The University of Missouri School of Social Work, based in Columbia, is currently the only in-state institution to offer a fully online MSW program. The program follows the standard cohort model, with a set plan of study, and most instruction is delivered asynchronously, although some live, synchronous sections are required for role-playing exercises and interactions with professors and peers. In addition to the online coursework, students must also complete field education requirements at a local health services agency.

Please note: All online MSW programs require students to complete field education at a local health services agency.

The University of Missouri School of Social Work’s online MSW program offers traditional and advanced standing tracks, as well as concentrations in Advanced Clinical Practice and in Policy, Planning and Administration in Human Services. The traditional track is 60 credit hours and includes two practicums: one of 400 hours and another of 680 hours. It is part time only, typically requiring three years to complete. The advanced standing track is only 39 credit hours and includes a total of 680 hours of field education. It is part time only as well, typically requiring two years to complete.

In addition to The University of Missouri, students residing in the state have several out-of-state online MSW options. There are many out-of-state universities with online MSW programs that accept students from Missouri, and the majority of these programs are fully online, meaning students need not visit campus while earning their degrees. Some of these programs do require a limited number of campus visits, which may be ideal for students who want the flexibility of an online program yet would still prefer to meet their instructors and classmates face to face.

Several out-of-state online MSW programs also offer the same tuition rate to in-state and out-of-state students, so aspiring social workers in Missouri would do well to research as many of their options as possible. To learn more about a particular program below, click on the school’s name.

All online MSW programs require field education at a local health services agency. Programs that are 100% online do not require students to visit the campus during the program.

The Missouri Committee for Social Workers issues four types of social work license: Licensed Advanced Macro Social Worker (LAMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW). Below are some common steps to become a social worker in Missouri, which you should confirm with Missouri’s board of social workers. Information regarding licensure in Missouri was last retrieved in August 2020.

For more detailed information on becoming a social worker in Missouri, visit the Missouri Committee for Social Workers. You can also refer to our guides on general requirements for becoming a social worker and becoming an LCSW.

Last updated: September 2020