Popular Accredited Online Social Work Degree Programs in New York [2025]

Are you thinking about a career in social work and want to study online while staying in New York? Earning an online degree in social work provides flexibility and ease, helping you manage your responsibilities at work, with family, and in school.

New York offers many accredited online programs that prepare you with the skills needed to make a positive difference in communities. This guide will support you in reviewing some of the popular online social work programs in New York, understanding their requirements, and seeing how they may advance your career in social work.

Online Social Work Degrees in New York

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online social work degrees in New York:

• University at Buffalo
• Utica University
• Adelphi University
• Columbia University
• Syracuse University
• Simmons University
• Walden University
• National University
• Grand Canyon University

University at Buffalo

Online Master of Social Work (MSW)

The University at Buffalo’s online Master of Social Work (MSW) program allows you to complete your degree fully online, without any on-campus requirements, while still meeting the standards set by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). You can choose from two program options: Traditional MSW and Advanced Standing MSW.

Both program options integrate perspectives that focus on trauma awareness and human rights. You have the opportunity to shape your coursework in the advanced year according to the populations or social issues you wish to address. If you want to earn your clinical social work license (LCSW), this program enables you to obtain the required 12 clinical course credits.

• Traditional MSW Online: This option is for those with a bachelor’s degree in any field and requires the completion of 60 credits, along with 900 hours of field placement, broken down into a 420-hour foundation placement and a 480-hour advanced placement. Offered part-time, this track is designed to be completed over three years.
• Advanced Standing MSW Online: If you already have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program and meet additional requirements, you can choose this track, which requires 35 credits and includes 480 hours of field placement. This part-time option takes approximately 1.5 years to complete.

Your field placements are integrated into the program, giving you specialized training in practice areas that match your interests. As an online student, you will complete these hours at an approved agency near your location, actively working with faculty to plan and identify placements. You will complete these placements over two semesters, dedicating a minimum of 15 hours per week during weekday daytime hours. If you are currently employed at a social service agency, you may qualify for an Employment-Based Field Placement.

Foundation Year Curriculum: The foundation year uses an advanced generalist model to teach you how to address social issues at various levels—individual, group, and community. This year includes courses introducing social welfare policies, scientific methods, theoretical bases for practice, and human development, along with methods for evaluating social work outcomes.

You will also participate in a generalist field practicum, where you can apply what you have learned in a real-world setting under the guidance of a professional social worker. You must complete all foundation courses and a human biology requirement before advancing to the next year. Foundation year courses include:

• Social Welfare History and Policy
• Diversity and Oppression
• Scientific Methods in Social Work
• Evaluation in Social Work
• Advanced Standing Seminar
• Interventions I and II
• Field Instruction I and II

Advanced Year Curriculum: The advanced year builds on the foundation content, preparing you for focused practice with specialized coursework and hands-on field experiences using the latest theories and research. This stage allows you to customize your study areas within certain guidelines, focusing on policy and practice skills that match your career goals.

Through Advanced Topic Analysis courses, you will gain knowledge in community-based practices, enhance social functioning among diverse populations, and develop policies and programs that promote justice in varied systems. You are required to complete two Advanced Topic Analysis courses.

A unique feature of the advanced year is the range of intervention courses available, which you can combine with electives to create a program that aligns with your professional interests.

Objectives of the Advanced Year:

• You will learn to conduct professional social work in various community and agency settings.
• You will demonstrate your skills in field practicums, assessing social problems and crises that your target populations face.
• You will develop and apply intervention techniques based on theory to improve social functioning.
• You will acquire knowledge to recognize and address specific needs and risks facing women, minorities, and other special populations.
• You will cultivate methods to counteract the effects of social issues like racism, sexism, and structural oppression.

All students are required to complete nine credits of elective coursework. At least three of these credits must be from courses within the School of Social Work, with a maximum of six credits transferable from a graduate program outside the school. Courses outside the School of Social Work must relate to social work and be pre-approved by both your academic advisor and the MSW Program Director.

You may count up to three credits of independent study towards your degree and apply no more than three 1-credit courses. As long as prerequisites are met, Advanced Topic Analysis courses may also fulfill elective requirements, along with additional intervention courses, approved Independent Study, or up to six credits from outside coursework.

For Traditional MSW, you need a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Advanced Standing MSW is for graduates with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program within the past five years, a minimum 3.25 GPA, and a demonstrated commitment to social work.

Utica University

Online Master of Social Work (MSW)

Utica University’s online MSW degree program is ideal for you if you are committed to supporting others through promoting and treating mental health. This online CSWE-accredited MSW program bridges the historical separation between clinical practice and recovery-oriented care, weaving these perspectives together throughout your studies.

Currently, the online MSW program is open to applicants residing in New York. If you have a bachelor’s degree in social work, an advanced standing MSW program is also available for you.

Utica’s MSW degree program consists of 20 courses that you can complete in eight semesters. It prepares you for clinical social work practice through intensive coursework and research-based skills training.

With 60 credit hours, the MSW program is designed to fit any schedule, allowing you to balance work, life, and family commitments while progressing toward your goal in social work. This program has no residency requirements and is entirely online, allowing completion in as few as eight semesters.

This program in clinical social work, built around recovery values, is designed to prepare you for social work careers focused on mental health support for various populations. Upon graduation, you will be prepared to apply for your state’s licensure exams. Utica’s curriculum equips you to engage with and empower diverse and often marginalized populations by using a psychodynamic, recovery-focused, and social justice approach.

The program includes a four-hour personal psychotherapy requirement, intended to help you understand the importance of self-awareness in clinical social work by experiencing the client’s perspective. Faculty in the program assist you in finding suitable field placements that provide relevant hands-on experience.

This MSW program is unique in that it focuses on recovery theories, values, and skills, with courses covering areas like trauma-informed practice, mental health assessment, motivational interviewing, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. You will also gain knowledge in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), learning its potential to move clients toward holistic wellness.

Before graduating, you must complete 900 hours of field work, which prepares you for licensure exams in your state and provides valuable field experience for your career in social work. You will identify preferred placement locations, with guidance from faculty mentors who are social work professionals helping you apply your skills in real-world settings.

Upon completing this program, you will be equipped to address several outcomes relevant to clinical social workers:

• Acknowledge every person’s fundamental rights to freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care, and education.
• Understand the ways that institutional and interpersonal traumas contribute to marginalization of vulnerable individuals.
• Build self-awareness, self-care, and resilience to manage any past traumas that could affect your professional role.
• Use evidence-based approaches based on your expertise to implement interventions.
• Support individuals in finding resilience and well-being through shared decision-making and tailored treatment plans.
• Evaluate clients’ strengths and barriers, taking their personal background into account.
• Support clients using trauma-informed approaches, including providing education for their support systems.
• Assess services in terms of effectiveness and consistency with recovery values.

At Utica, you will benefit from individualized support through a success coach and career coach who will help you build the skills needed to advocate effectively for individuals, families, and groups in settings like hospitals, schools, and other social service environments.

To apply for the online MSW degree, no GRE or GMAT is required. You will need the following:

• Completed application
• Bachelor’s degree
• Official transcripts
• Minimum GPA of 2.5
• Personal statement
• Two letters of recommendation from a current or previous supervisor or course instructor

All applications are reviewed based on your GPA, work experience, personal statement, and references. If you don’t meet these criteria, your application will still be considered individually by the admissions committee.

The MSW online degree at Utica allows transfer credits for courses taken at a regionally accredited institution, provided they match Utica University’s MSW courses and you earned a grade of “C” or higher. You can transfer up to six credit hours toward the MSW degree online.

Adelphi University

Online Master of Social Work (MSW)

The part-time MSW program at Adelphi University combines theoretical study and practical training to prepare you for varied opportunities and fulfilling careers within a crucial, growing field. You have the option to complete this program either online or on campus.

If you hold a bachelor’s degree in social work from a university accredited by the CSWE, you may choose an accelerated Advanced Standing option to complete your degree more quickly.

The online MSW program is designed as a part-time option, integrating instruction with two online residencies per year. The curriculum for this program emphasizes:

• Practical learning rooted in academic concepts.
• Substantial professional growth.
• Direct instruction and personalized support—both online and on-campus.
• Engaging and interactive online coursework.

The online MSW program at Adelphi University provides the following tracks for students:

Standard and MSW for Human Service Professionals Track: In this track, you will complete the degree in three years. The program consists of eight to nine semesters, covering a Foundation Year curriculum followed by an Advanced Year curriculum. Courses are taken in sequence, with 6 to 10 credit hours per semester, totaling 64 credit hours for graduation.

You will take three elective courses during the Advanced Year, accounting for 9 credit hours. Course lengths range from 8 to 15 weeks, depending on the semester. As an online student, you will participate in weekly live sessions on Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:50 p.m. ET and attend online residencies twice a year.

If you are in the MSW for Human Service Professionals track, you are also employed in human services and may complete an employment-based field placement. This requires at least two years of related experience within the past five years, and you will need to complete just one field placement.

Advanced Standing Track: If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution, you may complete only the Advanced Year curriculum. In this option, you can earn your degree in 15 months, beginning in the Summer semester. You will join weekly live class sessions and participate in twice-yearly online residencies.

Throughout the program, you receive a quality education that accommodates your obligations. Faculty provide personalized guidance in a convenient online format through live and self-paced sessions along with intensive residencies twice a year.

Field training is central to this graduate social work program, equipping you to put classroom concepts into practice within social work settings. Practicum assignments will include face-to-face interviews with clients individually and in group settings. Adelphi University has connections with over 1,000 human service agencies in the New York metropolitan area, including:

• Child welfare agencies
• Community centers
• Detention and correctional facilities
• Domestic violence agencies
• Mental health clinics
• Medical and psychiatric hospitals
• Nursing homes and extended care facilities
• Residential treatment facilities

You can complete your practicum in two to four semesters, depending on whether you work 15 or 21 hours per week. However, some daytime weekday availability is necessary to secure a practicum placement.

School placements begin in September and conclude in June, requiring you to have daytime availability for 18 hours per week.

In your foundation year practicum, you will complete a minimum of 475 hours focused on developing essential practice skills. During the advanced year practicum, you will complete another 475 hours of practicum dedicated to advanced social work practice.

The MSW program at Adelphi University values professional relationships, and you will have opportunities to network with fellow students and professors through required residencies. These virtual events, held in August and January, span two to four days, giving you a chance to collaborate with peers, faculty, and industry professionals.

All online MSW courses are accessed through Adelphi’s Moodle learning platform, where you can find all course materials and assignments. Some courses are fully asynchronous, allowing you to complete assignments at your convenience, while others have live components that require attendance at set times. Coursework may include readings, video lectures, case assessments, VoiceThread discussions, and group projects.

You will likely devote 10 to 12 hours each week to coursework, with most assignments due on specific deadlines.

Before beginning the program, you will participate in a three-week online orientation introducing you to the program and learning technology. An additional on-campus orientation provides further preparation and technology training.

Upon completion of the program, you will hold a master’s degree and be eligible to apply for licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). Adelphi offers exam preparation courses that include practice questions from past New York state exams, allowing you to take practice exams as often as you need, with immediate feedback. Exam preparation is also incorporated into your MSW coursework, so you will be well-prepared for licensure.

To apply to the graduate program in social work at Adelphi University, you need to meet criteria that reflect strong academic performance, values consistent with the social work field, and relevant paid or volunteer experience. Specifically, you will need:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a solid background in liberal arts and sciences.
• Personal characteristics and professional qualifications aligned with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.
• A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Preferably, paid or volunteer experience in human services.
• An interview via Google Hangout may be required on a case-by-case basis.

Advanced Standing applicants additionally must submit:

• A recent social work bachelor’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program, earned within the last five years.
• GPA of 3.0 or higher in all social work courses.
• Two professional letters of recommendation: One from a field liaison or instructor from your senior or junior year, with a preference for senior year recommendations. A second letter from a faculty member is preferred.

For the MSW for Human Service Professionals track, you must also submit:

• Proof of two or more years of relevant work experience.
• An employer verification form.

Columbia University

Online Master of Social Work (MSW)

Columbia University’s online MSW program is one of the most established and respected MSW programs worldwide. As a student, you gain access to rigorous training, modern teaching methods, and practical approaches that empower you to create positive change and lead societal advancement. The online MSW option delivers the full benefits of Columbia’s program through an award-winning virtual experience.

This degree program emphasizes connecting research with clinical practice, balancing data-driven decisions with client needs, and bringing together multiple perspectives to tackle complex social justice issues.

You will attend live classes led by renowned social work experts whose research addresses topics like the impact of gang violence on social media, racism’s effects on health, responses to the opioid crisis, advancements in clinical interventions, innovations in poverty reduction, and prolonged grief.

The online MSW program at Columbia University offers pathways suitable for all experience levels—whether you are a recent graduate, a career changer, or a social work professional aiming to enhance your service to others. You can choose from six pathways:

Two-Year Pathway (60 credits, 1200 practicum hours): The full-time Two-Year pathway is the most popular choice. Over four terms and two practicum placements, you will develop evidence-based practices that strengthen your skills as a practitioner, scholar, and advocate. This pathway is organized into two segments:

• In the Generalist Year, you will focus on social work research, direct practice, and policy foundations.
• In the Specialized Year, you will select a method specialization and a field of practice, guiding your coursework.

You will complete two practicum placements, one each year, and take concurrent courses on foundational social work practice, motivational interviewing, and advocacy.

As a Two-Year pathway student, you will enroll in three or four courses each term, spending about seven to eight hours per week in live classes, along with additional time on assignments. Your practicum placement will require 21 hours per week, typically during daytime hours.

Advanced Standing Pathway (33 credits, 600 practicum hours): If you have a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program completed within the past five years, you qualify for the Advanced Standing pathway. This option allows you to complete your MSW in one year, beginning with a summer intensive session focused on advanced direct practice and anti-oppressive social work.

After the summer intensive, you will move into your Specialized Year, continuing your practicum placement and focusing on specific skills aligned with your specialization and field of practice.

As an Advanced Standing student, you will take three to four courses per term, with about seven to eight hours of live classes weekly and 21 hours weekly at your practicum site, generally during standard daytime hours.

Part-Time to Full-Time (Extended) Pathway (60 credits, 1200 practicum hours): The Part-Time to Full-Time pathway allows you to complete the degree in three to four years, starting with a part-time course load. In your first year, you will take one or two courses each term without practicum work, giving you time to adjust your schedule for the program’s requirements.

After the first year, you will shift to full-time status, adding practicum work and additional courses each term, while choosing a method specialization and field of practice.

As an Extended pathway student, expect to spend four to six hours per week in live classes during your first year, then transition to three or four courses per term with practicum work requiring 21 hours per week, usually during daytime hours.

One-Year Residency for Working Professionals (Reduced Residency) Pathway (60 credits, 900 practicum hours): You qualify for the One-Year Residency for Working Professionals pathway if you currently work in direct practice at a social services agency, with either two or more years of full-time experience or four or more years of part-time experience. This pathway enables you to complete the MSW over several years (usually three) while advancing your career.

You will start with foundational courses that build on your experience before moving to a residency year with more specialized coursework and practicum requirements. During your residency year, you will select a specialization and a field of practice that aligns with your goals or current job.

You will start with two courses per term (about four to six hours of live classes weekly) in your first year, then transition to three courses in the following year. By your final year, you will be full-time with a practicum placement.

Transfer Pathway (30 credits, 600 practicum hours): The Transfer pathway is designed for those who have already completed a year of coursework and practicum at another CSWE-accredited social work graduate program in the U.S. within the past five years. You can transfer up to 30 credits toward your MSW at Columbia, and will need to complete at least 30 credits at Columbia, including 21 in social work courses and 9 in practicum education.

As a Transfer student, you will take three or four courses each term, with six to eight hours in live classes per week, and 21 hours per week at your practicum site, typically during daytime hours.

Part-Time Pathway (60 credits, 1200 practicum hours): If you need a more flexible option, the Part-Time pathway allows you to balance your studies with other commitments. You will take fewer credits per term, extending the time to complete your degree requirements.

You will take one or two courses per term and should expect four to six hours of live classes weekly. Practicum work begins after the first year and requires 14 hours per week at your site, generally during daytime hours.

Specializations and Fields of Practice:

All online MSW students, regardless of pathway, select one method specialization and one field of practice, typically after their first year. (Advanced Standing and Transfer students select theirs prior to the fall term.) While these choices allow you to tailor your degree, they do not restrict you from exploring additional opportunities outside your chosen fields. Columbia’s cross-disciplinary environment encourages you to engage in various courses, projects, and activities.

• Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP): In ACP specialization, you build skills in clinical approaches that support resilience and well-being, with a focus on individuals, families, and groups. Courses cover areas such as assessment, suicide risk assessment, psychoeducational evaluation, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and coping strategies. This specialization emphasizes trauma-informed care and incorporates insights about power, race, oppression, and privilege.
• Integrated Practice and Programming (IPP): IPP students develop skills for working with individuals and communities, including program planning, advocacy, and interventions. With a focus on social justice, you learn to develop programs, build teams, and write grants, sometimes securing real funding for initiatives.
• Policy Practice (POL): POL students focus on policy analysis, advocacy, and research to address social issues. Courses include micro and macroeconomics as well as data analysis to develop actionable insights for policy solutions that serve social justice.
• Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship for Social Justice (LME): LME students prepare to lead organizations and create new initiatives that tackle social issues. Courses cover topics like organizational structure, financial management, budget planning, marketing, grant writing, and strategies to build inclusive work environments.

Fields of Practice Options:

• Aging: Work with older adults and advocate for social services supporting them and their families.
• Contemporary Social Issues: Address emerging challenges such as homelessness, substance use, and issues in the criminal justice system.
• Family, Youth, and Children’s Services: Connect children, youth, and families to a range of preventive and protective social services.
• Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities: Support individuals, families, and groups facing health and mental health challenges.
• International Social Welfare and Services to Immigrants and Refugees: Develop programs to serve immigrant, refugee, and international populations.
• School-Based and School-Linked Services: Create and assess programs to support student success and address child and family needs.
• World of Work: Assist labor force participants in overcoming challenges related to employment and workplace equality.

To qualify for the MSW program, you must demonstrate a strong commitment to social work and the capability to meet the demands of professional training, often shown through internships or relevant life experiences. Additionally, you must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Additional requirements apply for the following pathways:

• Advanced Standing: You need a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program completed within the last five years, or by the program start date.
• One-Year Residency for Working Professionals (Reduced Residency): You must be currently employed in a social services agency with at least two years of full-time experience or four years of part-time experience.
• Transfer Pathway: You need to have completed a full year of graduate coursework and practicum at a CSWE-accredited social work program in the U.S. within the past five years.

How Much Does a Licensed Social Worker Make in New York?

As of November 2024, the average annual salary for a licensed social worker working in New York is $94,102. More experienced and top earning social workers in New York make over $170,000 per year.