Online Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW)
Social Work
Program Overview
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Social Work understands the challenges of balancing work, family, and location while pursuing a graduate degree. That’s why our online Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program is designed with flexibility at its core.
The only difference between our online and on-campus MSSW programs is the location of your classes. The same expert faculty teach in both programs, students in the online MSSW program are held to the same rigorous academic standards as on-campus students and the online program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Plus, no GRE is required!
Why Pursue a Master’s in Social Work?
Social workers make a difference. If you’re seeking a meaningful career with diverse opportunities, social work is worth exploring. The profession’s mission is to assist those in need and advocate for social institutions to address human needs better. What sets social work apart is its person-in-environment approach and unwavering commitment to well-being.
Field Placement
Every student in the online MSSW Program will participate in a field placement. As the cornerstone of social work education, field practice allows you to apply classroom knowledge and skills in real-world settings, preparing you for impactful, hands-on work.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with appropriate preparation in the social sciences.
- Minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA
- Applicants must submit an online graduate application to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must have TOEFL scores of at least 550 on the paper test or 80 on the internet-based test or a 6.5 overall band score on the IELTS.
- Three letters of reference
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Program Concentrations
Clinical Practice
The Clinical Practice (CP) concentration is based on the underlying principles of social work ethics, interprofessional practice, and trauma-informed care. Students in the CP concentration develop skills in interpersonal, evidence-based treatments and interventions for use in individual and group settings.
Organizational Leadership
The Organizational Leadership (OL) concentration is based on the underlying principles of social work ethics, interprofessional practice, and trauma-informed leadership. It equips students with management, social-economic development, and policy practice skills that enable them to lead nonprofit and governmental agencies and engage with communities to build strong organizations that address pressing needs.
Featured Courses
Combining state-of-the-art coursework with in-depth internship experiences, our programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
A generalist social work practice course, taken with an Interpersonal Social Work Skills Lab, focuses on micro and mezzo work with individuals, families, and small groups. Covers history, ethics, theories, social justice, trauma-informed care, and interprofessional practice. Evaluate interventions in the context of social work values and diversity.
This course covers the theory, concepts, and techniques of CBT, with a focus on intervention methods social workers can use to address specific client issues.
The study of organizational management in the social service sector focuses on leadership skills, mission, and nonprofit logistics like financial management, HR, and grant acquisition. Emphasizes the NASW Code of Ethics and social justice, including contributive and distributive justice.
Training in advanced evidence-based social work practice, including an agency-based experience. Concurrent concentration and elective courses are optional.
