Once you successfully finish your Social Work Essentials certificate (SWEC) or MasterTrack certificate (MTC) and are admitted to the MSW online program, you continue your MSW degree requirements online. We offer both part-time and full-time options. The online curricular pathways are Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse which prepares you to become a licensed clinical social worker, and Children, Youth and Families (formerly Welfare of Children & Families), which prepares you to support children, adolescents, and adults.

Students can sign up for the Social Work Essentials certificate beginning in December 2024. New registration for the MasterTrack Certificate (MTC) closed in October 2024. In January 2025, the MTC program will change its name and platform. The same great content and curriculum will be available as the Social Work Essentials Certificate (SWEC).

Please note the MasterTrack Certificate and Social Work Essentials Certificate alone are non-credit bearing credentials.

Apply to MSW Program

Instructions for MSW Application

Advantages

  • The online MSW degree is a 45 credit program saving you time and money
  • You will have assistance from an admission counselor and academic advisor
  • You can connect with faculty one-on-one during office hours
  • We provide field placements near your community within the United States, not including U.S. territories
  • You can balance a career and an MSW degree with our part-time option

Admission Requirements

Program Requirements

  • Admission to the MSW program.
  • Successful completion of the Social Work Essentials or MasterTrack certificate including receiving a 70% grade or higher on all assignments, discussions, and quizzes/exams, prior to beginning the MSW program. Certificates are valid for two years.
  • Social Work Essentials (SWEC/MSW) students must 1) meet all milestone assignment deadlines, 2) successfully complete all quizzes, assignments, and discussions for each class before the class end date, 3) upload a course completion certificate for each class as soon as it is available and no later than three days after the class ends, and 4) submit the Post-Program Survey after completing all certificate courses.
  • Students will complete a 45 credit hour program including 14 credits of field instruction (900 clock hours). Field instruction must be completed in the United States, not including U.S. territories.
  • Non-candidate for degree students are not eligible to participate in the MasterTrack MSW Online program.
  • Transfer students may be eligible to participate in the online MSW program.
  • Students in the full-time online program must be available for primarily day/weekday courses, as well as fieldwork during regular day/weekday hours. Students in the part-time online program will have evening/weekend courses available, but must be available for fieldwork during regular day/weekday hours.
  • Online students must reside within the United States, not including U.S. territories, while field placement is being completed.
  • Students admitted to the MSW Program must complete all MSW degree requirements within four years of their first term of MSW enrollment.
  • Advanced standing students should not complete the Social Work Essentials/ MasterTrack Certificate as they have already satisfied many essential course requirements.

You will complete coursework in the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse, which prepares you to become a licensed clinical social worker, or Welfare of Children & Families, which prepares you to support children, adolescents, and adults.

Apply to the Social Work Essentials MSW

Step 2: Schedule a Consultation. 

Your resume and interest form will be reviewed to assess eligibility to apply to the Social Work Essentials/MasterTrack MSW program. Once approved, schedule an admissions consultation with the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management, [email protected].

Step 3: Review Your Timeline. 

Review the Social Work Essentials/MasterTrack timeline to plan the timing for your MSW application submission. You want to submit your MSW application with enough time to receive a decision prior to your desired cohort start date.

Step 4: Apply to the MSW Program. 

Apply to MSW Program, if eligible based on review. Your application will receive a full MSW program admissions review.

Step 5: Start Your Certificate. 

Start your Social Work Essentials certificate (SWEC) or MasterTrack certificate (MTC) either before or after you receive an MSW Program application decision.

Students may be well advised to start the SWEC or MTC after receiving an offer of admission to the MSW Program. Completion of the SWEC or MTC does not guarantee admission to the MSW program.

Application Deadlines

Begin May 2026
 Part-Time Online MSWPart-Time Online MSW
NAB & Transfer Applicants
Full-Time Online MSWFull-Time Online MSW
NAB & Transfer Applicants
Early Application Deadline
Online Program
September 1, 2025September 1, 2025September 1, 2025 
Priority Application Deadline
Online Program
October 1, 2025   
Final Application Deadline
Online Program
April 1, 2026October 1, 2025October 1, 2025September 1, 2025

Please note admission will be offered on a rolling basis and therefore early application is strongly encouraged.

  • Submit your Eligibility Review Request as soon as possible.
  • Begin the online Social Work Essentials Certificate courses no later than January 2026.
  • Complete all MasterTrack or SW Essentials Certificate courses before the start of Spring/Summer 2026 term.
Begin August 2026
 Part-Time Online MSWPart-Time Online MSW
NAB & Transfer Applicants
Full-Time Online MSWFull-Time Online MSW
NAB & Transfer Applicants
Early Application Deadline
Online Program
December 1, 2025December 1, 2025December 1, 2025 
Priority Application Deadline
Online Program
March 1, 2026   
Final Application Deadline
Online Program
July 15, 2026March 1, 2026March 1, 2026December 1, 2025

Please note admission will be offered on a rolling basis and therefore early application is strongly encouraged.

  • Submit your Eligibility Review Request as soon as possible.
  • Begin the online Social Work Essentials Certificate courses no later than April 2026.
  • Complete all MasterTrack or SW Essentials Certificate courses before the start of Fall 2026 term.
Begin January 2027
 Part-Time Online MSWPart-Time Online MSW
NAB & Transfer Applicants
Full-Time Online MSWFull-Time Online MSW
NAB & Transfer Applicants
Early Application Deadline
Online Program
May 1, 2026May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 
Priority Application Deadline
Online Program
July 1, 2026   
Final Application Deadline
Online Program
November 1, 2026July 1, 2026July 1, 2026May 1, 2026

Please note admission will be offered on a rolling basis and therefore early application is strongly encouraged.

Begin May 2027
 Part-Time Online MSWPart-Time Online MSW
NAB & Transfer Applicants
Full-Time Online MSWFull-Time Online MSW
NAB & Transfer Applicants
Early Application Deadline
Online Program
September 1, 2026September 1, 2026September 1, 2026 
Priority Application Deadline
Online Program
October 1, 2026   
Final Application Deadline
Online Program
April 1, 2027October 1, 2026October 1, 2026September 1, 2026

Please note admission will be offered on a rolling basis and therefore early application is strongly encouraged.

  • Submit your Eligibility Review Request as soon as possible.
  • Begin the online Social Work Essentials Certificate courses no later than January 2027.
  • Complete all MasterTrack or SW Essentials Certificate courses before the start of Spring/Summer 2027 term.

Social Work Essentials/ MasterTrack MSW Curriculum Schedule

View curriculum terms and credit hours

Social Work Essentials/MasterTrack Certificate Schedule & Timelines

View Courses by Cohort

Financial Aid

Online MSW Program

For information please refer to the MSW Guide to Financial Aid. Students may apply for grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid for the semesters they are enrolled in master’s level online courses through the School of Social Work. Students should submit the SSW Financial Aid Application at the time of application to the MSW Program.

Social Work Essentials/ MasterTrack Certificate

There is no financial aid available for the online Social Work Essentials certificate or the MasterTrack certificate.