Earning a master’s degree in social work prepares you for a career driving positive change in your community in a variety of avenues. Some social workers engage one-on-one with clients to address mental health, emotional and behavioral challenges; others champion systemic change through policy advocacy, program development and community organizing.
Whichever option appeals to you, Virginia Commonwealth University can help you along your journey. The VCU online Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree program offers two focus areas: Clinical Social Work Practice for those focused on client work, and Macro Social Work Practice for those engaged in systemic societal change. Both concentrations are available through multiple learning pathways.
Continue reading to learn more about the distinctions between these concentrations and for guidance on aligning your concentration choice with your personal and career objectives.
Earn Your MSW From a CSWE-Accredited Program
Choose Between Full- and Part-Time Options
Online Program Overview: Get to Know the M.S.W.
VCU’s highly ranked M.S.W. program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The online option makes earning a master’s in social work accessible, providing geographic flexibility. The program combines live, synchronous class sessions (three per course, per semester) with asynchronous course content and assignments, enabling students to study when most convenient. Students gain invaluable real-world experience by completing on-site field placements at an agency in their local communities.
Online students can choose from various learning pathways to customize their pace of study. Options include:
- Advanced Standing (Full-time): This option caters to students who earned a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA in the past five years. Through the Advanced Standing pathway, full-time students can earn an M.S.W. in one year.
- Regular Standing (Full-time): This option is ideal for students with an undergraduate degree (in any major) who wish to study full-time. Regular Standing Full-time students can further customize their pace of study, choosing to complete their degrees in 16 months (four semesters) or two years (five semesters).
- Regular Standing (Part-time): The part-time pathway may be an option for students who wish to continue working while earning their master’s degree. Part-time students can customize their learning pace to earn their degrees in three or four years. Admissions requirements include an undergraduate degree (in any major).
The VCU online M.S.W. program is further customizable to meet your career objectives. Read on to learn more about the two available concentrations.
Clinical Social Work Practice Concentration
Clinical social work focuses on helping people manage life’s challenges more effectively. The online M.S.W. Clinical Social Work Practice concentration curriculum equips students with the skills to help individuals, families and their support systems or communities navigate life challenges through assessment, treatment and prevention strategies. Courses in this concentration include Human Behavior in the Social Environment; Power, Privilege and Oppression; Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups; and Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders.
Graduates specializing in clinical social work often work in direct practice roles in mental health clinics, private practices, schools and universities. Their day-to-day work generally involves providing therapy and guidance to individuals and families, crisis management and intervention.
Students interested in and passionate about working directly with families and individuals to help them solve their problems are likely an excellent fit for this field of social work.
Macro Practice Concentration
Macro practice focuses on promoting systemic change to address social issues at the community and societal levels. Macro social workers engage in policy development and advocacy, program design and community organizing.
Courses in this concentration include Specialization Research for Understanding and Assessing Social Work Interventions and Services; Social Policy; and Strategies for Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice. Coursework incorporates critical and emergent theories related to administration, planning and policy practice. It is designed to help students build skills in advocacy and community organizing.
Students specializing in macro social work can assume leadership roles in nonprofits, government agencies or community organizations. Other potential job titles include policy analyst, program director and lobbyist.
If you hope to drive large-scale impact through local and policy-level changes, this is the concentration for you.
What to Consider When Choosing a Social Work Concentration
To determine which concentration option would be the better choice for you, consider your short- and long-term career goals and preferred work style. You should also consider the availability of field placement opportunities in both specialties in your local area.
Regardless of your career aspirations, it is crucial to find a social work program that allows you to specialize — like VCU’s online M.S.W. — and choose the right concentrations to reach your goals. At VCU, you can earn your M.S.W. online at a pace that suits your lifestyle and commitments. An enrollment advisor can help you determine which concentration aligns best with your goals.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your social work career, explore the VCU online M.S.W program, review the different pathways, or connect with an enrollment advisor for additional guidance and information.