Master of Social Work (MSW)
A licensure pathway toward a rewarding social work career.
Next program start date: September 28
Master of Social Work Overview
Turn Your Passion for People into a Profession
Social workers are agents of change, equipped with emotional intelligence, clinical expertise, communication, and a deep commitment to empowering individuals, families, groups, and communities. An MSW is one of the more versatile mental health degrees you can earn, leading to a variety of career paths and professional environments to fit your specific goals.
In the CSWE-accredited, online Master of Social Work (MSW) at Alliant’s California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), you’ll build the clinical knowledge and practical skills to launch a rewarding and meaningful social service career using innovative deliveries and technologies. You’ll also gain necessary assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning skills and learn how social policy shapes the profession and how you can help play a role in this process.
No matter your undergraduate background, you’re welcome here:
- If you earned your Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program, you may qualify for our one-year, online Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program.
- If your bachelor’s is in any other field, stay on this page to explore our traditional, two-year MSW program.
Whichever track you choose, you’ll graduate practice-ready and confident in your professional identity, Aligned with the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) pathway, Alliant’s MSW program is designed around advanced clinical practice, preparing you to excel in the field and earn a credential that is widely recognized and respected.
more than 90%
of students achieved all 9 CSWE competency benchmarks
Program Highlights
Flexible. Rigorous. Career-Ready.
CSWE-Accredited Excellence
Our online, CSWE-accredited MSW program is designed to equip you with the clinical skills, policy knowledge, and advocacy tools needed to make a meaningful impact in your community and beyond.
Finish in 12 to 24 months
Choose from full-time, and Advanced Standing pathways with formats designed to fit your life—not disrupt it. You can earn your MSW in as little as two years in the traditional program, or in just one year through our Advanced Standing track.
Gain Experience in Flexible Field Placements
Hands-on experience is at the heart of of clinical practice. We’ll help you find a placement that fits your schedule, even if it involves non-traditional hours. You have the power to choose the internship specialization that works best for you.
Training for Diverse Careers
From micro-level direct practice to macro-level policy and advocacy, our curriculum prepares you for a wide range of roles in your field. You’ll build the knowledge, skills, and experience to pursue the career you’ve envisioned. Graduates may work in schools, child welfare, public health agencies, private practice, substance abuse facilities, hospitals, clinics, and more.
Grounded in Cultural Competency and Community Outreach
MSW students learn to apply principles of cultural competency, cultural humility, and inclusive awareness to help reduce inequities and disparities. You’ll be trained to engage community members and partners to identify community needs, develop interventions and strategies for change, and promote community health and wellness.
Admissions and Financial Aid Info
You’ll be assigned a dedicated admissions counselor to guide you at every step. They’ll keep you on track with application deadlines and requirements, and upon acceptance, work with you and Alliant’s Student Finance Office to explore grants, scholarships, and other financial aid options. Plus, we can help with an unofficial transcript review. We’re your partners and your foundation of support from day one.
Alliant is committed to making your education accessible and affordable. Financing is available in the form of scholarships, grants, part-time employment, and loans funded through federal, state, Alliant, and private sources. Your Alliant admissions counselor can provide further guidance and information of the specific costs of this program.
Faculty
Led by Dr. Megan Hampton, the MSW program faculty are experienced clinicians, scholars, and industry leaders actively engaged in social work practice. Faculty integrate real-world clinical experience, current evidence-based practices, and contemporary case applications into every course while remaining deeply committed to supporting students throughout their academic journey and professional careers long after graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Learning Outcomes and Goals
- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
- Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice
- Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
- Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
- Engage in Policy Practice
- Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Where Passion Meets Purpose
CSPP’s Social Work Matters podcast, hosted by Dr. Megan Hampton, LISW, LCSW, director of Alliant’s MSW program, is the space to learn about every aspect of being a social worker, social work education, professional development, and why we need highly qualified social workers today more than ever.