Catholic University of America Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
Program Options: Full-Time/Part-Time
Tuition: $42,850 per year
Acceptance Rate: 74%
GRE Required: No
1-Year/Accelerated Option: Yes, for BSW graduates
Campus Visits Required: No
Fieldwork Hours: 1,080 hours total
CSWE Accredited: Yes, through February 2024
Application Deadlines: July 15th and November 15th
Overview
The Catholic University of America was chartered by Pope Leo XIII in 1889 under the encyclical Magni Nobis to strengthen Catholicism in the United States. Closely affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, CUA is endowed for $319.2 million as a private, nonprofit ORAU member of the Landmark Conference with 3,041 post-grad Cardinals enrolled. Twelve online programs, including the Master of Social Work, expand CUA’s reach beyond its 176-acre campus in the District of Columbia’s Little Rome. Forbes recognized the Catholic University of America for the 182nd best private education and 120th top research. CUA was also crowned the 267th best university nationwide by Washington Monthly. The Online MSW is a quality, applications-oriented program that’s conveniently customized for human services workers to advance therapeutic specialties.
Strengths
Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 1918, the National Catholic School of Social Service is ranked America’s 47th best social work school by the U.S. News & World Report. It stands out among Online MSW programs for infusing the Gospel and Catholic intellectual traditions into practice assisting the most marginalized. CUA Cardinals are highly successful on the Licensed Graduate Social Work (LGSW) exam with an average first-time pass rate of 95 percent. Emphasis is placed on promoting human dignity, diversity, and determination through evidence-based service. Even online students could get involved in mission trips from Mexico to Manila, research with the Center for Mental Health Well-Being, clubs like Alpha Phi Omega, and more.
Concentrations
The National Catholic School of Social Service has created two concentrations for Online MSW students: Advanced Generalist and Clinical Social Work. Selecting the Advanced Generalist track equips practitioners for micro or macro leadership practice. Further specialization is possible in substance abuse, elderly care, child welfare, and K-12 schooling via electives. The Clinical Online MSW unlocks the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential for post-grads to fulfill the 18 percent job growth expected by 2026 in mental health services.
Related resource: Top 10 Affordable Master of Social Work Online (MSW) Degrees
Program Requirements
Graduating from the Catholic University of America with the MSW is attainable by completing the intensive, 60-credit curriculum 100% online with field practicum in one’s hometown. Most will be responsible for nine foundational courses before nine advanced concentration courses. The only exception is for the Advanced Standing track that transfers 30 credits from qualified BSW programs for only one-year of full-time study. Each degree route culminates with the SSS 871 Integrative Seminar course for a capstone project and portfolio. Program requirements will meet licensing regulations from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). They’ll also make graduates eligible for continuing the Social Work Ph.D.
Admission Requirements
Entering the CUA Online Master of Social Work program requires finishing baccalaureates with cumulative GPAs above 3.0. Curriculum prerequisites include human biology, social statistics, and behavioral science. If applying for Advanced Standing, the degree must be a CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work and the major GPA must reach 3.5. However, candidate evaluation is highly holistic with prior human service employment, interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and alertness to societal conditions being weighed. The NCSSS Office of Admission schedules interviews after signed online graduate applications are received with the following materials by the posted deadlines:
• $60 non-refundable application fee
• Transcripts of all bachelor’s/master’s courses
• Typewritten purpose statement (4-6 pages)
• Résumé of work and volunteer experiences
• Three current letters of reference
• Official GRE scores (optional for scholarships)
• English fluency testing if applicable
Faculty
With a student-faculty ratio of 7:1, the CUA Master of Social Work program can cap online cohorts to 25 attendees for interactive discussions with responsive professors. Dr. Will Rainford, the NCSSS Dean since June 2013, has received the Larry Selland Humanitarian Award and Catholic Charities USA Volunteer of the Year Award. Other PhD-trained faculty have been given the CSWE Global Commission Award, named Washingtonian Magazine’s “Top Therapist,” been National Council on Aging board members, and more. Professors’ wide-ranging research interests from drug addiction to homelessness and rape have been published in many prominent journals, including Advances in Social Work and Disaster Medicine.
Online Courses
The Catholic University of America’s Online MSW majors log into Blackboard asynchronously to take one course at a time. Two eight-week sessions are squeezed into each semester for completion in 10 semesters, or roughly 42 months. Here are some sample CSWE-accredited courses available for pursuing one’s “Call to Social Justice” online:
• Diversity in a Multicultural Society
• Human Behavior and the Social Environment
• Social Welfare Policy and Services
• Human Development and Psychopathology
• Generalist Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups
• Generalist Practice with Groups, Communities and Organizations
• Social Work Research Methods
• Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Illnesses
• Ethical Issues in Contemporary Social Work
• Psychodynamic Theory and Social Functioning
• Children and Youth: Risks and Healthy Development
• Clinical Social Work with Families: Strengths-based Model
• Aging Services and Policy
Internships
Choosing the flexible CUA Online Master of Social Work won’t mean losing out on direct engagement in field interventions. At least 1,080 internship hours are required for traditional students, but Advanced Standing BSW grads waive 480 hours for a total requirement of 600. Weekly one-on-one supervision is arranged with 450+ partnering agencies across the United States. Past placements have included Catholic Charities, Capitol Hill Village, The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project, LifeBridge Health, Armed Forces Services Corporation, and American Autism Association. Funding of $4,000 for Federal Work-Study is limited to full-time students.
Contact
National Catholic School of Social Service
Shahan Hall 1st Floor
620 Michigan Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20064
(202) 319-5454
cua-ncsss@cua.edu
Getting extensive training from a top-tier private institution may seem too expensive on modest human services salaries, but financial aid can help. The Catholic University of America automatically considers new, full-time Online MSW entrants with minimum “B” averages and high GRE scores for the Provost Scholarship with a 25% tuition discount.