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When embarking on any career in this country, such as becoming a social worker, it is important to take note of social worker programs by state. This is because different states may have different rules and regulations regarding the requirements you will need to meet in order for you to become a social worker in that area. In addition it is obviously easier for you to attend a school in your area and one that is also in the state where you would like to work as a social worker once you have completed your qualification and become registered as such.
Top 10 Social Worker Programs
According to this website the following are the ten best social worker programs by state:
Tying for first place is the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor located in Michigan, and Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Following close behind is the University of Chicago in Illinois. On a very similar level to this University is the University of Washington in Seattle, which is, naturally, located in Washington. Also on a very equal footing are Columbia University in New York and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. California and Texas also have very good universities to offer as the University of California in Berkeley and the University of Texas in Austin also make the top ten list. Number 9 is Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and number 10 is Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. These are only the top ten schools mentioned, but this also provides rankings on all other social worker schools, allowing you to see where the schools in your state fall and how they compare to others. The ranking is done on the basis of the opinions of people who have actually attended those schools.
Not all schools have as good a reputation as others. The schools that came bottom of the list on the same website are as follows:
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
- Long Island University in C.W. Post and Brooklyn, Brookville, New York
- New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho
- Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia
- Southern University in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Touro College in New York, New York
- Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas
- Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana
Top 10 Online Social Worker Programs
According to this website these are the top online schools that offer master’s degree training for social workers:
- Fordham University in New York, New York
- University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California
- Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia
- Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts
- Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL)
- University of North Dakota Online & Distance Education in Grand Forks, North Dakota
- University of New England in Portland, Maine
- Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas
- Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida
- Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts
So far it is apparent that some states, such as Massachusetts, have better programs for social workers than others that have not even been mentioned so far. That is not to say, however, that other states do not also have excellent programs on offer. Three other online schools with good reputations are:
- Kaplan University
- Ashford University
- Capella University
It is often a bit of a gamble to complete a social worker program online. However if it is specifically a master’s degree program you should be able to achieve this with very little trouble, provided you make provisions for completing your practical work in an actual social work setting. This is because it is impossible to complete a social work degree program entirely online because of the compulsory field work that is involves. Fordham University in New York, for example, will provide you with field work placements that will allow you to meet the various requirements necessary to graduate fully. In addition the Fordham program also involves:
- Theory
- Social work application
- Policy and research
- An integrative seminar
- Asynchronous – There are no set times when you must be online
In general the program takes about 3 and half years for part-time students to complete. When considering an online social work program, you preferably want one that has a lot in common with a face-to-face class in terms of rigor and quality. The University of Southern California offers this while including all of the advantages you would associate with studying online:
- The online program is flexible
- The online program is highly interactive
- The online program has the academic rigor of the on-campus program
Lasting about 2 years, this program allows you to complete your master’s degree training with very little inconvenience to yourself.
The Virginia Commonwealth University is another option that falls near the top of the list of online programs that you should definitely consider if you would like to be a social worker. The program on offer is made up of two main elements:
- Synchronous elements: students are expected to be online with classmates at specific times for some activities.
- Asynchronous elements: students are expected to work offline independently at their convenience.
As with all online programs it is also mandatory to complete an internship in order to gain the relevant field experience needed for the job.
Top Master’s Degree Social Worker Programs by State
Generally speaking you need a master’s degree to be a social worker. The top social worker schools for this are as follows:
- University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan
- University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois
- Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
- Columbia University in New York, New York
- University of Washington in Seattle, Washington
- University of California in Berkeley, California
- University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas
- Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio
- University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Fordham University in New York, New York
- University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California
- University of Wisconsin—Madison in Madison, Wisconsin
- Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia
- University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California
- City University of New York, Hunter College in New York, New York
- University of Maryland, Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland
- Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts
- Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts
- New York University in New York, New York
- Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio
- Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan
- University of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, Illinois
The University of Michigan is by and large considered to be one of the best universities that are on offer for students who would like to study towards a master’s degree in social work. The program is extremely comprehensive with practice methods that include Interpersonal Practice, Community Organization, Social Policy and Evaluation, and Management of Human Services, as well as practice areas that include Children and Youth in Families and Society, Aging in Families and Society, Health and Mental Health, and Society, Community and Social Systems.
Any school that you attend to earn a social worker qualification should combine two important aspects:
- Theory work
- Clinical practice
The University of Chicago is therefore an excellent option as it comprehensively covers both of these all-important dimensions of social work and ensures that all students have a well-rounded understanding of what social work is about as well as the skills necessary to apply theory in practice.
Washington University is also one of the highly applauded options on terms of social work study. This program has six concentrations in terms of the master’s degree on offer. These six concentrations are Management, Social & Economic Development, Gerontology, Children, Youth & Families, Mental Health, and Health. What appeals to many students is the fact that, as compared to many others schools offering similar programs, this is one of the social work programs that offers an extremely flexible program for its graduate students to complete.
Naturally the top schools are not always the most viable option and there are plenty of social worker programs by state worth considering.
Apart from the prime options mentioned above there are also a large number of other social worker programs by state that you should take the time to look into. Because a school you are interested hasn’t made it into these lists does not mean that it is a bad choice. There are a number of aspects to consider when selecting a school, such as price in relation to the quality of tuition given. With careful consideration you will be able to successfully find a school that suits your personal and academic needs. The decision you make here could affect the rest of your career as a social worker.