Florida offers many accredited online programs designed to give you practical knowledge for a social work career. However, the question is, which programs are best suited for your needs? This guide attempts to answer that question by outlining some of the popular programs in the state, covering admission requirements and program details that can prepare you for a successful career in social work.
Each program is described in detail so you can compare each program and make an informed decision about your academic and professional future.
Online Social Work Degrees in Florida
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online social work degrees in Florida:
- Florida State University
- University of Central Florida
- University of Southern Florida
- Barry University
- Grand Canyon University
- University of West Florida
- Chamberlain University
- National University
- Simmons University
Florida State University
Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
At Florida State University, you can access a high-quality education from one of the earliest Online Master of Social Work (MSW) programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). You will gain clinical knowledge and hands-on experience at a renowned institution to make a meaningful impact on individuals who need support the most.
Online MSW’s clinically-focused curriculum equips you with the skills necessary for social work practice and is your first step toward licensure. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to take the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam, opening doors to greater autonomy, career growth, and increased earning potential.
The MSW program curriculum is designed to develop your advanced professional competence through five key areas: social work practice, social policy, human behavior and the social environment, social work research, and field education. This curriculum emphasizes core elements in all areas of social work practice, preparing you to work in diverse community agencies and settings.
Florida State University offers two program tracks depending on whether you have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a bachelor’s degree in another field.
Online Advanced Standing MSW Program: If you have completed a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, you may qualify for the Advanced Standing MSW program, which consists of 39 credit hours of required social work courses and electives. You will choose between the Clinical Social Work concentration or the Social Leadership concentration. At the end of your coursework, you will complete a final internship totaling 12 credit hours (approximately 512 field hours) along with an Advanced Integrative Seminar (3 credits).
Traditional MSW Program: The Traditional MSW track requires 61 credit hours of social work courses and electives. You will bring a liberal arts background to your studies and build upon this foundation during your first year, which covers core social work knowledge needed for the profession. This includes coursework in practice, policy, research, human behavior, and a 10 credit hour internship (approximately 432 field hours).
You may also select electives to enhance your expertise in specific practice areas. The second year of study includes advanced courses in your chosen concentration (either Clinical Social Work or Social Leadership), culminating in a final 12 credit hour internship (approximately 512 field hours) and a 3 credit hour Advanced Seminar.
Internship placements are available in Tallahassee, across Florida, and at certain international locations. You are encouraged to track your progress and consult MSW Graduate Advisors to ensure timely completion of the degree. Following the approved curriculum plan for your concentration will help you meet all graduation requirements.
Regardless of the track, you will be required to select one of the following concentrations:
Clinical Social Work Concentration: In this concentration, you will prepare for clinical practice with diverse clients in various community settings, focusing on helping those experiencing challenges that threaten psychological or social functioning. You will gain the skills needed to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals with social, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Courses cover theory, research, policy, and essential practice knowledge for clinical work with individuals, families, groups, and communities, with a focus on vulnerable populations.
Through the Clinical Social Work curriculum, you will achieve these objectives:
- Assess and diagnose clients’ psychosocial challenges and intervene through individual, family, and/or group methods
- Analyze how policies influence clinical practice.
- Conduct evaluations of your practice interventions using reliable methods and measures.
- Critically review, integrate, and communicate empirical and conceptual literature relevant to clinical contexts.
Social Leadership Concentration: The Social Leadership concentration prepares you for advanced roles in social work within organizations and community settings. In this concentration, you will learn to provide leadership across public and private sectors, apply policy analysis for advancing social and economic justice, and evaluate social programs for effectiveness. You will gain skills to develop and assess policies and manage organizational practices, preparing you for roles in government or non-government agencies.
This concentration allows you to meet the following objectives:
- Lead organizations and communities in both public and private sectors.
- Apply policy analysis methods to advance social and economic justice.
- Evaluate social programs to assess their effectiveness.
- Develop and manage policies within social agencies.
- Critically review and integrate empirical literature related to social policy, program, and administrative contexts.
Social Leadership students will complete foundation courses and a generalist internship with direct client contact, followed by advanced practice courses in policy analysis, program evaluation, and community systems. In the final semester, you will complete a policy/administration-focused internship along with an Integrative Seminar.
Field Education:
Field education is an essential part of the MSW program, offering supervised internships that provide learning experiences to help you:
- Integrate theoretical knowledge into effective social work practice.
- Expand your skillset for high-quality social work.
- Develop professional self-awareness and insight into social work values.
The Office of Field Education coordinates internships based on your interests, location preferences, and other details gathered during the application process. Note that evening and weekend placements are not available.
Traditional MSW students complete a 432-hour generalist internship while enrolled in their first courses, followed by a final advanced internship totaling 512 hours with a concurrent field seminar.
Admission Requirements for Online Advanced Standing MSW:
- Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution
- Minimum of 400 hours of field education
- Transcripts with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Statement of purpose and resume
- $30 application fee
Admission Requirements for Online Traditional MSW:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- Transcripts with minimum 3.0 GPA on upper-division courses
- Statement of purpose and resume
- $30 application fee
Transfer students are welcome in the online MSW program if they meet all admission requirements. You may transfer up to 29 credits toward the Traditional MSW (61 credit hours) or up to 7 credits for the Advanced Standing MSW (39 credit hours), provided the credits were earned at a CSWE-accredited social work graduate program in the past seven years with grades of B or better. Courses are evaluated individually for transfer credit.
University of Central Florida
Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
The University of Central Florida (UCF) offers an online MSW program preparing you to address national and global health and mental health challenges that impact individuals, families, groups, and communities. Accredited by the CSWE, this program offers insight into how interconnectedness affects societal challenges and encourages you to promote positive change for future generations, positioning you for a rewarding career in social work.
As a student in the online MSW program, you will gain hands-on experience in social work theory, practice, and clinical skills essential for addressing community challenges and improving quality of life. Field education internships allow you to work directly with clients and patients, enabling engagement and collaboration with other social work professionals.
You will learn from faculty with diverse backgrounds and experiences, who share the knowledge and tools essential for success in the field. Faculty research areas include mental health, trauma, health, disabilities, sexual trauma, domestic violence, military veterans and families, virtual reality, addictions, infant mental health, child welfare, foster care, and community work, among others.
The UCF online MSW program offers two tracks::
- Traditional Track: This track is intended for students who do not have a BSW or completed their BSW more than six years ago. It includes 62 credit hours and follows a 3-year cohort model to build peer support.
- Advanced Standing Track: This track is designed for students who earned a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program within the last six years and have a GPA of 3.3 in their final 60 credit hours. The track begins only in the fall semester and requires 32 credit hours over four semesters in a cohort model.
- Program Duration:
- Traditional Track: 3 years
- Advanced Standing Track: 16 months
You can choose between two tracks based on your qualifications. The traditional track includes core courses, clinical specialization courses, electives, and field experience. The advanced standing track covers clinical specialization courses, electives, and field experience.
The traditional track required 21 credit hours of core courses, 18 credit hours of clinical specialization courses, and 9 credit hours of electives. On the other hand, the advanced standing track requires 18 credit hours of core courses and 6 credit hours of electives.
Both tracks require 14 credit hours of field experience. Traditional track students complete 1000 total field hours, while advanced track students complete 600 field hours. Field instruction allows you to apply classroom knowledge and develop foundational and advanced practice skills. The Field Director determines placements, which are conducted at approved agency sites.
You are expected to complete at least 50% of your field hours during regular business hours. Evening and weekend placements are limited, and the School of Social Work does not guarantee them.
During your field experience,, you will gain the following skills:
- Apply professional knowledge to work with diverse individuals, families, groups, and communities.
- Engage in ethical practice grounded in human rights.
- Promote the well-being of vulnerable, oppressed, or marginalized populations.
- Advocate for policies and services that encourage social change.
As part of CSWE accreditation, programs must assess student achievement of learning goals and competencies. One tool used to measure this at UCF is the MSW Clinical Capstone, an exam that evaluates your preparation for professional social work practice at the clinical level upon completing the specialized curriculum.
Admission requirements for UCF online MSW program include:
- Official transcript from each college/university attended.
- Completion of at least one course with a grade of C or higher in:
- Humanities: Examples include fine arts, history, languages, literature, philosophy, or religion.
- Physical and Biological Sciences: Examples include biology, chemistry, anatomy, or physiology.
- Mathematics: Examples include calculus, college algebra, computer science, or statistics.
- Social Sciences: Examples include anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, gender studies, human development, international relations, political science, psychology, social work, or sociology.
- Updated resume.
- Three current letters of recommendation.
University of Southern Florida
Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
The online MSW program at the University of Southern Florida (USF) uses a cohort model to help you connect and build relationships with classmates and instructors through structured coursework. You will access course content online and participate in live online learning sessions with faculty.
The USF MSW program curriculum currently meets the educational requirements for social work licensure across all 50 states in the United States.
Designed to prepare you as a future leader in social work clinical practice, USF’s online MSW program is grounded in core social work ethics, values, and professional standards. The program emphasizes advanced study that prepares you for clinical work with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
This graduate program addresses regional needs for skilled clinical social work practitioners, beginning with foundational social work knowledge, followed by advanced coursework for clinical practice. Through an intensive field practicum, you will apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations involving agency clients. The program is fully accredited by the CSWE.
The University of South Florida MSW program offers two options:
- Advanced Standing MSW Program: This 35-credit program is for students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
- Traditional MSW Program: This 60-credit program is for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field.
Curriculum Structure:
- Foundation Courses:
- Traditional program requires 17 credit hours.
- Core Courses: 5 credit hours.
- Additional Required Courses: 15 credit hours.
- Advanced Clinical Electives:
- Traditional program requires 9 credit hours.
- Advanced Standing program requires 6 credit hours.
- Field Education:
- Advanced Standing program requires 600 field hours.
- Traditional program requires 900 field hours.
- Full-time options require 20 hours per week at a field placement.
- Part-time options require 10-15 hours per week.
- Social Work Capstone: 1 credit hour.
Program Standards:
The MSW program emphasizes high standards of professional behavior and ethics. Admission to the program does not guarantee graduation. You must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all social work courses, with no grade below “B-” counting toward graduation. Courses with grades below “B-” must be repeated, which may delay graduation or lead to academic dismissal.
As a graduate of this online program, you will be able to:
- Apply ethical principles in social work.
- Engage with diverse populations.
- Promote human rights and social and economic justice.
- Use research to inform practice and vice versa.
- Understand human behavior in a social context.
- Work on policy practice to improve social well-being and effective social work services.
- Engage with, assess, intervene in, and evaluate social work with individuals, families, organizations, and communities.
You must satisfy the following requirements to be considered for admission:
- Meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements.
- School of Social Work Application.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- GRE scores are optional, with preferred scores being Quantitative 17th percentile or higher and Verbal 61st percentile or higher.
- A 500-word personal statement and a 500-word essay describing a social problem.
- Ideally, but not required, applicants should have one year of post-undergraduate experience in a social service agency or equivalent supervised field practicum hours, extensive volunteer experience, or professional work.
- An interview may be required, and field experience is preferred.
The MSW program considers transfer credits under these guidelines:
- Credits must be from a CSWE-accredited MSW program.
- Courses must have been completed with a grade of B or higher.
- Coursework must have been completed within five years prior to enrollment.
- Course content must align with a corresponding USF MSW course.
- Field education credits may be subject to additional considerations.
Barry University
Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
Barry University’s online MSW program offers an internationally recognized curriculum in both a traditional part-time track and an Advanced Standing part-time track, delivered fully online. With a focus on trauma-informed resiliency frameworks, this program prepares you for advanced licensure in clinical social work while also building a strong foundation in policy, leadership, and applied social research.
The clinically-focused curriculum includes regular interaction with experienced instructors who are recognized internationally for their research and clinical social work practice. Live virtual sessions support a flexible format that allows you to complete coursework and fieldwork on your own schedule. Additionally, all online MSW students are paired with a faculty advisor and have full access to Barry’s resources, including professional development programs and direct contact with the Program Director.
While the program is clinically oriented, it also equips Barry MSW graduates with knowledge in policy practice, administrative leadership, and applied social research. Graduates find employment across various fields, including health, mental health, gerontology, substance abuse, government organizations, NGOs, non-profits, private practice, and trauma-informed care systems serving children, veterans, and victims of violence.
Traditional Part-Time Track: This program requires 63 credits and is completed in approximately 28 months. It offers a foundation in social work theory and clinical practice through a trauma-informed approach. Students complete 1000 hours of clinical internship over the course of the program, which is about 10 hours per week. The clinical internship starts in the second semester, allowing time to transition into graduate studies. You may request a “two-agency placement” for diverse practice experience across foundation and concentration levels. This track is suited for working professionals.
Advanced Standing Part-Time Track: This 32-credit program is completed in approximately 16 months and is available to students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned within the last five years. Students take advanced clinical concentration and leadership courses and are required to complete 580 hours of clinical training at approximately 10 hours per week. Courses are typically held in the evenings, and some agencies may require availability during regular business hours for training, meetings, and supervision.
You must satisfy the following requirements to be considered for admission:
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. You may have backgrounds in fields such as Education, Health Sciences, Arts, Social Sciences, Business, Marketing, Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Sports Management.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on your last 60 college credits.
- A broad liberal arts background (at least 30 credits), including social, behavioral, and biological sciences.
- Two references from professors, professionals, supervisors, or community leaders who can attest to your readiness for graduate social work studies.
- A two-page personal statement.
- Competent writing and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to social work values.
Additional requirements for Advanced Standing admission:
- A BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
- Degree must have been conferred within the last five years.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all bachelor’s level social work courses (no exceptions).
- Two references from professors, professionals, supervisors, or community leaders who can speak to your readiness for graduate studies in social work.
- A final field evaluation from your undergraduate field placement, which may replace one reference.
Grand Canyon University
Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
In the CSWE-accredited 120-credit Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Grand Canyon University, you will gain the skills needed to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities by working with diverse groups in various settings.
The program is offered both online and on-campus, allowing you to choose the learning environment that suits your needs. Regardless of the format, you will complete supervised, in-person field experiences within a professional setting.
In GCU’s BSW program, you will examine how individuals’ responses to different factors affect a social worker’s approach. As you progress through the curriculum, you will develop skills in cultural competency and advocacy.
You will also learn to analyze human behavior within the social environment by critically evaluating biopsychosocial development from conception through late adulthood using an integrative and multidimensional approach. Courses provide opportunities to acquire, practice, and reflect on skills across the stages of intake, assessment, treatment, evaluation, and termination. The curriculum is structured to equip you with the tools needed to positively impact families and individuals.
As a student, you will apply knowledge from academic and field experiences to create a final project and presentation demonstrating your understanding of key competencies, including assessment, ethics, application of theory, cultural sensitivity, and practice skills.
Core courses of the program include:
- Introduction to Social Welfare: This course provides an overview of social work in the United States, examining cultural and social values, history, and theoretical models that have shaped the profession.
- Social Service Delivery Systems: In this course, you will learn about human service agencies at federal, state, and community levels, along with the delivery of services to special populations. This course includes 25 hours of service-learning integrated with course content.
- Human Biology and Social Work Practice: In this course, you will study how human biology impacts social work practice, focusing on the body’s responses to different variables and factors influencing both individuals and practitioners.
- Social Work Ethics and Decision-Making: This course explores the history and application of ethics in social work, examining professional and personal values in relation to the NASW Code of Ethics.
- Social Welfare Policy and Services: This course helps you develop strategies for ensuring quality health care and safety for patients and populations, with a focus on sustainable change and ethical principles.
- Trauma-Informed Care: In this course, you will gain introductory knowledge of trauma-informed care, learning about trauma types and adverse outcomes, as well as methods for assessing and addressing traumatic stress.
- Field Instruction I and II: Complete foundational social work practice in approved community agencies under professional supervision, with experiential integration of theory and skills. Field experience hours: 200 per course.
- Case Management: In this course, yo will develop entry-level case management skills by understanding the role of a case manager, learning to track and manage client cases, and practicing client assessment and problem-solving techniques through case study analysis.
The program culminates in a capstone project where you integrate previous learning to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in social work.
This undergraduate social work degree program will teach you the following core competencies in the social work field:
- Understanding of diversity, advocacy, and social justice in social work practice.
- Ethical professional behavior as guided by the NASW code of ethics.
- Application of scientific inquiry and research in social work.
- Principles of trauma-informed care.
- Leadership and management in social work.
- Social work helping process.
- Case management techniques.
To apply directly to GCU’s BSW program, you must meet one of the following criteria:
– High School Graduate with Unweighted GPA of 3.0+: Home school transcripts are accepted from states where home schooling is a recognized secondary education option.
– High School Graduate with Unweighted GPA of 2.5+ and Qualifying College Entrance Exam Score: ACT: 19 and SAT (math and reading only) 1000 (post-3/1/2016), 1380 (pre-3/1/2016)
Transfer students seeking entry should meet one of these criteria:
- Transfer Credits
- 25-90 transferable credits with a college GPA of 2.25 or above.
- 6-24 transferable credits with a college GPA of 2.75 or above.
- 1-5 transferable credits: Refer to high school entry requirements.
- Undergraduate GPA Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
How Much Does a Licensed Social Worker Make in Florida?
As of November 2024, the average annual salary for a licensed social worker working in Florida is $82,915. More experienced and top earning social workers in Florida make over $125,000 per year.
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