Social work professionals

Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing Online

This transformative program empowers you to build a compassionate, ethical clinical practice.

Next Apply Date: 12/16/24
Next Class Start Date: 1/13/25
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 12/16/24
Next Class Start Date: 1/13/25

Program Overview

Explore the A-State advanced standing Master of Social Work online program

Continue to expand your expertise and prepare for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or the Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) exam with this career-progressing Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing online program.

This affordable MSW helps you enhance the well-being and quality of life for individuals, families, groups and communities. Available to applicants who have earned a CSWE-accredited bachelor’s degree in social work, the A-State Online Master of Social Work Advanced Standing program utilizes contemporary, evidence-based theories and approaches needed to serve diverse client systems.

Engaged faculty guide you in becoming a sensitive, ethical responder to issues and dilemmas and support you in developing a practice that uplifts the vulnerable and oppressed. Specialized electives allow you to explore topics like clinical and/or crisis intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy, substance abuse, and international social work, which provides the option to study abroad.

In the online MSW program, you will:

  • Apply social work knowledge to individuals, families, small groups, organizations and communities
  • Learn the fundamental knowledge, skills, values and ethics that guide social work practice and the populations traditionally served by the profession
  • Develop clinical intervention skills with individuals and families
  • Identify, develop and utilize resources in the helping network for individuals and families
  • Examine issues of diversity related to social work values and ethics
  • Explore advanced clinical practice decision-making and learn to be a critical thinker in the use of research, knowledge and theory for assessment, intervention and evaluation
In the online MSW program, you will:+
  • Apply social work knowledge to individuals, families, small groups, organizations and communities
  • Learn the fundamental knowledge, skills, values and ethics that guide social work practice and the populations traditionally served by the profession
  • Develop clinical intervention skills with individuals and families
  • Identify, develop and utilize resources in the helping network for individuals and families
  • Examine issues of diversity related to social work values and ethics
  • Explore advanced clinical practice decision-making and learn to be a critical thinker in the use of research, knowledge and theory for assessment, intervention and evaluation

Prepare for careers like these:

  • Clinical Social Worker
  • Victim Advocate
  • Social Work Supervisor
  • EAP Advocate
  • Telehealth Therapist
  • Social Services Director
Prepare for careers like these:+
  • Clinical Social Worker
  • Victim Advocate
  • Social Work Supervisor
  • EAP Advocate
  • Telehealth Therapist
  • Social Services Director
+

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online graduate programs.

Total Tuition: $12,240
Program Duration: As few as 12 months
Credit Hours: 36

Accreditation

Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

Tuition

Affordable tuition designed for you

The Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing online program offers the same low, pay-by-the-course tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $340
Total Tuition: $12,240

Calendar

Set a calendar reminder for these key deadlines

Our Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing is a flexible online program featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates per year.

View full calendar  + 

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 11/13/2512/16/2412/18/241/2/251/10/252/28/25
Summer 15/12/254/28/254/28/255/1/255/9/256/27/25

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 12/16/24
Start Class 1/13/25

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Apply Now

Admissions

Preview the admission requirements for the online advanced standing MSW program

Arkansas State University has a streamlined admission process that makes it easy for you to enroll in the Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing online program. Enrollment specialists are available to walk you through the admission process, so you will be able to complete your application quickly. Admission to our MSW program is highly competitive, with limited cohort sizes to meet the rigorous Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation standards. We seek academically qualified candidates who align with the profession to ensure their success.

Admission Requirements:

  • Minimum 3.2 GPA
  • CSWE-accredited bachelor's degree
  • Online application
View all admission requirements +

To be granted admission into the Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing program, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Have earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
  • Have a 3.2 GPA or better in the last 60 hours of your social work undergraduate degree

Application submission requirements

  • Complete online application
  • Submit a nonrefundable $30 fee.
  • Have official transcript(s) sent from the registrar of the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.

Additional Information

As part of your file, the following information is required to be completed prior to starting the first course (or the applicable course):

  • A background check completed within the last 12 months
  • This document is not required to render an admissions decision

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467

Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:

A-State Online
c/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401

Courses

Requirements for the advanced standing online MSW curriculum

To earn your Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing, you need to complete 36 credit hours of coursework. The program includes 30 credit hours of concentration courses and six credit hours of electives.

Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.

Expand All
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides students with knowledge of psychopathology as an aspect of human behavior and cultural labeling. Primary focus is on the interaction between physiological, development, emotional, biological, and social aspects of adult and child psychopathology.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will review the ethical dimensions of the mission of the profession of social work. The purpose of this course is to enable students to become sensitive and responsive to ethical issues and dilemmas at all levels of social work practice.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the development of knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate rural-based clinical practice with individuals, families, and small groups.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to assist students in development of their clinical assessment and intervention skills with individuals. The course presents the theoretical basis of individual focused models of assessment and intervention in rural-based clinical social work practice.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the theory and practice of rural-based clinical social work practice with groups. Students will master an understanding of group work theories, interventions and techniques applied to persons with a range of issues.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
SW 6063 connects students with contemporary social problems faced by people in rural communities. Emphasis is placed on the application of policy-practice knowledge and advocacy skills to the promotion of economic, political, and social justice within the rural context.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduce current bio-ecological evidence based research and practice in the field of social work trauma to enhance assessment and intervention skills in working with persons who have experienced trauma.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theory and ethics of leadership, including navigating organizations as a leader, practicing inter/intra-personal leadership communications, and providing leadership through service on multi-levels. Internal leadership focus, including financial and strategic management, board development and governance relationships.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
This first advanced field placement focuses on the development of rural-based clinical practice knowledge and skills. Placements are designed to provide students with opportunities to integrate and enhance social work values, ethics, and to develop clinical practice skills.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
This second advanced field placement focuses on the development of rural-based clinical knowledge and skills. Placements are designed to provide students with opportunities to integrate and enhance social work values, ethics, and to develop clinical practice skills. Prerequisites: SW 6702
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
This third advanced field placement focuses on the development of rural-based clinical knowledge and skills. Placements are designed to provide students with opportunities to integrate and enhance social work values, ethics, and to develop clinical practice skills. Prerequisites: SW 6702, SW 6712

You must complete six credit hours of electives. You may choose any of the courses listed. Note: If you want to earn the Addictions Certificate, you will be required to take SW 5323 and SW 6323 as your elective courses.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide advanced clinical practice, knowledge, and skills for intervention with children and youth primarily in the context of the rural environment. The special needs and vulnerabilities of high-risk children and youth are also addressed.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines the history, basic theories, various types of crises, the process of crisis and associated events and issues. Students should leave with basic knowledge of interviewing, assessment, and counseling skills to work with individuals and families in the crisis process.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Course provides knowledge and application of cognitive therapy, cognitive restructuring and awareness of this model. It gives students the competent ability to effectively use CBT techniques.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course is designed to assist students to deepen and extend their assessment and intervention skills in Substance Abuse and Dependence Interventions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide practitioners with strategies for interventions with persons who abuse or are dependent on mind altering or mood altering substances. Prerequisites: This course is restricted to graduate students who have completed SW 5323. *In order to complete the Addictions Certificate, students must take SW5323 and SW 6323- these two courses will also fulfill the 2 elective requirement.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course examines the effects of globalization on human needs. Special attention is given to linkages between human rights, social justice, and social work. The course explores specific problems such as HIV, street children and domestic violence in developing countries as well as strengths and resiliency demonstrated by these countries. *This course is part of a study abroad and will only be offered the first 7 weeks of summer term. This year the study abroad is in Japan-Students do not have to go to Japan to take the course. If they do choose to go to Japan there is a study abroad fee and course fee.

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