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Online Master of Social Work Careers

Transform Lives as a Specialized Social Worker

Online Coursework

Practicum Experiences

By advancing your career in social work, you’ll elevate your impact in a field with the power to transform lives. Winthrop University’s online Master of Social Work will prepare you to engage in specialized practice to help individuals, communities and organizations recognize their strengths and overcome challenges.

Winthrop’s M.S.W. graduates have advanced as specialized social workers in a variety of areas, including schools, psychiatric care, hospice and more. Many also support clients in healthcare settings as counselors, case managers and program directors.

  • Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
  • Develop specialized skills during practicum experiences
  • An Advanced Standing program is available*

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Complete this form to receive information about coursework, admissions, tuition, and more.

Median Salaries for Three Social Work Career Paths1

Healthcare $68,090 per year in May 2024

Mental Health and Substance Abuse $60,060 per year in May 2024

Child, Family and School $58,570 per year in May 2024

Why Choose a Career in Social Work?

Social work is more than a meaningful occupation—it offers job stability through strong employment demand. The number of social work roles is projected to grow 6 percent through 2034, outpacing the average for other professions. Additionally, the median annual salary for social workers was $61,330 in 2024.1

By pursuing your M.S.W. online with Winthrop, you will prepare to engage in empowerment practice and open doors to specialized careers in social work. You’ll also gain eligibility to apply for social work licensure at the master’s level, expanding your job prospects. In recent years, our graduates have regularly exceeded the national average for licensure pass rates.**

  • Projections show that more than 855,000 social workers will work in the U.S. by 20341
  • To meet the rising demand for social workers, more than 74,000 job openings are projected each year through 20341
  • The top 10 percent of social work salaries exceeded $99,500 in May 20241

Program Outcomes and Skills Acquired

What You’ll Learn

  • Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
  • Engage diversity and difference in practice
  • Advance human rights and social, economic and environmental justice
  • Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice
  • Engage in policy practice
  • Engage, assess, intervene and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities
  • Use empowerment practice principles, including affirming strengths and capacities and thinking critically about multiple influences of power
  • Provide leadership in influencing societal systems of power to become more responsive and culturally relevant toward helping people and groups improve their current situations and quality of life

Skills You’ll Gain

  • Assessments, interventions and evaluations
  • Critical analysis
  • Empowerment practice
  • Ethics and Social justice
  • Leadership and supervision
  • Policy development and implementation
  • Psychopathology
  • Research

Career Services That Enhance Your Education

Discover services that help you take the next step in your career. Winthrop offers dedicated support and access to Handshake, a career management platform for connecting with other students, alumni and employers. Through these resources, you can benefit from:

Distance Career Coaching

Our career coaches offer one-on-one guidance about career paths, strategies and resources for standing out to employers.

Mock Interviews

With support from our career coaches, you can simulate real-world interview scenarios and practice answering questions to gain confidence.

Resume and Cover Letter Guidance

Collaborate with our team to refine your resume and craft compelling cover letters that resonate with employers.

Job Search Support

Handshake puts an array of opportunities at your fingertips and provides personalized support for your job search.

Source and Disclaimers

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Social Workers.” Retrieved October 28, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm.

*An undergraduate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program makes you eligible to apply for the Advanced Standing program option but does not guarantee acceptance.

**Winthrop University has determined that the M.S.W. program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in South Carolina. State licensure requirements, including specific coursework and supervision expectations, vary from state to state. Please verify the licensure requirements in your state before you apply.