Master’s in Social Work Online
Make an Impact Through Social Justice and Advocacy
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(See disclaimer 1) 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.
GCU is offering a 10% off tuition scholarship for new online(See disclaimer )College of Humanities master’s degree or graduate certificate students who qualify.(See disclaimer ¢)
Original institution needs to be accredited Evaluated on a course-by-course basis 12 credit maximum Internship/Field Placement Hours/Course are not transferable Courses must have been taken within 5 years No credits accepted at less than a B
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
- Undergraduate Degree*
- 2.8+ GPA
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
- GMAT: 500
- GRE: 300 combined**
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
Developing Ethical Leaders in Child and Family Social Work
Our online(See disclaimer 1) 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 Master of Social Work program offers flexible learning options to support working professionals pursuing advanced social work education. Students can select the format that best fits their schedule and learning preferences. All learners can benefit from experienced faculty, digital learning tools and coursework that emphasizes trauma‑informed care, social work ethics and evidence‑based practice. Both pathways include required, in‑person supervised field experiences that help students gain practical skills and earn licensure hours.
Course Topics in the Online Master of Social Work
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.
Students enrolled in the MSW and MSW Advanced Standing programs must follow the prescribed course sequence outlined in the program-specific course guide. Field courses must be taken consecutively and concurrently as specified in the coursework requirements. According to our CSWE Accreditation guidelines, students are not allowed to take overload or overlapping courses outside the program-specific coursework.
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:
Career Paths for Graduates With a Master’s Degree in Social Work
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
CSWE Accreditation
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.
Is a master’s in social work worth it?
What are the requirements for master’s in social work?
Does GCU offer advanced standing in the MSW program?
Program Curriculum
Core Courses
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.
(See disclaimer ¢) MOU 10422: The College of Humanities and Social Sciences New Graduate Student Scholarship is only valid for those admissible applicants who submit a complete application, meet all requirements for acceptance and start their program. If you enroll in a College of Humanities and Social Sciences master’s degree or graduate certificate program (excluding all MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and MEd in School Counseling programs), we will award you 10% off the tuition per course for your program. This scholarship will be applied at the same time the tuition charges occur. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship. This scholarship will be applied toward your tuition only, and you will not receive funds in excess of your charges.
Excluding residencies, practicums, internships and field experience.
- 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 August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social Workers, retrieved March 2026.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Social Workers, as of May 2024, retrieved March 2026. 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.