If you are looking to earn a degree in social work, Ohio may be the place for you. There are many options available to you, whether you want to earn a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree. The state of Ohio features 38 accredited social work degree programs according to the website of the Council for Social Work Education.
Out of these, 27 are bachelors of social work programs, and 11 are master’s of social work programs. Seven of them are online for those who need a flexible option. It’s important to choose a program that has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education to ensure a quality education for your future career.
Social work is consistently in demand across the United States, and Ohio is no different. Pursuing an Ohio social work degree may lead you to a challenging and ultimately rewarding career of helping others and bettering your community.
Ohio State University offers a Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degree program in social work. These programs are intended to prepare students to take their licensing exam for the appropriate credential. The bachelor’s degree program involves a four year curriculum.
Students learn generalist social work practices through electives and courses in ethics, sociology, interviewing skills, psychology, social justice, statistics, and more.
The program also requires students to complete a six credit field practice to gain experience. Ohio State University offers students the opportunity to earn both their bachelors and masters degree in five years.
The MSW program at OSU has a variety of attendance options, including full-time, part-time, on-campus, or online. Students anywhere in the USA can take the online program.
The traditional program is 63 credit hours and can be completed in two years. If a student chooses to take the part-time program, it can be completed in three or four years. Students can choose among four areas of emphasis, which include Aging and Health, Mental Health and Substance Misuse, Child and Youth Services, and Community and Social Justice.
There is also an option for students to complete the MSW program at the same time as the social work PhD program.
The Ohio State University PhD in social work program creates social work scholars who understand how to perform research to better the field. PhD candidates study a broad range of topics including, but not limited to, environmental justice, cultural competency, human trafficking, integrative care, mental health, trauma, family systems, policy, poverty, and far more.
Ohio University offers a Bachelor’s degree in social work program and Master’s of Social Work degree program. Both of these programs get students involved in field practice to practice what they learned in their courses. The courses are taught by faculty well-versed in social work.
The BSW program is focused on generalist social work practice, which involves knowledge of human behavior, policy, social welfare, and the ability to intervene with a number of populations and individuals.
At Ohio University, two bachelor’s degrees are offered: one is a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW), and the other is a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). Both programs can be completed within four years, but the BASW requires the completion of four months of foreign language courses.
The Master’s of Social Work program focuses on rural clinical practice. There are five program options for students: a full-time, two year program, a part-time, three year program, a part-time, four year program, a one-year, advanced standing program, and a 100% online program.
Students who qualify for the one year advanced standing program must have previously earned a bachelor’s in social work degree from an accredited program. The social work master’s program at Ohio University will involve students in a two-semester research study and field internships to apply what they have learned.
Case Western Reserve University offers a Master’s of Social Work degree program. In this program, students will develop eight core abilities that are essential to social work, such as advocacy for social justice, upholding ethics and values, critical thinking, communication skills, applying social work methods, and more.
This program is ranked among the top 10 of social work schools according to the US News and World Report. There is a 60-credit standard program as well as a 36-credit, advanced standing program offered for students. Additionally, students have the opportunity to attend the school of social work part-time.
Students who are enrolled in the traditional, two-year program will complete 900 hours of education in the field, and those in the advanced standing program will complete 500 hours. Case Western Reserve University also offers a dual-degree program where students have the opportunity to earn a degree in both social work and nonprofit management.
University of Cincinnati offers a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. The bachelor’s of social work is offered both on-campus and online. The program takes four years and 120 credits to complete. Students begin required social work courses in their junior year.
They will take courses to achieve core competencies that have been established by the Council on Social Work Education. Students will be linked to a local social service organization to complete their field education.
Upon graduation, students will be prepared to enter a career in generalist social work. They may also qualify for admittance into an accelerated social work master’s degree program.
The master of social work degree at University of Cincinnati offers four curriculum options: the accelerated program (offered full-time and part-time), and the standard program (offered full-time and part-time).
The accelerated program is intended for students who have previously earned a BSW from an accredited institution. Each program involves hybrid learning, where the curriculum and coursework is provided through a combination of online and in-person learning.
Students will apply their knowledge during the field education component, where they will be assigned to a local agency for 14-17 hours a week. While the length and credits to complete range based on the program, the standard, full time program takes two years and 44-60 credits for graduation.
CSWE stands for the Council on Social Work Organization, which was founded in 1952. This organization comprises 800 social work programs as well as professionals who are passionate about the quality of social work education. The organization accredits social work programs in the United States, and is the sole agency responsible for doing so.
CSWE Accredited Programs:
CSWE accreditation establishes high standards of education through their Commission on Accreditation (COA). Institutions with social work programs have to prove that they meet these standards in order to become accredited.
Accreditation assures students that they are receiving an education that will prepare them for their future career and for state licensure, and students will also know that their investment into their education is secure.
Additionally, CSWE accreditation may be important when graduates are looking to become employed, as many agencies and organizations wish to hire employees that graduated from accredited institutions.
Accreditation also promotes consistency across state lines, so if a social worker with a license wants to move, they may have an easier time obtaining a license in a new state.
If you want to enroll in a social work degree program, but are hoping to find a flexible curriculum, then online courses might be the right choice for you. Online social work programs are a viable option for many students, and they have multiple benefits.
There are many programs that offer online programs in Ohio, including:
Students of many backgrounds can enjoy the benefits of an online social work degree program. Online programs offer a unique experience to those who are unable to attend a full-time format.
Some students may benefit from the flexibility of online courses because they have a full-time social work job and are going to school to increase their expertise and opportunities. Some may also have a family with children. Even still, other students may thrive in an alternative learning environment, such as their home, where they can gain information without being in a traditional classroom.
Online Social Work Degrees:
There are two kinds of licensed social workers in Ohio: the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and the Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW). They each have different education and career requirements.
A LSW requires a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited program as well as the completion of multiple post-graduation steps for licensure. The LISW requires a master’s degree and post-graduation licensure steps as well, including a certain number of supervised clinical employment experience hours.
The salary for social workers in the state of Ohio can range due to many factors. These factors include the degree held by the social worker, where they are located, what kind of organization they work for, any additional degrees or certificates they may have, their length of employment, and more.
Social workers with advanced degrees may make a higher salary by being employed in supervisory roles. Certain clinical social workers may also be self employed through their own practice, which can also determine a salary. In the state of Ohio, there is an average salary that can be determined based on the degree that the professional holds.
According to O*Net Online, the median salary for a social worker in Ohio was about $49,150 annually as of 2021. Comparatively, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median salary for social workers in the US was about $50,390 as of 2021. Below is a summary of the average salary of social workers based on their degree as of 2023.
According to O*Net Online, social workers are expected to increase by 8-10% in the next ten years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the social work careers should increase about the same amount in the whole United States at 9%, with 74,700 jobs opening up each year.
Child and family social workers, healthcare social workers, and mental health and substance abuse workers are projected to be the careers that will be the most in demand.
Each state is unique and may have different needs in their social services sector. Because of this, some social work careers may be more in demand or more popular. Ohio is no different in that regard.
Below are some of the social work careers that are more popular in the state.
This career typically requires a social worker with a master’s degree. In Ohio, a licensed social worker may also be an individual with a bachelor’s degree.
LSW coordinates with other staff on a patient’s team to provide a number of services to enhance their wellbeing and ensure that they are connected to needed services. They may assist with the coordination and planning of procedures and stay on top of rules and regulations. There are many jobs that a licensed social worker performs both directly to the client and with external agencies.
This career may fall under many categories. A case manager social worker might be a nurse, a licensed social worker, or many other categorizations.
This type of social worker often does not require a graduate degree. A case manager might fulfill duties such as managing a caseload of clients where they coordinate their services while monitoring each individual to ensure they are receiving effective care. They may also develop treatment plans and perform intakes for new clients.
This career involves supporting families who are experiencing the end of the life of a family member.
A hospice social worker may help the families understand what the loved one will need, how to manage their own stress and finances, how to deal with crisis, and may even connect them to support. Hospice social workers also play the role of advocates to their patients and the families.
When planning to earn a social work degree in Ohio, considering cost is an important part of the process. While tuition is different between each university, there is an average cost across the state that can help you understand what to expect from each program.
When it comes to funding your social work education, grants and scholarships are an excellent option. There are many websites online that feature scholarships for many different kinds of students, including those who are in a social work program.
For example, the Council on Social Work Education provides various opportunities for social work students to apply for scholarships or fellowships. They list these opportunities on their website. Another excellent option when it comes to funding your education is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the primary provider of financial aid for many college students across the USA.
The application is to be filled out each year that you are in school, and determines if you are eligible for any grants or federal student loans based on a number of factors including your income. Yet another option to consider is looking into the scholarship opportunities provided by your individual school.
Many institutions provide their own financial assistance. Ways to find out more information include searching the school website or reaching out to the university directly via email or phone call.
Other scholarship opportunities online include:
Social workers in Ohio are likely to find themselves employed in the mental health, substance abuse, healthcare or gerontology sector.
Nearly 25% of adults in Ohio experience mental health issues, which is higher than the national average of 20%. Additionally, Ohio decreased from the 11th to the 25th worst mental health in the nation according to Mental Health America statistics. Social workers can help this issue by coordinating mental healthcare or providing it themselves through clinical care. T
hese kinds of social workers may be employed through government mental health agencies, private therapy practice, prison, and more. They can also use their knowledge of social justice and policy to advocate for better mental healthcare. Ohio also has a larger population of individuals who are over the age of 65 (17.8%) as compared to the rest of the United States (16.9%), according to the United States Census.
This means that social workers who work in healthcare or with aging populations can support those populations and their families by coordinating care, providing emotional support, and a number of other important services. Some may find themselves working for hospitals, VA clinics, or working as a hospice social worker.
Case Western Reserve University
(Cleveland, OH)
Cleveland State University
(Cleveland, OH)
Kent State University at Kent
(Kent, OH)
Miami University-Oxford
(Oxford, OH)
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
(Lima, OH)
Ohio State University-Main Campus
(Columbus, OH)
Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus
(Mansfield, OH)
Ohio State University-Newark Campus
(Newark, OH)
Ohio University-Main Campus
(Athens, OH)
University of Akron Main Campus
(Akron, OH)
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
(Cincinnati, OH)
University of Dayton
(Dayton, OH)
University of Toledo
(Toledo, OH)
Wright State University-Main Campus
(Dayton, OH)
Youngstown State University
(Youngstown, OH)
If you’re exploring MSW programs in Ohio, it’s important to understand how program options, online formats, field education, and licensure all fit together. This guide […]
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