Welcome to the online Master of Social Work at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Summer Classes Start:
Monday, May 20, 2024
Our mission is to create effective, ethical social work leaders and practitioners. We are a constitutionally established land-grant university emphasizing education that best serves the needs of the state, region and nation. Our online Master of Social Work can help you gain the knowledge to address complex problems in diverse environments, including underserved rural communities.
Recognized as a national Tier 1 University (U.S. News & World Report). No residency required.
On average, students pay less in tuition than at comparative online MSW programs
Program designed to prepare students for licensure
No GRE required
Why choose the University of Nevada, Reno for Your Online MSW?
Our online Master’s in Social Work is one of only a handful of degrees solely structured around advanced generalist practice (AGP), which prepares social workers to be more versatile for the diverse array of challenges and opportunities they may face in their careers. Social work is not an exclusive discipline. It’s not our aim to prepare rigid specialists. Social workers collaborate with many professions, including psychology, public health, education, business and medicine. Social work is changing, and our mission is to prepare agents of change.
Ranked among the top 150 national universities in research and development
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Ranked 6th Best Online MSW program by SocialWorkGuide.org
We’re a top public research university.
At the University of Nevada, Reno, we care about the science side of social work. Our online Master of Social Work program relies on scientifically supported research and knowledge to prepare you for work across multiple disciplines. We also teach you how to drive change through innovative problem-solving. When you become a social worker, you must be prepared for anything. So our program is structured that way, too.
About advanced generalist practice
Advanced generalist practice (AGP) is the perfect fit for Nevada’s unique urban and rural settings, particularly in areas with limited resources for social programs. The emphasis prepares Master’s in Social Work graduates for working in a variety of situations. Generalists have the advantage of being able to work autonomously with individuals, groups, couples and families, as well as serve as members of integrated multidisciplinary care teams.
Two Paths for Earning Your Master’s in Social Work.
Our program is open to applicants with bachelor’s degrees from a variety of fields. It is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and intended to prepare students for social work licensure and any level of practice, including clinical social work. We have designed the program to serve different learning needs, as follows:
Advanced Standing Program
This is a 30-credit-hour program for students with a BSW degree. You can graduate in as few as 15 months (four consecutive semesters, including summers).
Traditional Program
This is a 60-credit-hour program for students with non-BSW degrees. You can graduate in as few as 8 consecutive semesters including summers (two years and 8 months).
Online MSW Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission into the online Master of Social Work, you must meet the following requirements:
Advanced Standing (BSW students)
- Bachelor’s degree from regionally accredited institution
- Graduation from a CSWE-accredited program
- A course in statistics AND research methods is required
- Graduate school application fee of $60
- MSW application form with essays
- Two letters of recommendation
- A third recommendation from field instructor
- Resume
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.75 (“C” in each social work course)
- Documentation of outstanding performance in a BSW field experience
Traditional (Non-BSW Students)
- Bachelor’s degree from regionally accredited institution (non-social work bachelor’s degree needs substantial preparation in the liberal arts, including the social sciences, humanities, research and human biology)
- A course in statistics AND research methods is required
- Graduate school application fee of $60
- MSW application form with essays
- Two letters of recommendation
- Resume
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.75