilities, allowing you to use knowledge and skills from coursework in real-time, under the supervision of experienced professionals.
This hands-on training prepares you for roles in places such as mental health centers, public service agencies, and military service centers. National MSW students complete field placements under approved local supervisors in their own communities. Foundation Track students are required to complete 900 hours of qualified practicum, while Advanced Standing Track students need to complete 500 hours.
During the practicum experience, Foundation Track students will enroll in Generalist Practicum I and Generalist Practicum II courses. For each twelve-week course, you will complete 200 hours at your practicum site.
After meeting the 400-hour requirement, Foundation Track students will move on to Advanced Practicum I and II courses. Each of these twelve-week courses requires 250 hours of practicum, totaling 500 hours for the Advanced Generalist practicum. You should plan to work around 18-20 hours per week at your field agency to meet these hour requirements.
To apply for the General Track MSW at National University, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, including those outside the U.S. that meet equivalency standards through a recognized evaluation service.
How Much Does a Licensed Social Worker Make in Virginia?
As of January 2025, the average annual salary for a licensed social worker working in Virginia is $91,866. More experienced and top earning social workers in Virginia make over $125,000 per year.
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