One of the primary benefits of majoring in social work is that it is widely available as both an undergraduate and graduate program. Additionally, a degree in social work opens opportunities across various fields, including private practice, education, research, and government.
In Ohio, you have the option to complete your undergraduate or graduate social work studies online, offering you more flexibility than traditional degree programs. You may also consider online programs from universities across the United States.
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 Degrees in Ohio
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online social work degree programs in Ohio:
Cleveland State University
The 120-credit online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program atCleveland State University (CSU)enables you to earn your BSW degree fully online, offering you flexibility to study either full-time or part-time. If you transfer in with an AA degree, you can complete the program in as little as four semesters. Courses and field practicums are offered year-round—Fall, Spring, and Summer—allowing you to control your schedule and graduation timeline.
To earn your BSW, you need to complete 46 credit hours in core social work courses, along with University/College General Education/Liberal Arts requirements.
You will learn to think critically about evolving trends in implementing evidence-informed interventions to support clients’ goals. These concepts, expanded on in research courses SWK 304 and SWK 305, will encourage you to consider social workers’ role as change agents at the individual, community, and societal levels.
You will also develop a foundational understanding of generalist practice, which you will expand upon in future classes on practice and intervention. These classes introduce you to a systems model and strengths-based perspective, both of which will be built upon throughout your coursework.
Upon completing SWK 200 and the liberal arts prerequisites, you may formally apply to the social work major. This application process, typically taking place in your second year, allows you to declare your intent to major in social work. To qualify, you need a minimum 2.2 GPA and a letter of reference from an approved individual, such as a professor, employer, or health professional. Upon acceptance, you can begin progressing through the curriculum.
Overall, the program curriculum provides the knowledge, values, and skills to engage in policy practice. You will be exposed to issues surrounding social and economic justice, discrimination, oppression, and advocacy through policy courses.
If you are majoring in another field or preparing for graduate study, social work can provide you with an understanding of the social welfare system and how it addresses current social concerns. The social work core prepares you to work in a wide range of settings, including child welfare, healthcare, aging, mental health, community organizations, and criminal justice.
Field education at the bachelor’s level consists of two semesters, where you gain direct practice experience. This field education component is designed to help you enhance your knowledge, skills, and values in social work. You will participate in hands-on learning, working with client systems across all levels. Field education serves as the primary method to introduce you to the social work profession, connecting theory to practice.
This program is designed to prepare you as a beginning-level general social worker practitioner. As a graduate, you are eligible for membership in organizations such as theNational Association of Social WorkersandNational Association of Black Social Workers. You will also be eligible to take the social work licensure exam in Ohio.
A bachelor’s degree qualifies you for entry-level roles in social work. Gaining relevant work or volunteer experience can also be beneficial. Advancement in the field sometimes requires an MSW.
The application to the social work major is submitted to the BSW Program Coordinator, who will host orientation sessions. These sessions provide information about the social work profession, its history, practice fields, trends, social issues, mission, and admission and curricula requirements. The requirements to enter the core curriculum for the major include having a 2.0 GPA and having completed the following courses: SWK 200 – Introduction to Social Work, PSC 111 – American Government, one science course that meets General Education requirements, as well as SOC 101 and PSY 101.
Approximately 70% of CSU’s students receive some form of financial assistance. The University participates in and administers all the major federal and state grant and loan programs, as well as providing grants and scholarships.
University of Cincinnati Online
TheUniversity of Cincinnati’sCSWE-accredited online BSW program provides you with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for a career as a community social worker. UC’s online BSW curriculum equips you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to succeed in social work. Key topics covered include:
Some of the core courses that you will take include:
In the final year of the BSW program, you will complete 432 hours (12 credit hours) in field placement, averaging approximately 16 hours per week. This practical component offers supervised experience in various social work settings, with placements arranged to align with your interests, career goals, and geographical location.
Fieldwork is invaluable for several reasons:
Graduates of UC’s BSW program are prepared for diverse career paths. You can work in settings including mental health clinics, schools, child welfare agencies, hospitals, and private practice. The program’s curriculum and fieldwork help you prepare for licensure and certification, such as:
Graduates of the online BSW hold positions in fields such as poverty reduction, homelessness, child or adult protective services, mental health, and substance abuse.
To graduate with a BSW, you need to complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours. You may transfer up to 90 credit hours from prior college coursework taken at an accredited institution, but must have a minimum of 24 transfer credits to enter the program.
To apply, you need 24 semester credit hours from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum GPA of 2.75. You must request official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended and have them sent directly to UC.
Ohio State Online
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at theOhio State Universityis designed to prepare you as a social work leader, ready to address regional, national, and global issues.
Through the online MSW curriculum, you will gain the skills and competences necessary to practice successfully across various fields, such as mental health, substance abuse, and child and youth services. You will be equipped to intervene, providing services through direct practice, administrative roles, advocacy, community change, and policy reform.
To accommodate students’ schedules, multiple start dates are available throughout the academic year. The program is fully online, requiring no campus visits. Field placement will be arranged with a local agency near you.
This 63-credit online MSW program offers two pathways to earning your master’s degree. In both options, you may choose to attend part-time or full-time, with no GRE required. Courses are asynchronous, allowing you to take them on your own schedule, and man courses include live sessions providing opportunities to engage with faculty and peers.
Overall, the MSW program prepares you for advanced social work practice with a curriculum built around three main components:
Completing this program satisfies the educational requirements for social worker licensure in Ohio. Additional testing, background checks, and other requirements may be necessary before applying for admission to the licensure Board.
All applicants to the MSW program must have:
To qualify for the ASAP program, you need:
Ohio University
WithOhio University’sCSWE-accredited online Master of Social Work program, you will be prepared to develop meaningful solutions to support under-served communities.
This program prepares you to work as a clinical social worker with advanced knowledge and skills to improve the well-being of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Through the MSW online program, you gain expertise in advanced clinical practice with skills applicable across all levels of practice.
The program emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and practice to address social issues. Two entry points are available, with the choice depending on your educational background and prior experience.
Students in both tracks complete the following core courses:
Students in the Advanced Standing track complete an advanced clinical field experience, requiring approximately 10 hours per week online, or 20 hours per week in the face-to-face program, culminating in over 650 hours of clinical experience.
Those in the Foundation track are prepared to fulfill a range of social work roles, such as counselor/clinician, human services broker, teacher, and advocate. Online students will complete 10 hours per week in the field, while face-to-face program students engage in 16-20 hours weekly, accumulating over 950 hours of clinical practice.
Ohio University’s online MSW program collaborates with over 500 agencies nationwide. Online MSW students will work with the Department of Social Work to find suitable field placements near their location.
All students must complete a two-course research sequence, ending with a practice evaluation based on field experience. Students are invited to present their research projects at the annual Ohio University Student Research & Creative Activity Expo.
Admission requirements are outlined below:
Standard Admission Requirements:
Advanced Standing Admission Requirements:
What Degree Do You Need to be a Social Worker in Ohio?
Ohio offers several levels of social work licensure:
Each licensure level comes with specific guidelines for supervised practice and examinations, especially if you are interested in clinical or independent positions.
How Much Does a Licensed Social Worker Make in Ohio?
As of October 2024, the average annual salary for a licensed social worker working in Ohiois $89,350. More experienced and top earning social workers in Ohio make over$115,000 per year.
