Online MS in Social Work Program
An Education Designed for Change Agents
Be ready to be challenged. For more than a century, the Columbia School of Social Work has led a transformation in how we study, teach, and practice social work. We have never been content with the status quo, and our willingness to embrace new approaches has kept us at the forefront of social work education and research.
Columbia’s Master of Science in Social Work is one of the oldest and most esteemed MSSW programs in the world. Columbia students have unparalleled access to rigorous training, innovative teaching, and proven methods to transform lives and lead society forward. Our Online Option combines all the benefits of the MSSW program within an award-winning online experience.
“The Columbia School of Social Work dedicates itself to maximizing human well-being and ensuring that all can reach their full potential. Our research initiatives, educational programs, and community partnerships are designed to promote social justice across all sectors and strata of society. Our work spans the most pressing issues impacting social welfare: from poverty and economic opportunity, to anti-racism efforts, to opioid and substance use disorders, to immigration and migration, to technology’s effects on the lived experience, and of course, to environmental justice. For us, ethics is not only a philosophy, but a practice performed at all levels of society; and justice is the conscious practice of avoiding harm, undoing harm, and re-imagining and building societies.”
Top 4
Best School for Social Work
U.S. News & World Report
Top 10
Best Global Universities
U.S. News & World Report
- 100% online coursework with majority synchronous classes
- Practicum placement sites available across the United States
- 6 degree pathways, including Advanced Standing
- Choose from 4 method specializations and 7 fields of practice
- See our next start dates
Columbia University MSSW Online Program Option Benefits
Proven methods with real-world impact. This is a degree where research meets clinical practice, where evidence-based decisions are balanced with individual needs, and where a multitude of perspectives converge to solve complex social justice problems.
World-changing research led by exceptional faculty. Participate in real-time classes taught by some of the most compelling voices in the social work world; their research has examined the relationship between gang violence and social media, the effects of racism on health, responses to the opioid epidemic, new frontiers in clinical interventions, innovations in poverty alleviation, and the nuances of prolonged grief.
A Columbia education, anywhere. Our Online Option expands access to our world-class education and New York City connections. Online students can attend events hosted by influential scholars, conduct research with our 16 research centers and programs, and participate in nearly 30 student caucuses, no matter where they live in the United States. They are also able to complete practicum placements near their home with full support from our Practicum Education Department.
Steadfast advocacy. We are a community united by unwavering commitment to justice, human rights, and respect. By understanding the structures that can constrict society, we are empowered to dismantle them. Our faculty, staff, and students are dedicated to non-oppressive practices, both within the MSSW online program option and in professional service.
98%
Nearly all Columbia students are employed (96%) or pursuing further education (2%) within one year of graduation.
25%
Social workers with a master’s degree make 25% more than those with a bachelor’s degree alone. Columbia graduates earn a median salary that’s 8% higher than social workers overall.
Source: Burning Glass Technologies: Labor Insight, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Request information
Please fill out the fields below to download a brochure. If you have any questions about our program pathways or application process, you can contact an enrollment specialist by emailing onlinemsw@columbia.edu or calling (332) 232-8434.
The PROP Framework
A guiding principle of the School of Social Work and the MSSW program is PROP, which addresses the ways that power, race, oppression, and privilege shape our world and our responses to it. This framework is rooted in helping students understand that anti-Black racism and white supremacy are endemic in our systems and institutions. Students become more mindful, self-aware practitioners who are empowered to challenge stagnant ideas and create meaningful change.
Choose the MSSW Online Program Option That Works Best for You
The Columbia University online master of social work program options accommodate students at all levels of experience — from recent graduates and career changers to social work professionals who want to deepen their commitment to serving others. Choose from six different pathways:
Jobs That Transform Lives
Our students are ready to change the world. We provide the foundational knowledge, applied skills, and professional network they need to make that change happen at any scale. Recent Columbia University MSSW graduates have gone on to social work jobs as care coordinators, medical social workers, behavioral healthcare managers, clinical case managers, policy advocates, research analysts, directors of outreach, program coordinators, licensed master social workers (LMSWs), and so much more.
We build compassionate, knowledgeable leaders who understand all facets of the profession. No matter how they choose to specialize, Columbia students learn both clinical and macro concepts.
Visit our Method Specializations page to see our graduates’ variety of employers and the job skill sets they use, broken down by area of interest.
Columbia MSSW Graduates by Employment Type
- 52% Combination of direct practice, mezzo, and macro‐level work
- 40% Direct work with individuals, groups, and families
- 8% Macro‐level work (includes higher education)
Access our Columbia MS in Social Work career outcomes report.
Social Work Career Support for Students and Graduates
The Columbia master of science in social work attracts bright, driven students who want to use their MSSW to promote social justice and the overall well-being of others. We are proud to support our incredible students and their careers, as they pursue new roles and new opportunities to make meaningful change. To that end, all Online Option students and alumni have access to a full suite of career services through our Office of Career Services and Leadership Management, including:
- One-on-one career coaching
- Networking events
- Exclusive job postings
- Recruitment events and job fairs
- Access to an alumni network of 19,000 graduates
- Workshops on job searching, resumes, interviewing, career building, and licensing
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, all courses are the same in terms of content and quality. The only major difference is that you are connecting virtually. The Online Option and Residential Option follow the same curriculums and all students have frequent opportunities to build relationships with their cohort.
The MS in Social Work is one key step on the pathway toward licensure. The master’s program provides education and practicum hours, and you will need to fulfill additional requirements depending on the state where you will be applying for your license.
According to the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), licensure requirements generally include the following steps:
- Complete a social work degree
- Apply for your license
- Pass the appropriate social work licensing exam
- Fulfill supervised practice (for clinical social work licenses or licenses to practice individually)
We encourage you to thoroughly review the guidelines for the state where you plan to work and check back frequently, as requirements may change. If you would like a starting point, our Social Work Licensing page has details for New York State, the tri-state area, as well as where to start for other states.
You can also access the Association of Social Work Boards portal that lets you access statutes and rules by state.
Columbia University pass rates for the ASWB master’s examination and clinical examinations far exceed the national average. You can review the pass rates for first-time test-takers here.
CSSW students and alumni who want to pursue licensure can get additional support from these offices:
The length of your degree program depends on a few factors, including the pathway you choose and the number of electives you complete. Here are general completion estimates for each degree pathway.
- Two-Year: 2 years
- Advanced Standing: 1 year
- Part-Time to Full-Time (Extended): 3 to 4 years
- One-Year Residency for Working Professionals (Reduced Residency): 3 years
- Transfer: 1 year
- Part-Time: 3 to 4 years
The Office of Practicum Learning works collaboratively with students to identify and secure placements, regardless of where they live in the United States. The team strives to place students locally, with no placement requiring more than a 90-minute commute.
Students also have the opportunity to fulfill practicum hours at one of CSSW’s sixteen research centers and programs.
Placements are selected to meet each student's interests while providing an educationally sound environment where they can learn and practice social work.
An MSW (Master of Social Work) is a degree. It's graduate-level work that prepares students for professional social work practice. Some programs, like Columbia’s, are referred to as an MSSW, which is a Master of Science in Social Work.
The LMSW and LCSW are licenses, not educational pathways. They're credentials you earn from your state after completing specific requirements.
These acronyms represent different points along the path from education to practice:
- MSW or MSSW (Master of Social Work/Master of Science in Social Work)
This is your graduate degree from an accredited social work program. It serves as your educational foundation. - LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker)
This is the first level of postgraduate licensure, obtained after you complete a MSW or MSSW and pass the ASWB Master’s exam. It allows you to practice social work under supervision. Some states permit supervised clinical work at this level, while others limit clinical practice until you obtain the advanced license. Requirements and scope vary by state. - LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
This advanced clinical license requires additional supervised clinical experience, usually a set number of hours completed over 2–3 years. LCSWs can practice independently, provide psychotherapy, and (in many states) diagnose mental health conditions and bill insurance.
An MSW program substantially develops a social worker’s ability to understand human behavior within complex systems, and that perspective matters everywhere.
The skills you build in an MSSW program prove valuable across countless professional settings. You learn trauma-informed practice, cultural humility, active listening, and crisis intervention. You develop an understanding of power structures and how they shape people's lives.
You also learn how to use research to strengthen your practice. MSSW students learn to evaluate studies, select evidence-based interventions, and apply findings to the populations you serve. Here are some of the many roles that these skills can prepare you for:
Clinical and Mental Health Roles
- Mental Health Clinician
- Staff Therapist
- Behavioral Health Specialist
- School Social Worker
- Medical Social Worker
Community, School, and Nonprofit Roles
- Community Outreach Associate
- Community Coordinator
- Foster Care Case Manager
- Early Intervention Specialist
- Youth Health Coordinator
- Program Manager or Nonprofit Administrator
Policy, Government, and Systems-Level Roles
- Government Relations Associate
- Policy Analyst
- Congressional Caseworker
- Victim Services Coordinator
- Research Analyst
- Presidential Management Fellow
Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship
- Associate Consultant
- Donor Relations Manager
- Executive Coach
- Human Resources Associate
- Senior Corporate Responsibility Coordinator
- Grant Writer or Development Officer
You can learn more about career paths and see where recent Columbia MSSW graduates have landed in our article “Careers as Change Agent: What Can You Do With a Master's in Social Work?”
