About us
Mission: The Ohio State University Master of Social Work program prepares ethical, advanced professionals to lead social change and improve wellbeing across diverse systems. Through a rigorous, strengths-based, and evidence-informed curriculum, we empower graduates to intervene effectively with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
Our program is committed to a rich educational environment that integrates scholarship with practice proficiency. We cultivate change agents who practice cultural humility, embrace diversity, and advocate for social, economic, and ecological justice on local, national, and global levels. By fostering collaboration and promoting research-informed practice, we prepare our graduates to navigate complex social problems and provide leadership that transforms systems from the individual to the societal level.
Social Work has a long and rich tradition at Ohio State; we offered our first social work course in 1875 and awarded our first master's degree in 1923. The MSW program at Ohio State is accredited by the Council on Work Education and has been continuously accredited since 1919.
More than 16,500 alumni serve as leaders and change agents across the United States, working as direct practitioners, administrators, evaluators, and analysts in a wide range of public, private, and government agencies.
The MSW program prepares graduates for advanced social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program consists of three principal parts:
- Through the Generalist Curriculum students master the theoretical knowledge, professional values, and core competencies common to all social work practice.
- The Advanced Generalist Curriculum is highly applied and focuses on acquiring expertise as a master's prepared social worker.
- The extensive field practicum experiences integrate theory at both the generalist and advanced generalist levels and provides highly mentored opportunities in which students further refine their skills as professional social workers.
Please note
Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure, certification, and state licensing board contact information at the State Authorization website for online programs and for on-campus programs.