Online Master of Social Work

Find a Meaningful Career in Social Work

Montclair’s online Master of Social Work degree program prepares graduates to provide social work practice and advocacy services to help individuals, families, groups, and communities. Our online MSW concentration in Children, Youth and Families is uniquely focused on supporting children and families within diverse groups and populations.

You will develop close relationships with peers and faculty as you acquire knowledge, values, and skills to engage in ethical, culturally-responsive and evidence-informed social work practice.

Apply for: Fall 2025
Program Completion: 3 years
Course Format: Online (Synchronous and Asynchronous)
Course Length: 7 and 14 week sessions
Total Credits: 60

Upcoming Information Sessions

To learn more about Montclair Online programs, complete the form below and check your email for next steps.

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Why Study Social Work Online at Montclair?

With our online social work degree, you will have the flexibility to balance your busy lives as you gain valuable skills in communication, critical thinking, empathy, ethical decision-making, and culturally-responsive assessment and intervention. You will also have the opportunity to customize your elective coursework to build additional competencies based on your interests. These courses include school social work, trauma-informed practice, forensic interviewing of children, and many more.

Pair Your MSW with a Graduate Certificate

Child Advocacy and Policy

Gain advanced knowledge of child advocacy and child protection with a particular focus on policy and practice issues relevant to vulnerable children and families.

Data Collection and Management

Build your skills in collecting and analyzing data, preparing reports, and presenting information graphically to impact policy and evaluation analysis.

Harm Reduction Approaches to Substance Use

Develop an understanding of harm reduction services and practical training on non-stigmatizing, social justice-oriented, and trauma-informed strategies with people who use drugs.

What You Will Learn in an Online MSW Degree

In the Online MSW, you will develop strong knowledge and skills in social work practice including:

Hands-on experience in prevention and intervention methods designed to promote well-being
Methods to address societal issues, advocate for social justice, and influence social policy and practice
Practicum learning hours to connect online learning with supervised practice in a social work setting
Specialized training in serving the needs of children, youth and families to positively impact communities
Coursework applicable to New Jersey licensure for Social Worker, Clinical Social Worker, or certified School Social Worker, pending approval of the program by the Council on Social Work Education

Sample CoursesAdmission Requirements

Explore Social Work Careers

An online Master of Social Work opens up various career paths with job titles such as mental health counselor, family therapist, agency supervisor or director, addictions counselor, healthcare social worker, school social worker, community organizer, and child and family advocate. Our MSW graduates have found success in a wide variety of settings, including mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, community centers, state and local government, private practice — and beyond.

Overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032 – faster than the average for all occupations with about 63,800 openings for social workers projected each year, on average, over the decade. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Our Focus Is Your Success

Our MSW online program is designed with you in mind. Courses combine synchronous and asynchronous – which means you can work around your busy life – with opportunities to engage and collaborate with faculty and classmates. Montclair’s small classes allow for individualized attention every step of the program. Experienced practicum instructors and liaisons will work closely with you to guide your placement experience. Our faculty are dedicated to supporting the success of our students with strong partnerships with agencies throughout the state of New Jersey. Combining convenience with personalized support, you can make a difference with your degree, your career and your success.

Meet the MSW Faculty

MSW Practicum

Practicum education is an integral part of graduate social work education, providing a unique opportunity for students to integrate classroom learning with a supervised practice experience in various social work settings. Online MSW students complete two practicum experiences. The first practicum is 15 hours per week for a total of 420 hours. The second practicum is 21 hours per week for a total of 580 hours. Students can expect to complete practicum hours during daytime, business hours from Monday to Friday. Practicum placements will occur on-site, where students will have the opportunity to interact with diverse populations and implement direct practice skills.

Students will have the opportunity to complete their practicum placements at a wide range of settings including but not limited to mental health centers, non-profit agencies, school settings, hospitals and much more. Students employed in a social service setting may also apply for an employment based practicum placement, which provides a unique opportunity to complete practicum requirements at your current source of employment.

Admission Requirements

How to Apply Personal Essay Prompt

Submit Online Application
Transcript: One from each college attended
Letters of Recommendation: Two
Personal Essay
Resume: The program faculty for the Master of Social Work program suggests you format your resume similar to this example.
Standardized Test Scores:
No GRE required
Apply by: May 15

Apply

About the Social Work and Child Advocacy Department

The Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy at Montclair State University is a community of interdisciplinary scholars and practitioners who prepare undergraduate and graduate students to be leaders in the promotion of child and family wellbeing. Guided by the principles of social, economic, and racial justice, we combine the fields of psychology, social work, and law to improve lives at every stage of human development. Through our scholarship we create knowledge that, when combined with our practice approaches, advance child advocacy and social work initiatives to serve the wider community. Our interdisciplinary curriculum equips graduates with the requisite knowledge and skills required in their professions including an understanding of policies and systems, human development, and evidence-based and culturally-sensitive practices. Montclair’s on-ground program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and we are currently seeking CSWE accreditation for the online program option.

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Contact Us

For more information, please contact Montclair Online.
Email: online@montclair.edu
Phone: 973-655-7110

Graduate Program Coordinator: Dr. Lynette Reitz

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