Social Work Master's Programs in Maryland

Several schools throughout Maryland offer master's degree programs in social work that prepare graduates for advanced social work careers. Students with a bachelor's degree in social work may qualify for an accelerated program.

<h2 id="section---MorganStateUniversity">Morgan State University</h2> <p>The Master of Social Work program at Morgan State University in Baltimore consists of 48 credit hours of instruction and 12 credits of internship. Students who have earned a bachelor's degree in social work can take alternative courses for those that they have already completed. Students can choose a concentration in gerontology, public health social work, school social work, or urban children youth &amp; families. </p> <h2 id="section---SalisburyUniversity">Salisbury University</h2> <p>Salisbury University has a Master of Social Work program that requires 48 credit hours of instruction and 14 credits of practicum. There is also an Advanced Standing program option for those with a Bachelor of Social Worker; this program requires 24 credits of coursework and 8 credits from a supervised field practicum. These programs are offered at the main campus in Salisbury, MD, as well as at 4 satellite campuses and online. </p> <h2 id="section---TheUniversitiesAtShadyGrove">The Universities at Shady Grove</h2> <p>The Universities at Shady Grove is part of the University of Maryland - Baltimore. This Rockville, MD, campus offers a Master of Social Work program with a focus in clinical behavioral health. The program consists of 60 credit hours, can be completed in two years, and prepares graduates for certification as social workers in any state. </p> <h2 id="section---UniversityOfMarylandBaltimore">University of Maryland, Baltimore</h2> <p>Students can earn a Master of Social Work in one or two years of full-time study at the University of Maryland in Baltimore through the advanced standing program (36 credit hours) or the regular MSW program (60 credit hours). Students can choose a concentration in clinical and/or macro with a specialization in aging, community action &amp; social policy, families &amp; children, behavioral health, or health. Students in certain programs can also add a sub-specialization of employee assistance or child, adolescent &amp; family health. The university also offers four dual-degree programs including business administration and public health. </p> <h2 id="section---UniversityOfMarylandCollegePark">University of Maryland - College Park</h2> <p>The College Park campus of University of Maryland offers three master's degree programs in social work that combine social work with another field. The Public Policy and Social Work program (MPP/MSW) is a dual-degree in public policy and social work that consists of 90 total credit hours. The Business Administration and Social Work program (MBA/MSW) is a 90-credit-hour program that requires business courses from College Park and MSW courses from University of Maryland, Baltimore. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>School Name </th><th>Programs Offered </th><th>Average Graduate Tuition (2018-2019)*</th></tr> <tr><td>Morgan State University </td><td>MSW </td><td>$7,794 in-state <br />$15,318 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>Salisbury University </td><td>Advanced Standing MSW <br />MSW </td><td>$8,658 in-state<br />$13,311 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>The Universities at Shady Grove </td><td> MSW in Clinical Behavioral Health </td><td> $15,132 in-state** <br />$32,972 out-of state**</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Maryland, Baltimore </td><td>Advanced Standing MSW <br />MSW </td><td>$14,550 in-state <br />$31,703 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Maryland - College Park </td><td>MBA/MSW <br />MPP/MSW </td><td>$12,906 in-state <br />$27,864 out-of-state</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *National Center for Education Statistics (2018-2019); **School website (2019-2020)</i> </p> <h2 id="section---AdmissionRequirementsForSocialWorkMasterSProgramsInMaryland">Admission Requirements for Social Work Master's Programs in Maryland</h2> <p>Social work master's degree programs in Maryland require incoming students to have at least a bachelor's degree and often require students to have a GPA of around 3.0 or higher on their undergraduate work. Students who have earned a bachelor's degree in social work can typically enter advanced standing tracks and complete their degree sooner by bypassing the core MSW courses. Students may also need to have letters of recommendation from previous professors or other professional acquaintances. Other requirements may include a resume, a writing sample or essay of goals, and graduate entrance exam scores (such as the GRE). </p> <h2 id="section---WhatCanYouDoWithAMasterSDegreeInSocialWork">What Can You Do With a Master's Degree in Social Work?</h2> <h3 id="section---ChildFamilyOrSchoolSocialWorker">Child, Family, or School Social Worker</h3> <p>Child and family social workers provide support and assistance to families in need, including helping them find housing or childcare or by conducting interventions in dangerous home situations. School social workers try to improve academic and social situations of students by working with faculty and parents. Entry-level positions may accept those with only a bachelor's degree in social work, but a master's degree in social work is required for licensure as a clinical social worker. </p> <h3 id="section---HealthcareSocialWorker">Healthcare Social Worker</h3> <p>Healthcare social workers may work with general clients or specialize in areas like geriatric social work or hospice and palliative care social work. They often help patients cope with medical diagnoses and adjust their lives as necessary. Applicants should have a master's degree and state licensure in order to treat and assist clients as clinical social workers. </p> <h3 id="section---PostsecondaryTeacher">Postsecondary Teacher</h3> <p>Postsecondary teachers educate students beyond high school in various settings, such as colleges and universities. Community colleges may hire applicants who have a master's degree in social work to teach social work courses. Duties may include preparing curriculum and fieldwork requirements as well as teaching students in classrooms and/or online. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>Job Title </th><th>Median Annual Salary (2018)* </th><th>Estimated Job Growth (2018-2028)*</th></tr> <tr><td>Child, Family, and School Social Workers </td><td>$46,270 </td><td>7%</td></tr> <tr><td>Healthcare Social Workers </td><td>$56,200 </td><td>17%</td></tr> <tr><td>Postsecondary Teachers: Social Work </td><td>$68,300 </td><td>8%</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <p>Students can earn a master's degree in social work at several schools in Maryland in as little as one or two years. Graduates are prepared for a variety of careers, including school social worker, child social worker, or postseconday teacher.</p>