Individuals choose to become social workers for various reasons. You might feel a strong desire to help others, find motivation in addressing complex challenges, or wish to guide others toward a better path based on your own experiences.
Regardless of your personal reason for entering the field, becoming a social worker requires the right educational foundation. This typically involves earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work. In North Carolina, you have the option to complete your undergraduate or graduate social work studies online.
This guide provides information on some of the popular online social work programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Review each option to make an informed decision about your academic future!
Online Social Work Programs in North Carolina
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online social work programs in North Carolina:
- UNC Charlotte Online
- Appalachian State University
- UNC at Chapel Hill
- UNC at Pembroke
- Grand Canyon University
- Arizona State University Online
- Simmons University
- Syracuse University
- National University
UNC Charlotte Online
Online Bachelor of Social Work, BSW
The UNC Charlotte online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is a 60-credit, two-year degree completion program designed to prepare you for generalist social work practice. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), this program allows graduates to qualify for the social work licensure exam in North Carolina.
The BSW Program at UNC Charlotte meets CSWE’s standards for academic quality and professional preparation. As a student, you will have opportunities for hands-on experience through field placements, applying classroom learning to real-world situations.
This program provides you with essential knowledge, skills, and values to practice social work in different settings. You will stud social work theory, research, and practice methods, gaining practical experience in field placements.
The BSW degree at UNC Charlotte focuses on intervention methods suitable for various social systems and client populations. Key areas of emphasis include:
- Building therapeutic relationships with clients.
- Assessing client systems from a diversity-affirming, ecological perspective.
- Defining problems and setting appropriate intervention goals.
- Using intervention strategies tailored to diverse client needs.
- Connecting clients with resources.
- Empowering clients by enhancing their problem-solving and coping skills.
- Applying research and evaluation skills at a baccalaureate level.
These practice areas are grounded in professional social work values and ethics, with an emphasis on human rights and supporting at-risk populations, including those historically oppressed due to factors like race, socioeconomic status, and gender.
The curriculum prepares you for social work practice in North Carolina’s largest urban area, a diverse, multi-county region with numerous vulnerable individuals, families, and groups. The program promotes inclusivity, accommodating students from various backgrounds, including first-generation and transfer students.
Some of the Upper Division courses you will take include:
- Case Management
- Writing for the Social Work Profession
- Diversity and Populations-at-Risk
- Foundations of Social Welfare
- Community Engagement and Outreach
- Psychology Distress, Dysfunction, and Disorders
- Professional Behaviors, Ethics, and Communication
In the final year, you will complete field education, which includes practical and seminar. You will integrate and apply your learning through case analyses, agency analysis papers, and other assignments, maintaining the same field placement throughout the year.
Completing the program also qualifies you for school social work licensure in North Carolina if you complete a two-semester field placement in a school setting. Alumni from the program are employed in areas such as child protective services, healthcare, substance abuse treatment, and youth services.
Some graduates pursue an MSW, either at UNC Charlotte or other institutions. Graduates often work in the Charlotte region with job titles such as
- Child, Family, and School Social Worker
- Social and Human Service Specialist
- Healthcare Social Worker
- Registered Nurse
- Medical Social Worker
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
UNC Charlotte BSW graduates work at places like Mecklenburg County, Atrium Health, Novant Health, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Applications are accepted from February 1 to July 1, with rolling admissions until August 1. Admission requirements include:
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
- Completion of 60 credits and all general education requirements before starting the upper division.
- Resume.
- Essay (4-5 pages, double-spaced, APA format) covering your reasons for pursuing a BSW, social issues that social workers address, research on a social problem, and your plan for balancing the program’s coursework and internship.
Admission offers are conditional based on final verification of prerequisites and GPA. In some cases, students may be admitted missing prerequisites but will need a plan to complete these requirements.
For transfer credits, the University Admissions Office initially assesses which courses can be accepted from other institutions, requiring a minimum grade of “C” for each course. The BSW program will review transfer courses to determine if they satisfy social work major requirements, with the program director deciding if any course matches a required course.
Appalachian State University
Online Bachelor of Social Work, BSW
Channel your commitment to social justice by learning to blend compassion, policy, and practical skills to improve the lives of others through App State’s online BSW program. Accredited by CSWE, this program signals to employers that you have graduated from a rigorous program preparing you for social work.
The BSW program at App State has four primary goals:
- To help students gain the skills needed for generalist social work practice.
- To offer classroom, community, and practice experiences that reflect local needs but are transferable to national and global contexts.
- To provide a learning environment that supports personal growth, scientific inquiry, and social work values.
- To offer a curriculum designed to prepare you for graduate-level social work education.
This program uses a blend of synchronous (scheduled online meeting times) and asynchronous (flexible coursework) classes. In addition, you will complete an in-person internship in your final semester, which will be located in or near your home county. Expect to work approximately 32 hours per week at a human service agency Monday through Friday.
The BSW degree is structured as a progressive model. App State’s social work curriculum builds upon general education and cognate courses to prepare you for generalist practice. All App State students, regardless of major, must complete 44 credit hours of general education. These foundation requirements lay the liberal education basis.
The general education provides a strong base for social work, but specific content is also required. The BSW program has specific cognate course requirements to add knowledge from other disciplines, such as human biology, anthropology, sociology, political science, and psychology, which enhance the professional curriculum. Some of these cognate courses are:
- Biology in Society
- Psychological Foundations
- The Sociological Perspective
- Social Problems in American Society
- Abnormal Psychology
- Gender, Race and Class
- Understanding Culture
Foundation courses build upon the general education and cognate courses, introducing you to social work values, ethics, policies, programs, and culturally competent practice with diverse populations. You will also learn theories of human behavior, the Person-in-Environment perspective, and foundational skills for practice. Each foundation course must be completed with a “C” or higher.
The Professional Sequence builds on this foundation, allowing you to develop your critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and information analysis skills. You will learn to conduct assessments, select and apply interventions, and evaluate practice outcomes. Courses integrate topics of human rights, social and economic justice, ethics, and ethical decision-making, strengthening your identification with the profession. The Professional Sequence courses include:
- Social Welfare Policies, Programs, and Issues
- Social Work Research Methods I and II
- Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
- Social Work Practice with Groups
- Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations
- Social Justice Practice Across the Profession
- Field Preparation and Professional Development
In the final stage of the program, you will apply the knowledge, values, and skills you have developed. During a field placement, you will complete at least 440 clock hours in a community agency. This placement, along with a concurrent seminar, serves as a capstone experience.
Your field placement will be taken concurrently with the seminar, connecting your field experience to classroom learning. In the seminar, you will share your field experiences with peers and apply theories, research, and values from your coursework.
If you wish to receive North Carolina school social work licensure, you should complete the school social work elective (SW 4270) and a field placement in a public school system. Additional recommended courses include SPE 3300 Creating Inclusive Learning Communities and FDN 2400 Critical Perspectives on Learning and Teaching.
App State’s online BSW program accepts both first-year students and transfer students from other institutions.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s online MSW program is designed to support those wanting to strengthen their roles in the community while maintaining current jobs and commitments. This program aims to address critical workforce needs by engaging talent from across North Carolina, the Southeast, and nationwide, to assist in solving complex community challenges. The Online MSW at UNC Chapel Hill offers:
- A 100% online format combining asynchronous and synchronous courses, allowing you to balance weekly coursework with scheduled class attendance.
- A high-touch approach through interactions with world-class faculty, a dedicated student success team, customized practicum placements, cohort relationships, and access to UNC’s network of researchers, industry leaders, and alumni.
- Flexible access to a top-ranked MSW program for those working from home or anywhere, with no GRE required.
- A curriculum designed to prepare you for advanced practice in social work, covering individual and family practice (micro) as well as community practice, administration, and policy advocacy (macro).
The online MSW degree offers two options:
Advanced Standing 2-Year Program: This option is for those who have earned a BSW from an accredited program within the last seven years, work full-time, and want to complete their MSW online in two years. Advanced Standing students skip the Generalist Curriculum, instead completing 39 graduate credit hours, which include 33 credit hours in classes and 6 credits in an approved practicum.
Classes start in May during the Extended Summer Session, with online meetings to complete 9 credit hours over 10 weeks. This initial summer prepares you for the Specialized Curriculum. Practicum occurs during Fall and Spring of year two. Students must be in the U.S. to participate in the distance-education MSW program options.
The online 2-year advanced standing program schedule is as follows:
- Year One
- Practice and Program Evaluation (3 credits)
- Advocacy and Policy Change (3 credits)
- Mental Health Assessment (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practice with Organizations (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practice with Families (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practice with Communities (3 credits)
- Year Two
- Two Electives (6 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practicum I (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practicum II (3 credits)
- Reflection and Synthesis (3 credits)
3-Year MSW Distance-Education Program: This program provides a virtual MSW track, completed over three years. Students complete both Generalist and Specialized curricula, with synchronous and asynchronous course formats. Synchronous classes are offered evenings and weekends, allowing those balancing employment, school, and family to attend. In the final two years, you will complete two practicals requiring 16 hours per week onsite.
Below is the schedule of required courses for 3-year online program. Students can opt to take electives anytime during the program:
- Year One
- Social Work Practice: Theory and Skills (3 credits)
- Foundations of Social Work (3 credits)
- Social Work Research (3 credits)
- Social Work, Social Justice, & Diversity (3 credits)
- Advocacy and Policy Change (3 credits)
- Practice and Program Evaluation (3 credits)
- Year Two
- Mental Health Assessment (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practice with Organizations (3 credits)
- Foundation Social Work Practicum I (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practice with Families (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practice with Communities (3 credits)
- Foundation Social Work Practicum I (3 credits)
- Year Three
- Three Elective (9 credits)
- Advanced Interpersonal Practice with Groups (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practicum II (3 credits)
- Reflection and Synthesis (3 credits)
- Advanced Social Work Practicum II (3 credits)
As a distance-education student, you may choose hybrid or face-to-face electives, but at an additional cost. During the 600 Specialization practicum hours, you will gain in-person experience in a local agency, applying classroom knowledge to real-world situations. These experiences allow you to explore career paths, build skills, and establish professional networks.
You will complete practicum placements at various organizations, including social services, schools, hospitals, community nonprofits, substance abuse programs, child welfare agencies, and transitional housing programs. Practicum placements will be matched to your career goals and needs with input from the program.
Employer-based placements are also possible, allowing you to stay with your current employer while fulfilling practicum requirements.
All Advanced Standing, Traditional, and Online MSW students are required to meet program completion standards, including a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all coursework attempted.
To be considered for admission, you must submit the following in your UNC Graduate School application:
- Bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited institution, in any discipline.
- A diverse academic background covering a broad variety of perspectives.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
- Statement of Purpose (4-5 pages).
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Current resume or CV.
- TOEFL or IELTS score
You are eligible to apply for Advanced Standing if you meet the minimum admission criteria and one of the following:
- You are in your final year of study in a social work program accredited by CSWE and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- You have earned a BSW within the past seven years from a CSWE-accredited social work program, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- You have earned a BSW recognized by the CSWE through its International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service, or a BSW covered under a memorandum of understanding between CSWE and international social work accrediting bodies.
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s online MSW program provides two levels of professional preparation: general social work (first year of study) and advanced general social work with a focus on rural communities and Native American indigenous populations.
You may complete the program in one year (full-time advanced standing), two years (part-time advanced standing), two years (full-time), three years (part-time), or four years (extended part-time).
This fully online program is delivered through asynchronous and synchronous online courses using Canvas, Zoom, or WebEx.
The MSW program at UNCP builds on the core values of the university to address the immediate and growing need for advanced general social work professionals, particularly in rural and Native American indigenous communities. There are few social work programs specifically focused on preparing students for work in these contexts.
Building on the BSW program, the MSW program continues to develop the mission while emphasizing field practicum as a way to integrate knowledge and experience. This program offers you the opportunity to apply the advanced social work models under professional supervision. Program goals include:
- To provide a strong general curriculum, building on liberal arts, to help you develop key social work competencies.
- To offer a curriculum drawing from both general and strengths-based perspectives, to prepare you for advanced practice.
- To emphasize generalist practice across individual, family, community, state, and international levels, with specific focus on rural and Native American indigenous communities.
- To prepare you for further education beyond the MSW, supporting lifelong learning for North Carolina social workers.
- To promote rural community practice, especially with populations-at-risk.
- To encourage research for community problem-solving and social work practice evaluation.
- To engage in policy development and evaluation to support humane, effective programs.
- To provide leadership in social services planning and delivery at the community level.
Generalist Year
The general year provides a strong foundation in social work content, like that in a BSW program, but with greater depth and breadth. Courses address core competencies at the general level, preparing you for more advanced practice.
Advanced Generalist Year
This year builds upon the Generalist curriculum with a focus on rural contexts and Native American indigenous populations. You will be trained as an advanced generalist social worker, capable of addressing the unique needs of rural communities and Native populations, where you may work across various roles.
Advanced Generalist prepare you to practice in advanced social work contexts, including:
- Recognizing and addressing the needs and strengths of people who face oppression.
- Practicing across multiple levels, including individuals, families, groups, and communities.
- Applying multi-theoretical frameworks, using appropriate theories to guide practice.
- Working with clients’ strengths, supporting social justice, and promoting empowerment.
- Practicing ethically, aligned with the NASW Code of Ethics.
- Applying advanced assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills.
- Collaborating with populations-at-risk across all settings.
- Seeking supervision, consultation, and professional development.
All MSW students are required to complete field practicum experiences. The full program requires 930 field hours, while advanced standing students complete 500 hours. Field practicum sites are available in North Carolina, and you must travel to an approved site. Field faculty will help you locate a placement aligned with your goals and social work competencies.
Your application will be reviewed to ensure alignment with the program’s mission and to assess your preparedness fork@ graduate-level study. Requirements include
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- A minimum 2.75 GPA (last 60 credits) or 3.0 GPA fork the fully online program, or 3.2 for advanced standing.
- Official transcripts from all institutions.
- Positive recommendations.
- A personal essay discussing your goals and alignment with the program.
- Completion of a Graduate School application.
You qualify for advanced standing if you have completed a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program (or a recognized international equivalent) within the past five years, with a minimum 3.2 GPA. Advanced standing is not available to applicants whose BSW was earned more than five years ago.
National University
Online Master of Social Work (MSW) – General Track
National University’s CSWE-accredited 60-credit online MSW program prepares you for diverse career paths in social services. The curriculum aligns with CSWE competencies, providing you with knowledge, skills, and direct experience transferable to the workplace.
Generalist Track requires 60 credit hours and includes foundation courses completed before advanced courses. Your capstone project will be the final course of the program.
In this track, you will examine contemporary social work practices, ethics, and communication, learning core social work skills. The program combines online coursework with in-person practicum experiences, allowing you to engage directly with individuals, groups, and communities under the guidance of a local field supervisor.
Yours Foundation Courses will include:
- Introduction to Social Work: Provides an overview of social work practice, including theories, concepts,k@ and populations-at-risk. You will explore values, ethics, and the family and community contexts relevant to social work.
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment: This course focuses on diversity, cultural humility, and human rights, exploring social work practice with diverse populations. You will apply theories to social environments and human development.
- Social Work in Behavioral Health: Introduces social work practice within behavioral health. You will examine laws, evidence-based practices, and service models related to mental health services.
- Ethics and Diversity in Social Work: Explores ethical decision-making in social work and governmental policies guiding ethical practices. You will examine the ethics required to advocate effectively for diverse populations.
- Social Work in Interdisciplinary Settings: Introduces teamwork within interdisciplinary settings. You will explore communication styles and research-based interventions used in integrated care.
- Generalist Practicum l and II: In these courses, you will receive training in social work practice through supervised experiential learning within a social work or social services agency. You will apply social work values and ethics, with a focus on social justice and cultural competency. Emphasis is placed on applying the general intervention model across individuals, families, groups, and communities.
Advanced Courses that you will take include:
- Advanced Social Work with Children and Families: Focuses on applying evidence-based practices in working with clients who have complex needs. You will examine ethical considerations for individual and family practice.
- Advanced Social Work in Medical Practice: 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: Examines DSM-5 inclusion, focusing on mental health interventions. You will learn to distinguish between evidence-based practices and emerging research.
- Forensic Clinical Social Work Practice: Prepares you for forensic social work by examining social problems related to health and justice disparities. You will evaluate practice methods with diverse populations, including children and adults.
- Advanced Practicum I: The first of two advanced practicum courses offers supervised practice experience at 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 practice skills in ethics, assessment, and intervention through evidence-based models.
- Capstone: The capstone course is designed to consolidate your program learning and to apply concepts in social work practice. You will select and evaluate a project in collaboration with your field placement.
At the core of the MSW education at National University is the practicum experience, also known as a field placement or internship, which provides real-world learning in a social work setting. This practicum connects you to applied learning settings and practical responsibilities, allowing you to apply knowledge and skills from coursework in real-time with expert supervision.
This on-site training under an experienced professional prepares you for roles in settings 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 must complete 900 hours of qualified practicum, while Advanced Standing Track students are required 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 advance to Advanced Practicum I and II courses. Each of these twelve-week courses requires 250 hours of practicum for a total of 500 hours in the Advanced Generalist practicum. You should plan to work approximately 18-20 hours per week at your field agency for each twelve-week practicum course to meet these hour requirements.
Seminar courses (Generalist Practicum I, Generalist Practicum II, Advanced Generalist Practicum I, and Advanced Generalist Practicum II) include assignments that must be completed and attendance at a mandatory one-hour, real-time weekly seminar with an MSW faculty member. These seminars enable you to connect classroom theory with real-life practicum experiences. You are also required to meet for one hour weekly with your local supervisor for additional guidance and support.
To be considered for admission to the General Track MSW at National University, you must hold a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, including institutions outside the U.S. if they meet equivalency standards through a recognized evaluation service.
How Much Does a Licensed Social Worker Make in North Carolina?
As of October 2024, the average annual salary for a licensed social worker working in North Carolina is $79,069. More experienced and top earning social workers in North Carolina make over $140,000 per year.
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