Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in Arkansas - Campus and Online

Three state-funded, public universities in the state of Arkansas currently offer Master of Social Work (MSW) degree programs. These programs are offered by Arkansas State University and by two schools in the University of Arkansas System (Fayetteville and Little Rock). Students who are interested in earning an MSW from a school located in Arkansas can choose from programs that are offered in a campus-based format with in-person, site-based classes, as well as from programs that are offered using distance-based, online instruction.

All three of the universities offering MSW programs in Arkansas have traditional or full-length, campus-based options, while one school also offers a traditional program that can be completed online. Graduates from Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programs that are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) may be eligible for an advanced standing MSW track, an option that is offered by all three schools in Arkansas, both in campus-based (three schools) and online (two schools) formats.

The following Arkansas schools offer MSW programs. All three schools, as noted below, are fully accredited by the CSWE.

• Arkansas State University (Accredited)
• University of Arkansas (Accredited)
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Accredited)

Details about the MSW programs offered by these schools are provided in the sections below. Programs are grouped into the following categories:

• Traditional Campus-Based MSW Programs in Arkansas
• Traditional Online MSW Programs in Arkansas
• Advanced Standing Campus-Based MSW Programs in Arkansas
• Advanced Standing Online Programs in Arkansas
• Directory of All MSW Programs in Arkansas

Traditional MSW Programs in Arkansas

All three of the schools in Arkansas that offer MSW programs have traditional tracks that are designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s program in a field or discipline other than social work. A traditional MSW program generally takes two years to complete for full-time students and three years or more for students who enroll part time. Students who would prefer a fully campus-based program can choose from three programs that offer specializations in direct clinical practice and in community or macro practice social work. Both Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock offer traditional MSW programs in an online format.

Traditional Campus-Based MSW Programs in Arkansas

The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville offers a traditional, campus-based MSW program through its School of Social Work. The 63-credit program has a Multi-System Life Course (MSLC) specialization that focuses on social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program has a full-time track that can be completed in two years and a part-time track that takes three years to complete. Students enrolled in the program are required to engage in 990 hours of field education over three semesters. Coursework in the program covers topics such as cultural competence in social work, social welfare policy, social work research and technologies, and working with diverse populations. All courses integrate human psychology and behavior with systems thinking so students understand how humans develop individually and collectively within their communities. In the final year of the program, students apply what they have learned in the program to a capstone research project or, with the approval of the program’s curriculum committee, a master’s thesis.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s (UALR) School of Social Work offers a campus-based, full-length MSW program that gives students a choice of pursuing an Advanced Direct Practice (ADP) clinical concentration, or a Social and Organizational Impact (SOI) macro concentration. Students must complete 60 credits to confer this degree, and also have the option of completing a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. The foundational social work courses in the program cover strengths-focused social work, research and statistics in social work, mental health assessments, differential diagnoses, and working with individuals and groups across the lifespan. Students of the ADP concentration learn about clinical evaluations, treatment methods, and other interventions, while SOI students take courses on building community-focused solutions, data analysis, and organizational justice and change.

All students are required to complete 1136 practice hours of field education prior to graduation. UALR’s School of Social Work has a two-year, full-time MSW track and an extended track that allows students to enroll part-time and complete the program in three years. While the SOI concentration is available only on the main campus, students of the ADP concentration can opt for a hybrid course of study that combines online and in-person classes.

Traditional Online MSW Programs in Arkansas

Arkansas State University has an online MSW for traditional standing students that features a concentration in Rural Based Clinical Social Work Practice and an emphasis on Trauma-Informed Care. This 63-credit program also offers students the option of completing a certificate in Addictions Studies to further specialize their course of study. Students take foundational courses in human behavior, social services, social welfare policy, social justice and diversity, social work interventions, and the environmental factors impacting human development and health. Concentration courses cover areas like social work ethics, clinical practice at the individual and group levels, rural social work policy, trauma-focused practice, psychosocial pathology, clinical practice evaluations, and social work leadership. Elective options in the program cover topics in substance abuse, cognitive behavioral therapy, crisis intervention, clinical work with children, and international social work. All students must fulfill 924 hours of field practicum, divided between 420 hours of foundational field education and 504 hours of advanced practicum.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock offers an online traditional MSW program for students who do not hold a BSW degree from an undergraduate program accredited by the CSWE. The program, which is offered through the UALR’s School of Social Work, has an Advanced Direct Practice (ADP) clinical social work curriculum. Students in the 60-credit program complete all of their didactic courses online and are also required to engage in 1136 hours of field education at a site approved by the program. Full-time students can graduate from the program in two years, while part-time students are afforded three years to complete the program. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s online MSW program is currently only available to students who reside in Arkansas.

Advanced Standing MSW Programs in Arkansas

The three schools in Arkansas that offer MSW programs in a traditional, full-length format also offer advanced standing MSW programs for qualifying students who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program. Advanced standing MSW programs allow eligible students who have earned a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program to progress directly to their advanced coursework. By waiving the foundational-year MSW coursework for BSW graduates, advanced standing MSW programs provide a shorter pathway to earning an MSW degree. Advanced standing students can typically earn their degree in one year of full-time enrollment or two years of part-time enrollment. BSW graduates should note that these programs often have rigorous application requirements and selective admissions, which means they do not accept all BSW graduates who apply.

Advanced Standing Campus-Based MSW Programs in Arkansas

The University of Arkansas’ School of Social Work offers an advanced standing MSW program at the university’s main campus in Fayetteville. The program has a Multi-System Life Course (MSLC) specialization with coursework and field education that provides training in clinical social work with individuals, families, and groups, as well as social work at the organizational and community levels. The 39-credit program is designed for students whose BSW degree was earned within the last six years from an undergraduate program accredited by the CSWE. Applicants whose BSW degree was conferred more than six years ago can petition for a waiver if they have a significant history of post-baccalaureate work experience or continuing education in social work. Students in the program, which can be completed in 12 months of full-time enrollment, are required to engage in 500 hours of field education over the program’s three semesters. In addition, all students must complete a capstone research project to confer their degree.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock offers an advanced standing campus-based MSW program that is designed for students whose BSW degree was conferred by a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program within the past five years. The 43-credit program, which is offered by the university’s School of Social Work, has two concentration options: Advanced Direct Practice (ADP) clinical social work; and Social and Organizational Impact (SOI) macro social work. The program requires students to complete 960 hours of field education and can be completed in 12 months of full-time enrollment or 21 months of part-time enrollment.

Advanced Standing Online MSW Programs in Arkansas

Arkansas State University offers an online, advanced standing MSW program with a concentration in Rural Based Clinical Social Work Practice and an emphasis on Trauma-Informed Care. In addition, as with its traditional standing program, this program offers students the option of completing a certificate in Addictions Studies. This 36-credit program includes courses in social work ethics, clinical practice with individuals and groups, rural social work policy and practice, and leadership in social work. Students can take electives in substance abuse, international social work, crisis intervention, and clinical interventions for children. All students must complete 504 hours of advanced field practicum in addition to their didactic coursework.

The University of Arkansas’ MSW program with a Multi-System Life Course (MSLC) specialization is offered online in an advanced standing format for students who qualify by holding a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program that was conferred within the past six years. The 39-credit program, which does not require any campus visits, is designed to be completed in three semesters of continuous enrollment over a 12-month period. The program’s MSLC curriculum prepares students for social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The coursework employs a systems perspective that illuminates the role of community, social infrastructures, and other environmental factors on human psychology and behavior. In addition to their courses, students are required to engage in 500 hours of field education.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock offers its Advanced Direct Practice (ADP) clinical social work MSW program in an online, advanced standing format for qualified students who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program, so long as the degree was conferred within the past five years. Offered by the university’s School of Social Work, the 43-credit program gives students the option of completing their degree in 12 months of full-time enrollment or 21 months of part-time enrollment. As part of the program, students are required to engage in 960 hours of field education at one or more sites that are approved by the program. The online program offered by UA Little Rock is currently only available to residents of Arkansas.

Directory of All Master of Social Work Programs in Arkansas

T Traditional programs, Advanced Standing programs, Campus programs, Hybrid programs (campus and online instruction), Hybrid-Online programs (3 to ~6 campus visits per year), Online programs (fully online to 2 campus visits per year)

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