School of Social Work (Online) University of Southern California

A Virtual Classroom For Real Learning

The University of Southern California School of Social Work is the first among elite research universities to offer its highly regarded Master of Social Work degree online. Available nationally through USC's Virtual Academic Center, the MSW@USC engages students in various web-based learning activities and hands-on, supervised, traditional field instruction in local communities where those students live and work. Taught by renowned faculty and leaders in the field of social work, the MSW@USC allows students to earn a Master of Social Work degree and attain the skills to make a difference in the world -- all without stepping foot on campus.

Using an interactive, web-based learning platform, MSW@USC's Virtual Academic Center connects users to students from across the country in live classrooms facilitated online. Join a virtual learning community of like-minded individuals dedicated to social work ideas and practice by communicating with classmates and teachers via real-time webcam discussions and custom-designed social-networking tools that function like Facebook. The involved technology enables students to see their professor and peers as if participating in an actual classroom, allowing them to complete their coursework and share their field experiences from anywhere.

Real World Foundation

Online instruction in the MSW@USC is paired with hands-on field experiences in students' local communities, which offer practical insight and local professional contacts. Students will spend a great deal of time in a nearby social service agency, government entity, school, hospital, or business under the supervision of a seasoned social worker to observe and take part in a hands-on learning experience relevant to students' emerging skills. The USC School of Social Work will find a field placement for students near their residences, specifically striving to provide one that will broaden students' educational and life experiences. Upon completion of a degree, a student will have performed 1,050 hours of practical training in a variety of social service setting, working with diverse populations.

The Virtual Academic Center's MSW@USC mirrors the stringent curriculum and academic rigor of the on-campus program, and is delivered by USC's renowned full-time faculty. Foundation-year instruction provides a common base of knowledge, skills and values by introducing theories, issues and practice methods that deal with individuals and their environment. The second half of the curriculum focuses on advanced training, leading to the development of in-depth knowledge and skills in a variety of concentrations, including mental health, community organization, planning and administration, families and children, and military social work.

A Tremendous Opportunity for the Internet Age

The Virtual Academic Center, MSW@USC enables you to earn a Master of Social Work from one of the most prestigious social work institutions in the country, regardless of where you live. USC's School of Social Work, ranked as one of the top ten in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, offers a rigorous, research-supported, and mutually responsible learning process that nurtures innovative, principled, and insightful leaders and practitioners. Additionally, MSW@USC students belong to the Trojan Family, sharing personal and academic interests with peers from around the country, and developing relationships that will last a lifetime. This genuinely supportive network, one of the largest and strongest alumni network in the world, is truly lifelong and global.

With the employment of social workers expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social work offers great career potential. An accredited, highly respected online Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California will carry significant value in any organization's hiring and advancement decisions, and any individual who holds such a degree will have been prepared with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the lives of vulnerable populations, eradicate pressing societal problems, and truly make a difference.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work (JD/MSW)
  Master of Planning/Master of Social Work (M Pl/MSW)
  Master of Social Work/Master of Jewish Communal Services (MSW/MJCS)
  Master of Social Work/Master of Science (MSW/MS)
  Master of Social Work/Master of Business Administration (MSW/MBA)
  Master of Public Administration/Master of Social Work (MPA/MSW)
• Systems Of Mental Illness Recovery Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Community Organization, Planning And Administration Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Public Child Welfare Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Social Work Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Mental Health Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Families And Children Master of Social Work (MSW)
• School Settings Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Older Adults Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Work And Life Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Health Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Military Social Work And Veterans Services Master of Social Work (MSW)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 288
• Doctoral Degrees 7
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? No
• Evening/weekend programs available? No
• Distance learning programs available? Not reported
• Terminal master's degree available? No

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Not reported
• Doctoral Degrees Required, Required and qualifying exam/publishable paper
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied1,627
• Accepted806
• Acceptance Rate49%
• Enrolled477
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic Not Reported
• Application Fee - International Not Reported
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Not Reported
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline December 1st December 1st Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesNot Reported
• Doctoral's DegreesGRE General Test
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, 600 paper based, TOEFL iBT, ESL exam

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *$31,240
• Out-of-state tuition *$31,240
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year fees$600.00
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsNot Reported
• Types of financial support availableFellowships, Research Assitantships, Teaching Assistantships, Health Care Benefits, Scholarship and/or loans, Traineeships, Graduate Assistantships

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students1086
• Female Percentage84%
• Male Percentage16%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students1086
• Part-time Percentage15%
• Full-time Percentage85%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino42%
• Black / African American13%
• White / Caucasian29%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native0%
• Asian11%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races2%
• Unknown3%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty135
• Full-time Percentage50%
• Part-time Percentage50%
• Female Percentage68%
• Male Percentage32%

• Existing Research
• Focus of faculty researchDepartment of Defense Educational Activity, detection/treatment of depression among older adults, health/aging, psychosocial adaptation to extreme environments/man made disasters; mental health needs of older adults
• Externally sponsored research expenditures last year$7,284,000