Skip to content

Online MSW Careers

Develop Your Skillset for a Successful Career in Social Work

CSWE-Accredited

Valuable Field Experiences

The ability to respond to trauma is essential for each social work professional. Widener University’s online Master of Social Work program prepares you to help a range of clients overcome the effects of trauma, putting you on track for social work careers with nonprofits, state agencies, and other organizations delivering valuable services in your community.

  • Convenient online courses for working professionals
  • You don’t need a BSW degree to apply
  • Learn from faculty with professional social work experience
  • Choose two electives matching your aspirations

Request More Information

Complete this form to receive information about coursework, admissions, tuition, and more.

Career Options in Pennsylvania

Social Worker (MSW) $73,306 average annual salary1

Medical Social Worker (MSW) $72,267 average annual salary2

Move Your Social Work Career Forward

What can you do with a master’s in social work? Widener’s program positions you for advancement in this growing job sector through valuable field experiences and online courses that prepare you to become licensed in most states. Careers for MSW graduates include clinical social worker, trauma-informed therapist, children’s services worker, and adoption specialist.

  • Enter or advance in a field projected to grow 7% from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations3
  • Complete the online MSW to build qualifications for clinical social worker roles, one of the 100 Best Jobs for 20244
  • Develop valuable career skills at a university ranked for Top Performers on Social Mobility by U.S. News & World Report5

“Widener University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program will be one that I recommend to aspiring clinical social workers. Now that I have graduated, I feel more than equipped with clinical and interpersonal skills to take the agency in which I work in today to the next level in service to our client population. I do not think this would have been possible had I gone to another university.”

– Jason M. Alexandre, MSW Graduate

Program Outcomes and Skills Acquired

What You’ll Learn

  • Dedicate yourself to the attainment of social and economic justice for the betterment of poor, vulnerable, and oppressed individuals, families, groups, and communities.
  • Demonstrate care and compassion for clients from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.
  • Hold an unwavering belief in client strengths, client empowerment, and the importance of the helping relationship.

Skills You’ll Gain

  • Advanced assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills
  • An active understanding of policy, empowering you to empathize with and advocate for those in need
  • Self-reflection and critical thinking capacity to provide purposeful, informed interventions
  • Cultural, gender, and racial sensitivity that will help you be effective in working with diverse populations
  • A strong understanding of trauma-informed practice

Available MSW Tracks and Graduate Certificate

Explore the tracks available for our online social work graduate degree program, along with an optional certificate.

Regular Standing

Our Regular Standing MSW track includes 19 courses and is available to students with bachelor’s degrees outside the social work field.

Advanced Standing

Students who earned a Bachelor of Social Work in a CSWE-accredited program can apply for this track, which waives seven courses from the program.

View Program

Trauma Recovery Certificate

Increase your agility in supporting people impacted by trauma and the challenges left in its wake.

View Program

Advance From the Classroom to a Successful Career

Our hands-on online courses prepare you to thrive as a social worker, and our career services provide support for finding and securing career opportunities. As an online student at Widener, you can take advantage of a wealth of resources and counseling that foster a smooth transition from online student to empowered professional. 

1:1 Career Counseling 

Our expert counselors share valuable insights and resources for achieving career success. 

Handshake 

Use Handshake to discover jobs and internships in your area and across the United States.

WidenerCONNECT 

Become part of our online community to network with other aspiring students and alumni. 

Big Interview 

Our interviewing tool prepares you to nail job interviews and negotiate your salary.

Sources

  1. Salary.com. “Social Worker (MSW) Salary in Pennsylvania.” Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/social-worker-msw-salary/pa.
  2. Salary.com. ” Medical Social Worker (MSW) Salary in Pennsylvania.” Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/medical-social-worker-msw-salary/pa.
  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Social Workers.” Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm.
  4. U.S. News & World Report. “Clinical Social Worker Overview.” Retrieved August 8, 2024, from https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/clinical-social-worker.
  5. U.S. News & World Report. “Widener University Rankings.” Retrieved August 20, 2024, from https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/widener-university-3313/overall-rankings.