Master of Social Work: Elevate Your Community. Accelerate Your Career

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If you want to make a positive impact in people’s lives, an online Master of Social Work degree from Carroll College can help you get started.
 

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About the Program

Develop Advocacy Skills with a Master of Social Work

Our Master of Social Work program provides the specialized training needed to address the complex health and mental health needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups. When you obtain your MSW from Carroll College, you’ll be prepared with the knowledge and skills needed to serve individuals, families, and communities, promoting health, well-being, and functioning. 

To ensure you’re ready to competently and ethically serve clients, Carroll’s Master of Social Work curriculum focuses on four critical areas: 1) Trauma-informed/resilience-focused practice; 2) Evidence-based practice; 3) Interdisciplinary and integrated practice; and 4) Professional leadership.

These emphasis areas provide a knowledge base and skill set that equip you for effective practice with individuals, families, and groups. If you’re interested in a career as a clinical social worker, our master’s in social work program also prepares you to pursue an advanced clinical social work license.

Building the Career You Want

The Master of Social Work program at Carroll is strongly aligned with our college motto: not for school, but for life. 

We know that earning your graduate social work degree is only the first step in building the career you want. That’s why we offer ongoing support after graduation as you obtain licensure and join our growing social work community. 

Woven into your Master of Social Work experience is real-world learning that prepares you for what’s to come after graduation. All program students participate in a supervised practicum at a local community-based organization that intentionally and systematically connects classroom-based learning with real-world practice. No matter where you live, you can count on Carroll’s Master of Social Work program to provide you with an individualized, high-quality practicum experience.

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), we train social workers to provide specialized services to clients impacted by mental health challenges, substance use, physical illness, and other social problems. 
 

Benefits of Carroll’s Master of Social Work Degree

Accessible and Flexible

Our online social work courses combine synchronous and asynchronous learning, supporting strong connections between students and faculty, while also maximizing flexibility. 

We welcome students with all types of educational backgrounds. If you have a BSW or BSSW degree from an accredited social work program, you may be eligible to complete your Master of Social Work in as little as 9 months, offering an accelerated path to a new career. We also offer part-time pathways for completing our program, working with students individually to efficiently obtain their MSW at a pace that suits them.

Experiential Learning and Networking

We've partnered with non-profits and health care providers to provide students with outstanding internship opportunities wherever they are located. We also host five-weekend intensives each academic year that you can attend virtually or in person, offering unique opportunities for skill development, active learning, and community building. 

Affordable Social Work Degree

Many of Carroll’s social work students are eligible for loan repayment programs after graduation, which helps defray the costs of earning a Master of Social Work degree. In addition, some students who work for social service, health, or behavioral health organizations can take advantage of tuition assistance programs offered by their employers. Scholarships may also be available. Learn more about tuition and costs.

Career-Focused

Carroll’s Master of Social Work degree program is only a few years old, but employers tell us that our graduates are well prepared with a strong foundation of knowledge, values, and critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Because our graduate social work degree emphasizes integrated and interdisciplinary care, our graduates are ready to effectively collaborate in team-based, interdisciplinary settings.

Exceptional Faculty

Learn from passionate and committed social work faculty who are committed to your success. Our accomplished faculty possess nearly 100 years of experience as practitioners and educators, giving them the expertise and insight needed to prepare you for professional practice. As an MSW program, our goal is to provide you with an exceptional learning experience and the support you need to achieve your professional goals. Learn more about our faculty. 

Michael Elliot, Class of 2015
Michael Elliott, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, is a 2015 Carroll graduate currently enrolled in our Master of Social Work program. His hope after earning his MSW is to work at PureView Health Center here in Helena in their integrated behavioral health team where he currently interns. In this piece by ABC News Nightline, Michael was a 21-year-old Marine stationed in Iraq at the time he was originally interviewed. In Nightline's follow-up, he reflects on what his experience has been like over the past 20 years since returning home.

Careers for Master of Social Work Graduates

Master of Social Work Graduates

As one of the country’s fastest-growing fields, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of social workers needs to increase by 16% through 2026. Students who earn their Master of Social Work degree from Carroll work in a variety of practice settings, from health and behavioral healthcare organizations to community non-profit agencies and private counseling and therapy practices. 

MSW Student

Earning a Master of Social Work degree opens doors to work with populations that include children and families, older adults, unhoused populations, Veterans, survivors of trauma, and more. A Carroll Master of Social Work degree will also prepare you to pursue licensure for clinical social worker careers, allowing you to provide specialized mental health services to individuals, families, and groups.

Carroll Master of Social Work MSW woman at table

In addition to becoming a social worker, a graduate social work degree from Carroll provides knowledge and skills that can support practice as a:

  • Case manager
  • Child advocate
  • Crisis counselor
  • Outreach coordinator
  • Patient navigator
  • Prevention specialist
  • Victim advocate

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