Master’s in Social Work Online
journey today.
Grand Canyon University’s master’s in social work online program is designed for those who aspire to serve diverse communities with compassion, ethics and equity. Grounded in advanced generalist practice, this online MSW program can prepare students with the skills to work with individuals, families and groups to overcome social and behavioral challenges.
By pursuing a master’s degree in social work at GCU, students can develop into professionals who approach service with empathy and purpose, navigating complex systems and promoting equity within their communities.
Our online master’s in social work program combines a Christian worldview with fundamental principles of social work ethics and servant leadership. This program can prepare students to lead with compassion, advocate for justice and serve vulnerable populations, particularly in the fields of child and family social work.
To promote innovative leadership in social work by educating students to become agents of social change with the goal of social and economic justice on a local, national and international level. Students will be taught to address the needs of diverse populations through service, advocacy, empowerment, theory analysis, program and practice evaluation and multidisciplinary collaboration.
The online Master of Social Work program is structured to accommodate working professionals seeking advanced education in a flexible format. Students have the support of experienced faculty and access to digital learning tools. Coursework covers trauma-informed care, social work ethics and evidenced-based practice. This online MSW program includes supervised fieldwork to earn licensure hours.
Students enrolled in this MSW program are introduced to a comprehensive curriculum designed to cultivate ethical, competent and compassionate professionals. This curriculum can equip students with the knowledge to engage in meaningful policy and advocacy efforts.
To prepare for crisis response and support roles, the online Master of Social Work program teaches key competencies in areas such as:
Ethical and professional behavior
Diversity and difference in practice
Human rights and social, economic and environmental justice
Practice-informed research and research-informed practice
Assessing, evaluating and intervening with individuals, groups or organizations
Develop Skills for Helping Others Manage Crises
Diverse human experiences can significantly impact underserved populations, often including issues such as abuse, addiction, oppression, marginalization, alienation, racism, socioeconomic disadvantages and hardships like disability, trauma and mental illness.
Social workers help support those affected by these challenges while actively working to combat the inequalities and injustices that individuals face. Their responsibilities include advocating for justice, driving reform and providing therapy, counseling, case management and clinical management to meet the needs of the people they serve.
MSW students are taught to actively:
Graduates with a master’s degree in social work may work directly with clients or participate in program development or human services management.
Social workers may work in settings such as:
Clinics
Schools
Hospitals
Nonprofits
Nursing homes
Military bases
Mental health agencies
Advocacy groups
Community organizations
Correctional facilities
Government departments
Private practices
Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation (CSWE).
This program has been developed to adhere to the social work standards and competencies established by the CSWE. This program of study is also designed to meet the academic requirements for Licensed Master Social Work (LMSW).
Master of Social Work FAQs
If you are interested in pursuing an advanced social work degree, please continue reading our answers to these commonly asked questions.
If you are seeking a career that has positive job growth and can offer a sense of purpose, you may want to consider a career in social work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 67,300 new jobs are estimated to open for social workers from 2023 to 2033.1 As of May 2024, the median annual wage for social workers was $61,330.2
The online MSW program at GCU requires a bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited school with a minimum GPA of 3.0. MSW students are not permitted to repeat what has been completed in their bachelor’s program; therefore, applicants cannot hold a Bachelor of Social Work, specifically, since the program coursework has overlap.
Yes, GCU offers an online advanced standing MSW program. Students with an accredited Bachelor of Social Work degree may be eligible to enter advanced coursework directly, potentially accelerating their graduation.
If you are passionate about people and seek a career path that engages in social and economic justice for vulnerable populations, consider a future in social work.
Visit the "State Disclosures" section on the page of the program you’re interested in at gcu.edu for details on state restrictions.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social Workers, retrieved June 27, 2025.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Social Workers as of May 2024, retrieved June 27, 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as social workers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.