Master of Social Work at The Ohio State University

Programme overview

The Master of Social Work prepares advanced social work professionals for practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. It can be taken on campus or online, full-time or part-time, and the programme has been continuously accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1919.

Faculty: College of Social Work | Intake: Spring, Summer and Autumn (Traditional); Summer and Autumn (Advanced Standing) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbus, OH, United States

What you will study

Three parts: a Generalist Curriculum covering core theory, values and competencies; an Advanced Generalist Curriculum focused on applied expertise; and extensive field practicum experiences at both levels.

Career pathways

Graduates work as direct practitioners, administrators, evaluators and analysts in public, private and government agencies.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Traditional MSW: any baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution; GPA of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale) for the last highest degree is preferred, and applicants below 3.0 are reviewed case by case (conditional admission by petition); at least 9 semester (14 quarter) credit hours in social sciences; 3 letters of recommendation; statement of purpose. Advanced Standing Alternative Plan: BSW from a CSWE-accredited programme within the last five years, B or better in all required social work courses, cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, successful field evaluation, and at least 9 semester hours in social sciences. International applicants need TOEFL iBT 79 (4.0 on the TOEFL scale launched January 2026), IELTS Academic 6.5 or Duolingo 120 (Graduate School minimum for this programme). Deadlines: Autumn 2027 Jun 24, 2027 (US) / Apr 29, 2027 (international); Summer 2027 Mar 18 / Feb 4, 2027; Spring 2027 Nov 12 / Oct 8, 2026.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Intake: Spring, Summer and Autumn (Traditional); Summer and Autumn (Advanced Standing)

Apply through the official page: https://gpadmissions.osu.edu/

Explore more study programmes

Health Sciences