Online MSW Program
Our CSWE-Accredited Online MSW Prepares You to Make a Lasting Impact
Two Specializations
Advanced Standing Track
Transfer Friendly
Experienced Faculty
Learn More Today
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Achieve Your Goal of Making a Difference in the Lives of Others
With an online master’s in social work (MSW) from Sacred Heart University, you can acquire knowledge and skills for social work licensure as you gain the flexibility to work in multiple settings. This program, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), brings you the highest quality curriculum with two program options to fit your educational background: Regular Standing and Advanced Standing. The Regular Standing option, for students who are entering social work from another field, builds foundational knowledge. The Advanced Standing option is available to students with a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CWSE-accredited program. The online Advanced Standing MSW track can be completed in just 12 months.*
You’ll also choose from two specializations in the online MSW. The Direct Clinical Practice specialization gives you experience in diagnosis, assessment and treatment of diverse client populations and systems, while the Direct Community Practice specialization allows you to gain experience in working with policy, groups, organization and legislation.
Virtual Events:
Join us for a Virtual Information Session to learn more about the Social Work program on November 17 at 5 pm ET. Register here.
Program Details
- Two career-relevant specializations in clinical and community practice
- Pursue roles with faster-than-average job growth1
- Transfer up to 15 credit hours
- 12-month Advanced Standing option*
- CSWE accredited
MSW Tracks and Specializations
In your online MSW program, you’ll take one of two tracks depending on your experience. If your undergraduate degree is not in social work, you’ll take the Regular Standing track and complete foundational social work courses as part of the program. If you have a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CWSE-accredited program, you’re eligible for the Advanced Standing track, in which you’ll complete only the advanced MSW coursework.
Regardless of your track, you’ll choose a specialization for your online MSW: Direct Clinical Practice or Direct Community Practice. Both specializations include practicum education as part of the required coursework.
Regular Standing
- Online
- 2-3 years
- 60 credits
Explore the breadth of the MSW curriculum with 60 credits of coursework, including generalist and specialization courses, plus a 1,000-hour practicum.
Learn MoreAdvanced Standing
- Online
- 12-20 months
- 30 credits
Students must hold a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. Complete specialization courses plus a 500-hour practicum.
View TrackDirect Clinical Practice Specialization
- Online
- Two tracks
- Clinical practicum
Study assessment, diagnosis and clinical interventions as you prepare to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
View SpecializationDirect Community Practice Specialization
- Online
- Two tracks
- Community practicum
Explore social welfare, community assessments and organization, and policy as you prepare to become a licensed master social worker (LMSW).
View SpecializationThe MSW program is also offered on campus.
More Information About This Program
Click on each tab below to learn additional details regarding the program requirements and features.
Curriculum: Advanced Capabilities Through Active Learning
Clinical or community practice specialization
Experiential learning opportunities
Our Master of Social Work online program is built on the tenets of social work, the Catholic intellectual tradition and a belief in experiential learning. Students with a bachelor’s degree in social work may be eligible for the Advanced Standing track, which is an accelerated version of the program that leads to graduation in as few as 12 months.* In either program track, you’ll graduate with an understanding of advanced topics, such as:
- Addressing inequities that impact client systems due to institutionalized racism and sexism
- Aging and gerontology
- Human identity formation and how it’s affected by diversity and our environment
- Social policy and its formulation, implementation and analysis
- Social welfare and the impact of socioeconomic and political trends
- Substance abuse and addiction
- The complexities of work with children and families
What Makes a Gold Standard Online MSW?
Hands-On Education
Sacred Heart’s online MSW includes social work practicum courses that allow you to apply your skills in a work environment. Our practicum liaisons will begin providing support one year prior to your placement, offering a level of dedication unmatched by other schools.
Focused Curriculum
The SHU online MSW curriculum was created with today’s community and global issues in mind and is continually updated with the latest information. You’ll study a wide range of topics spanning trauma, anti-racism and LGBTQ+ subject areas.
Admission: Everything You Need To Get Started
No GRE/MAT requirement
Transfer up to 15 credits
To apply for the online Master of Social Work from Sacred Heart University, you’ll need:
| Online Application Form | Apply Now |
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| Degree and Minimum GPA |
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| Additional Requirements |
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| Transcripts | Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions |
Advanced Standing applicants must meet additional requirements, which can be found on the admission page.
Admissions DetailsTuition: Committed to Affordability and Transparency
$840 per Credit
Tuition Calculator Calculate your costs for attending Sacred Heart
At SHU, we want you to have everything you need as you consider investing in a high-quality education. Get a close approximation of your tuition cost by using our Tuition Calculator tool and explore information about financial aid, military benefits and education partnerships on our website.
The online MSW program costs $840 per credit hour. Your total tuition cost will vary depending on the number of credits required to complete your degree. The Regular Standing MSW costs $50,400, and the Advanced Standing MSW costs $25,200, plus application and program fees. You can transfer up to 15 eligible credits to lower the cost of your degree. SHU also accepts several types of financial assistance.
Tuition Details“My first week in the MSW graduate program has been wonderful. The classes are truly designed for working professionals and the course information provided by instructors is thought-provoking and engages student perspective in meaningful ways. For people like myself, who prefer asynchronous learning the program affords students the opportunity to learn on their own time in their own way while still making students feel like their professors are easily accessible in times of need.”
–Leslie Slade
What Can You Do With an MSW?
Your online MSW opens the door to a multitude of rewarding career pathways across settings. Apply your skills toward advocating for others in groups, clinics, government agencies, outpatient counseling, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, private practice, schools and other organizations. Whether you’re passionate about community social work or clinical social work, you can tailor the degree toward the role you’re most passionate about.
These professions are growing rapidly. From 2024 to 2034, projections indicate a 6% employment growth rate for social workers, which is faster than the average.1 Some practice areas will experience even higher growth. Health care social work employment is projected to increase by 8%, and mental health and substance abuse social work employment is expected to increase by 10% over the same time frame.1 Wherever your career takes you, you’ll be prepared to meet your clients’ needs in these diverse occupations.
Explore CareersWhat You’ll Learn
SHU’s online MSW program enables your growth as an empathetic practitioner and strong social leader. You’ll build career-ready skills and apply them in real-world contexts.
Program Outcomes
You’ll complete this program ready to:
- Sit for the LMSW or LCSW exam in your state**
- Integrate empirical knowledge, theoretical concepts and analytical skills
- Understand the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of individuals within the context of their environment
- Assess client-service systems at the micro, mezzo and macro levels
- Work with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations
MSW Faculty: Leaders in the Field
Our award-winning faculty come from diverse backgrounds, having worked in areas such as social and economic justice, social policy, child welfare, trauma, grief, parenting, addiction, adoption, homelessness and hospice care.
Sasha Hazen Aaronson, MSW, MPA, Assistant Clinical Professor
Faculty Spotlight: Professor Sasha Aaronson
Sasha Aaronson, MSW, MPA, has served as a clinical assistant professor for the School of Social Work at Sacred Heart University since 2018. In this role, she has been a pioneer of the MSW program from its inception to its successful launch. She has served as the adjunct coordinator and chair of the education review process, focusing on student success, and on several committees aligned with social justice. She is committed to excellence in the overall graduate student experience. Aaronson is an active contributor to enhancing programming and curriculum, bringing more than a decade of teaching experience and service to higher education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as efficacy across various teaching platforms and modalities.
Prior to fully transitioning to academia, Aaronson’s practice experience included both clinical- and macro-level social work within the child welfare system, in the role of school social worker and as a program director for AmeriCorps, overseeing school-based interventions and capacity building in high need areas impacted by systemic barriers, institutionalized racism and mechanisms of oppression. Her work is deeply rooted in anti-racism and anti-oppression, grounded in critical theory and a commitment to justice and equity.
Aaronson also holds a master’s in public administration, which increases her capacity to engage in integrated social work practice, and is currently all but dissertation towards her Ph.D. in Social Work from Barry University. In addition to engaging in grassroots advocacy at the frontline and supporting multiple social justice issues faced by the communities she serves and is dedicated to, her research interests include social work ethics, sexuality, masculinity and colonialism in Jamaica, the impact of social-emotional learning on school success and secondary traumatic stress in school social workers.
Degrees and Certifications
- DSW Student, University of Kentucky
- ABD. Ph.D. Social Work, Barry University, 2017
- MPA, Barry University, 2015
- Certificate; Suicide Risk Assessment, QPR Institute, 2013
- Certificate; Child Development, Harvard-McLean, 2012
- MSW, Barry University, 2006
- BA Sociology, University of Massachusetts, 2001
Teaching Responsibilities
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II
- Contemporary Social Welfare Policy
- Advocacy and Social Action for Social Workers
- Advanced Integrated Policy Practice
- Advanced Generalist Practice
- Introduction to Generalist Practice
- Integrated Specialized Practice I & II
- Social work with Children & Families
Research Interests
- Sexuality, masculinity and colonialism in the West Indies
- The phenomenon of the Jamaican gigolo
- Political social work
Why Learn Online?
Flexible Learning: Study at your own pace and on your schedule, fitting education into your busy life.
Expert Faculty Support: Learn from the same accomplished faculty as on-campus students, with personalized, one-on-one guidance.
Equal Opportunities: Access the same resources and opportunities as on-campus students, ensuring a comprehensive and enriching experience.
Online At SHUFinancial Aid
At Sacred Heart University, we strive to offer competitive tuition and encourage you to explore all financial aid options, including federal aid, U.S. military benefits and available scholarships.
Financial AidFrequently Asked Questions
If you have a question we don’t cover here, request more information or call 877-791-7181.
Sacred Heart University’s online MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The CSWE’s Commission on Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories.
Our accredited status lets you know the education you receive at Sacred Heart University is rigorous and prepares you for the realities of practice.
- Bachelor’s degree (BA, BS, BSW) from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 GPA or higher (2.7 and up may be considered)
- Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
- Résumé
- Personal statement outlining why you are pursuing the MSW at SHU
- Two letters of recommendation: Must be from an employer, professor or manager and be dated by no more than 2 years from the enrollment date
- Interview with social work faculty
- Bachelor’s degree earned within the last six years from a CSWE-accredited college or university, with at least grade B in each course
- Practicum Education evaluation form(s) from all placements, completed by BSW practicum placement supervisor(s) after each BSW practicum placement. (It was likely provided to your BSW program director, practicum coordinator/director, academic advisor, or practicum liaison.)
- Applicants will print a copy of the MSW program evaluation form and provide it to their BSW program director or designee (e.g., academic advisor, practicum liaison, etc.) for completion.
The MSW does prepare you for licensure. License requirements vary by state. Though students are responsible for verifying license requirements in the state in which they plan to practice, our friendly admissions team is ready to answer questions and guide you through this process. Reach out to them at 877-791-7181 or onlineadmissions@sacredheart.edu.
Sacred Heart University’s Catholic intellectual traditions guide the School of Social Work through the ethical principles of service, respect for human dignity, social and economic justice, and the needs of vulnerable and diverse populations. These principles guide the School of Social Work’s anti-racist mission, work with students, and service to the community.
If you have earned a bachelor’s degree in social work with a 3.0 GPA within the past six years, you’re eligible for our Advanced Standing program and can graduate within 12 months if you begin your program in fall. Students starting the program in Spring or late spring can complete the program in 15 months while students starting in the summer term can finish in 20 months. If your undergraduate degree is focused in a field other than social work, you can complete the online MSW at Sacred Heart within 2-3 years depending on what term you begin your program. Contact an enrollment counselor for more details.
Currently, Sacred Heart University does not offer scholarships. Please consider the following options regarding finances:
- Complete the FAFSA® to determine your financial aid eligibility
- Apply for a Sallie Mae loan
- Review our payment plan
For assistance, please reach out to the SHU Online Admissions Office for further details at 877-791-7181 or onlineadmissions@sacredheart.edu.
Source and Disclaimers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Social Workers. Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm.
*Students who enroll in the advanced standing MSW program in the fall can complete the program in as few as 12 months. Students enrolling during the spring term can complete the program in 15 months.
**Students are responsible for understanding the licensing requirements in the state in which they plan to practice.