The M.S.W. program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The school's curriculum is designed to address the wide range of knowledge, values, tasks, and skills required to prepare competent and effective social work professionals. The school emphasizes the preparation of social workers who are committed to practice with the poor, vulnerable populations, and the oppressed and who work to alleviate poverty, oppression, and discrimination.

The School of Social Work offers a full range of programs leading to the M.S.W. degree. The M.S.W. curriculum is divided into two levels: the professional foundation and the advanced curriculum. The first level requires 30 credits and the second level requires 30 credits, to complete a total of 60 credits for graduation. The professional foundation must be completed successfully before entry into the advanced curriculum. 

Traditional M.S.W. Program

The traditional/on-campus M.S.W. program is available on an either a two-, three-, or four-year basis and is offered at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Rutgers University–Newark, and Rutgers University–Camden. Both concentrations (clinical social work and management and policy) are offered in the traditional on-campus program as well as the full array of certificates.  Hybrid, weekend, and online formats may be available on a limited basis in the traditional program.

The School of Social Work also offers an Intensive Weekend, 100% Online, and a Blended M.S.W. program.

Intensive Weekend M.S.W. Program

This program is designed to enable students in the helping professions to pursue their M.S.W. while continuing to work full time. Students employed in behavioral health, child welfare, or other human services can expect to complete their M.S.W. education in three years or less. If they have a B.S.W., they can complete an M.S.W. in less than two years.

Classes are held at Rutgers off-campus locations throughout New Jersey.

All courses are commensurate with the School of Social Work M.S.W. curriculum, assignments, reading, learning objectives, and expected competencies, just delivered in a hybrid and concentrated format.

Field requirements are generally fulfilled at the student's place of employment, in a capacity or department that differs from their customary work assignment.

100% Online Program

Our 100% online M.S.W. program in clinical social work is designed for self-directed students who seek the flexibility and convenience of online learning. The program offers a robust online learning community with close interactions between students and faculty.

Students in this program complete their M.S.W. in three years and classes are held in an asynchronous format, which means that there is not a fixed meeting time. Courses have regularly scheduled assignments and due dates, just like in a traditional classroom, and students and faculty interact via threaded discussions and other web-based technologies.  Third-year students will have the option of taking their advanced clinical courses in either an asynchronous or synchronous format. Field placement at a social service agency begins in the summer of the first year and continues until program completion.

Blended Online Program

The blended online program offers students the flexibility and convenience of online learning combined with a traditional in person classroom setting for advanced coursework.

Students in this program complete their M.S.W. in three years. In the first two years, classes are offered solely online in an asynchronous format, which means they are not typically held during a fixed meeting time. However, students have regularly scheduled assignments and due dates. In the third year, students take a combination of on-the-ground advanced courses and online classes in other curriculum areas.

Students can apply for their on-the-ground classes to be taken at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Rutgers University–Newark, and Rutgers University–Camden. Field placement begins in the second year and continues in the third year and students can choose to concentrate in either clinical social work or management and policy (formerly nonprofit and public management) in their third year. The three-year program structure provides students with significant flexibility and an extended time frame to complete their M.S.W., while still offering the benefits of a live classroom to acquire advanced practice skills and competencies.