Skip to main content

What to Expect in Your Online Social Work Master’s Program

By U.S. News & World Report

The fact that LovieAnn Terrado pursued her master’s degree in social work online initially raised questions among some of her friends.

They would wonder, for example, whether a field that requires constant face-to-face interaction could really be taught successfully in a virtual environment, says the 37-year-old Kentucky resident, who graduated from Boston University in 2015.

Terrado quickly learned the answer to that question was yes. While she completed some coursework on her own schedule, she also regularly attended live classes through videoconferencing, part of which involved role-playing. One student may act as the social worker, another as an adolescent with a certain behavior type and a third as a concerned parent. They would hold a mock therapy session and then receive feedback from their instructor and classmates, Terrado says.

“You would need to apply what you learned about the different theories,” says Terrado. “How do you work with that family?”

[Explore tips to interact with students and instructors in online courses.]

Terrado isn’t alone, as many of today’s aspiring social workers — especially those with family and other obligations outside of classes — earn their master’s degrees online.

Because social workers regularly interact with individuals, families and groups to help them cope with issues, many of these online programs’ curriculums include in-person, supervised practicums and internships, experts say. There are often also real-time, virtual classes combined with group work and self-paced assignments, though the specifics vary.

How MSW online students are assessed may differ from course to course. At ASU Online, the online arm of Arizona State University, students complete everything from research papers to quizzes and exams to discussion boards and reflection activities, says Melanie Reyes, the school’s online social work program coordinator.

Online MSW students’ professional backgrounds also often vary, says Dana Grossman Leeman, associate dean for online and continuing education at the Simmons College School of Social Work in Massachusetts. She’s seen all types of adults enroll, from second-career changers to recent military veterans, and both those who did and didn’t study social work as undergraduates.

Given that range of specific career goals, some online social work degrees offer different tracks or concentrations. At BU’s School of Social Work, online master’s students can decide between a clinical social work major, focusing mainly on helping individuals in hospitals and child care settings, and one in macro social work, for careers that focus on broader social problems in communities.

Simmons only has a clinical social work track, though students can specialize in trauma, mental health and substance abuse, family, and health and aging. At schools such as the for-profit Capella University, online learners with a related bachelor’s may pursue an advanced standing program while others without social work experience may complete the foundational track. Capella’s online students also all attend multiday, on-campus residencies.

Generally, online MSW students complete their field requirement — a practicum or internship — near home, and the number of hours required typically vary. A common challenge for many is time management, especially if they continue working while earning their degree.

[Discover four time management tips for online students.]

When it comes to holding jobs, “We don’t recommend full time during that field experience, but many do,” says Brian Christenson, program director for online master’s in social work at Capella. “So it’s not something you can’t do.”

As long as what the student will learn is new, they may be able to secure a field placement at their current workplace, perhaps in a different department from where they are currently employed, he says.

In the BU program, students often work in community-based organizations, mental health programs, hospitals, veterans affairs facilities, county and state governments and local sheriff’s offices, says Kristina Whiton-O’Brien, the social work school’s assistant director of online advising and field education.

For online students in more sparsely populated areas of the U.S., finding a field placement — especially in the specific type of role they hope to pursue — can sometimes be challenging, Grossman Leeman says. Those students may need to travel farther, or accept that their site may not align perfectly with their goals.

[Learn how online degrees can help adults switch careers.]

“What we say to students is, ‘We can’t always match you to the agency that’s closest to what you’re specializing in,'” she says. What matters more, she says, is that students will hone their skills and apply them to real-world situations.

When choosing an online social work education, ensure that the program is accredited, and also that it’s authorized by the student’s state of residence, says Mena daSilva-Clark, BU’s assistant dean for off-campus and online social work programs.

If not, “that could be an issue for you in terms of getting licensed later on,” she says.

Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center.

More from U.S. News

Land a Spot in a Top Online Master’s in Education Program

What Employers Think of Your Online Master’s in Engineering

What to Expect in an Online Cybersecurity Degree Program

What to Expect in Your Online Social Work Master’s Program originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote