Popular Accredited Online Social Work Degree Programs in Georgia [2025 Updated]

One of the main reasons you may choose to major in social work is that it is widely offered as both an undergraduate major and graduate program. Additionally, your degree in social work can lead to career opportunities across many fields, such as education, research, and government.

In Georgia, you can complete your undergraduate or graduate social work studies online, allowing you greater flexibility compared to traditional degree programs. Online social work programs are offered by both in-state and out-of-state schools. You can also explore online social work programs from schools across the United States.

This guide provides information on popular online social work programs at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Review each option to make an informed choice about your academic future!

Online Social Work Degrees in Georgia

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

  • Georgia State University
  • University of Georgia
  • Georgia Military College
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Simmons University
  • National University
  • University of Denver
  • Arizona State University Online

Georgia State University

Online Social Work, BSW

As a social worker, you fight for justice and support children and families, improving relationships in communities and enriching lives. This profession provides you with opportunities for a fulfilling career. Numerous job positions await you in hospitals, community health centers, schools, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and nonprofit organizations. Through the online Bachelor of Social Work program at Georgia State University, you will gain the preparation necessary for entry-level positions and become ready for future advanced social work studies.

The program meets Georgia’s accreditation and licensure standards. You will acquire an understanding of human behavior in various contexts and social environments. You will also practice intervention methods to help individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations, and systems.

This program is designed to strengthen your ability in the following areas:

  • Applying critical thinking and ethics in decisions
  • Using intervention strategies with diverse populations
  • Understanding human functions and social surroundings
  • Conducting evaluations and research.

The BSW program is entirely online, with a field placement in your local community, regardless of whether you reside in or outside Georgia. Courses fill on a first-come, first-serve basis. To complete the program, you must finish at least 120 credit hours, with a full-time student taking approximately four years to graduate.

The required coursework is structured as follows:

  • 42 hours of core classes (Areas A – E)
  • 18 hours of program-related courses (Area F)
  • 48 hours of major-related courses (Area G)
  • 12 hours of elective courses (Area H)
  • A total of 120 credit hours.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

  • Social Welfare Institutions
  • Human Behavior and the Social Environment
  • Methods of Social Work Research
  • Social Welfare Policy
  • Communication Skills for Social Workers
  • Case Management & Community Resources in Social Work
  • Social Work Methods

As an initial student in the School of Social Work, you begin in an Exploratory Social Work status. This status will change once you complete all lower-division requirements and meet the GPA eligibility standards, followed by formal application and acceptance into the program. Upon admission, you will continue with the required coursework, including mandatory field education.

Field education plays an important role in your B.S.W. education, placing you in educationally supervised agency settings. This part of your education enables you to apply the knowledge, values, and skills gained in the classroom to real social work situations.

You must complete a minimum of 400 supervised hours of field education over two consecutive semesters. During this time, you are also required to attend an online synchronous field integrative seminar. This seminar allows you to combine what you learn in the classroom with your field-based experiences.

You may apply for field education only once all lower-division and specific social work courses are completed. Field education takes place in the fall and spring semesters.

To qualify for B.S.W. status, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Maintain good standing at Georgia State with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
  • File a formal application for B.S.W. status.
  • Earn a C or higher in English 1101 and 1102.
  • Complete Areas A through F, except SW 2000.
  • Maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA in lower-division courses and earn a minimum C in SW 2000, if taken.

Admission to the B.S.W. program is selective, with entry based on space availability. Meeting the minimum GPA or other criteria does not guarantee acceptance. Qualified applicants who are denied will be placed on a competitive waiting list in order of denial to await potential entry at a later time.

University of Georgia

Online Master of Social Work (MSW)

At the University of Georgia School of Social Work, you will find a program designed to support Georgia residents who seek a social work career. By completing the Master of Social Work online program, you will meet all the education requirements needed for licensing as a social worker, a path that applies to Georgia and other states nationwide.

The School of Social Work at the University of Georgia School is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the sole accrediting body of schools of social work in the United States.

This online master’s program prepares you to be a leader in social work, with the flexibility to pursue your goals wherever you are located in Georgia or beyond. The program is designed to meet the educational requirements  licensing specifically in Georgia and may not provide licensing eligibility outside the state.

In the Master of Social Work program, you will select from one of three specializations

  1. Micro Practice, which emphasizes working with individuals, families, and groups.
  2. Macro Practice, which includes policy development, administration, and advocacy.
  3. Integrated Practice, combining the core curriculum of Micro and Macro areas.

The Micro specialization will equip you with the skills needed  roles like school social worker, counselor, substance abuse specialist, geriatric worker, and medical social worker. This path also positions you toward establishing a private practice as an Independent Licensed Social Worker.

Your program journey will start with the Generalist curriculum, which provides the foundation  generalist practice. You will engage in coursework along with Generalist and Specialization field practicums. The program options include a two-year full-time track, a three-or-four-year extended track, and a one-year+ Advanced Standing option.

In the cohort model, you will advance through the program with other students, allowing you to share experiences and insights. Field education will be a major component, involving placement within 60 miles of the Georgia state. Through supervised practice, you will gain hands-on experience to build your skills. Background checks and drug testing are often required  field placements.

You will complete a total of 60 credit hours of graduate study, with 44 hours coming from online coursework and 16 hours from field education. The Generalist year requires 312 hours of field practice, followed by 600 hours during the specialization year. Placements occur in supervised settings like youth programs, hospitals, mental health clinics, and schools.

You will complete four semesters of supervised practice during field placements in approved settings, which may include youth programs, hospitals, mental health clinics, or schools, among others. This field experience includes a total of 912 hours under professional supervision, along with a field-integrating seminar designed to introduce you to the practical aspects of social work.

Graduating from this program means you are prepared to serve the needs of Georgia and beyond, with the skills to be a culturally competent leader and advocate  social justice and ethical practice. You will be trained to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Additionally, you will learn to incorporate biological, psychological, social, spiritual, and cultural knowledge into your practice.

Your ability to engage in research and policy will support your role in shaping policies that promote social justice and address poverty. No particular undergraduate major or GRE score is required. Your application will be reviewed based on your overall qualifications, including experience in diverse settings.

To apply:

  1. Submit your application to the Graduate School.
  2. Pay the application fee.
  3. Select “Online” as your campus, “Masters”  degree level, and “MSW, Social Work”  intended program.
  4. Indicate your intended term.
  5. Submit a resume or CV.
  6. Write a narrative statement to explain your motivation for becoming a social worker.
  7. Upload unofficial transcripts. Send official ones after admission.
  8. Submit three recommendation letters.

Georgia Military College

Online Associate Degree in Social Work

In the online social work associate degree program at Georgia Military College, you gain essential skills to enter the workforce in both public and private social service agencies. This program also equips you with a solid understanding of the social work profession, allowing you to assess early in your studies whether this career path aligns with your goals. With this degree, you could qualify for roles such as a mental health technician or eligibility determination specialist.

Through this program, you explore the history of social services in the United States, recognize key indicators for treatment, and identify available services while gaining an appreciation for inter-agency cooperation. You will also understand the role of social work today, learn the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, and experience CSWE’s commitment to high educational standards.

By developing a sense of self-awareness, you can work effectively with people from different backgrounds, reducing the impact of personal biases. You will also, as a general social worker practitioner, appreciate the variety of settings, levels, and fields.

Concentration courses of the program include:

  • Introduction to Social Work: This course offers a foundation in the field and allows you to decide if social work is your path. Topics cover human problems, intervention strategies, and professional practice. You also gain skills for working with at-risk populations through a systems perspective.
  • Introduction to Sociology:  This course looks at human society, culture, and how they are structured. Topics such as communication, socialization, mobility, and population growth are analyzed, along with research methods, theories, and findings from sociology.
  • Social Problems: You study various social events affecting contemporary society, focusing on shifts in social norms, goals, and values. This course addresses social issues involving family, economy, religion, and other social institutions.
  • Careers in Social Work: This course highlights the various roles social workers perform. You learn about available jobs, core aspects of social work practice, and future career options. Key topics include interdisciplinarity, technology, and unique qualities in the profession.
  • Self-Awareness and Professional Development: Focusing on building self-awareness, this course helps you become a strong social worker. Topics cover self-assessment, communication styles, problem-solving, values, and interpersonal skills, along with the NASW Code of Ethics.

To join the program, you need a high school diploma or GED. This background provides the basics for succeeding in college-level courses. With Georgia Military College’s transfer agreements, you can apply your credits to other colleges and universities.

Grand Canyon University

Online Master of Social Work (MSW) – Advanced Standing

At Grand Canyon University (GSU), you can apply your Bachelor of Social Work degree towards a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree to potentially complete your graduate education faster. If you are accepted into the advanced standing MSW program, you are eligible to move directly into the advanced year social work courses. The MSW program is accredited by CSWE.

To qualify for an advanced standing MSW program, you must already hold a CSWE-accredited bachelor’s degree in social work. This background enables you to enter the program at an advanced stage, making the path to your degree shorter and more intensive.

In this program, you will acquire specialized skills and knowledge in areas such as social work theory, practice, and ethics. You will learn to work effectively with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to address various social and behavioral health issues.

Most courses in this program are available online, providing you with the flexibility to study while managing your other responsibilities. You will be taught by knowledgeable faculty and have the opportunity to network with peers.

To complete GCU’s online advanced standing MSW program, you will need to earn 33 credits. You may choose to study at your own pace or enroll in back-to-back courses. Additionally, the program includes 250 hours of supervised field experience, allowing you to apply your skills in approved community agencies under professional supervision.

Core courses of the program include:

  • Introduction to Graduate Studies in Advanced Standing Social Work: This course serves as an orientation for your graduate learning journey. You will develop skills that support success as a graduate social work student, explore career interests, set internship goals, and learn about licensure steps after graduation.
  • Psychopathology and the Role of the Social Worker: This course prepares you to identify and understand various mental health conditions using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria. You will learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of disorders and understand how culture can impact interpretation of these symptoms.
  • Social Work Advocacy: In this course, you will study ethical responsibility in social work. You will also explore how to advocate effectively at various levels, including individual, family, group, community, organizational, and political contexts, to address social issues and work toward social justice.
  • Advanced Social Work Practice Skills: Building on your foundational knowledge, this course emphasizes theories and models for treatment planning and interventions with individuals and families, promoting a culturally inclusive approach to mental healthcare.
  • Advanced Standing Field Instruction: This course provides practical experience with individuals, families, groups, and communities in supervised community agencies. You will apply concepts and skills from your coursework.
  • Evidence-Based Practice in Social Work: In this course, you will learn to apply evidence-based practices at micro, mezzo, and macro levels, practicing ethical and culturally informed delivery of programs, policies, and services to support effective social work practice.

GCU is committed to providing quality social work education, with a focus on key areas, including:

  • Ethical and professional behavior
  • Diversity and difference in practice
  • Human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice
  • Practice-informed research and research-informed practice
  • Policy practice
  • Engaging, assessing, intervening, and evaluating individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Graduates of this program have career options across various settings, such as schools, healthcare organizations, and agencies supporting families. You could specialize in fields, including gerontology, criminal justice, or healthcare. With an advanced standing MSW, potential career options include:

  • Social and community service manager
  • Marriage and family therapist
  • Counselor
  • Mental health and substance abuse social worker
  • Postsecondary social work educator

You could also become clinical licensed social worker, which requires licensure and supervised postgraduate practice.

To be considered for GCU’s advanced standing MSW online program, you need a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program and to meet specific GPA requirements.

How Much Does a Licensed Social Worker Make in Georgia?

As of October 2024, the average annual salary for a licensed social worker working in Georgia is $82,848 or $40 per hour. More experienced and top earning social workers in Georgia make over $130,000 per year.

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