Student Experience
We’ve been preparing social workers
online since 2010.
Our online Master of Social Work (MSW) program combines online learning, virtual and in-person practicum education and comprehensive support services to prepare you to become a practitioner and leader in the field.
We were the first private, elite institution of our kind to offer an MSW online. Our expertise in online learning and in the social work field will benefit your career, your network — and ultimately, your clients.
Explore the MSW@USC
Your Digital Campus
Social work is centered around personal connections. Our online MSW was designed from the ground up to foster an environment of collaboration, so you can build real relationships with your peers and professors — inside and outside of the classroom.
Through the MSW@USC online platform, you can meet for group discussion and team projects, track your assignments and progress, and engage in conversations about classwork and personal interests. You are also able to form virtual groups with classmates who share similar interests or who live in your area.
Designed for 21st-Century Learners
Your digital campus is designed to fit seamlessly into your everyday life. Features include:
- Intuitive dashboard with one-click access to classes, assignments, grades and tech support
- Searchable video transcripts
- Closed captioning
- Mobile app for use with and without Wi-Fi
- Dark mode and focus mode
- Streaming to TV or Bluetooth
- Real-time video feedback
Your Classes
Taught by USC professors, seminar-style classes are kept small — with an approximate 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio — to encourage conversation and collaboration. In the MSW@USC classroom, there is no back row: You will actively participate in discussions with your professors and peers.
Interact with your classmates using real-time presentations and annotations through live, streaming HD video and audio.
Continue important class conversations with your peers in breakout rooms.
Access recordings of live class sessions any time to revisit concepts and discussions.
Your Coursework
Between live class sessions, you complete online coursework to apply your skills and foster class discussion.
- Complete interactive, engaging coursework, including video case studies, readings and research.
- Access content from anywhere with an internet connection, through the mobile app or download content to view offline.
- Collaborate on group assignments in real time, on our platform: Provide and receive feedback, contribute to conversations and ask questions.
Your Practicum Education
In any social work program, practicum work is key. It’s where students truly become social workers. At USC, we make it easy for our students to get this valuable, real-world practice online and in person.
Virtual Practicum
Your practicum education will begin with Virtual Practicum (VP), a small-group, faculty-supervised online course in which you work with an actor playing the role of a client to simulate real-world situations. After you complete 210 hours of VFP, you will be placed by the MSW@USC practicum team in an agency in or near your community.
Community-Based Practicum Work
We have relationships with over 4,200 placement sites around the country — your placement advisor will work closely with you to identify the right fit. You will use the placement portal on your dashboard to seamlessly schedule and track interviews and log hours.
Your Network
The Trojan Family is an important part of your USC experience; you’ll feel its strength from beginning to end.
As a student, you’ll build powerful connections that you’ll carry throughout your social work career. Upon graduation from the program, you will become part of the global USC alumni network, which supports more than 100 affiliated alumni organizations, including regional, alumnae (women’s), generational, affinity and school-based groups, and industry networks.
Beyond the extensive USC resources available to you, you’ll also have access to Dworak-Peck Connect, our exclusive social work community forum where you’ll find networking opportunities, job postings and active discussions.
Take the Next Step
Request information today to see how the MSW@USC can bring you closer to tackling today’s social work challenges.
Maximize Your MSW Experience
We offer a number of tools, resources and support services to help you make the most of your online learning experience.
Career Success
As a student in the MSW@USC program, you gain access to services provided through the Office of Career and Professional Development.
Whether you need help landing your first social work position or enhancing your on-the-job skills, we are dedicated to providing you with the tools you need to realize career success, including the following:
- Career-building tools, such as resume and cover letter samples, weekly job postings and announcements on various industry topics
- Courses and classes, including the Professional Development and Alumni Resources Course, which can be accessed anytime through the Learning Management System
- Live sessions on a range of topics, from resume building to interview preparation to evaluating job offers and negotiating salary
- Career appointments with a USC career advisor who can discuss your goals, job search, application materials and more
- Alumni panels that allow you to learn from USC-educated social workers practicing in the field
- Employer spotlights where hiring managers and recruiters tell you what they are looking for in a great candidate
Student Support
Support services begin the moment you inquire about the MSW@USC program. From the start of the application process to graduation, students are supported with technical assistance, academic advising and practicum placement.
Become a Social Work Leader
See what USC can do for you — and what you can do for your community.