Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Duration 22 Months
- Cost per Credit $559
- Credit Hours 62
Program Benefits
- Online and asynchronous coursework
- Gain the values and skills required for social work in rural areas
- Oregon state tuition funding options available
- Transfer up to 31 credits
Prepare for Impactful, Trauma-Informed Practice
Designed for adult learners, the online Master of Social Work degree from Eastern Oregon University delivers an advanced-generalist curriculum that prepares you for compassionate, trauma-informed practice.
EOU’s MSW program is 100 percent accessible through a flexible online format, allowing you to complete assignments at the time and location of your choice. Balance your education with your full-time personal schedule and gain expertise for social work in rural areas with courses in social justice and change, inclusion and human rights.
Grounded in the mission, ethics and values of the social work profession, the mission of Eastern Oregon University’s MSW program is to offer accessible, high-quality education that prepares students to effectively serve others through professional social work practice.
For Fall of 2026, EOU will be launching an MSW: Advanced Standing Track for students with a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE accredited program. This program will require only 30 credit hours instead of 62 credit hours.
Accreditation
The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree offered by Eastern Oregon University is designed to meet the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) established by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). However, EOU’s MSW program is not currently accredited by CSWE’s Board of Accreditation (BOA).
While EOU’s MSW program is not currently accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), we have received pre-candidacy status.
Pre-candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the CSWE BOA indicates that it has submitted an application to be reviewed for candidacy and received approval of its Benchmark 1 from CSWE accreditation staff to move forward to a candidacy review within one year. A program that has attained pre-candidacy status has not yet been reviewed by the BOA nor verified to be compliant with the EPAS.
The MSW program submitted its Benchmark I document for CSWE staff approval in February 2025 and was approved for pre-candidacy status in June of 2025. During the 2025-2026 academic year, the program submitted its Benchmark I document to the BOA, and it hosted its first CSWE site visit. The CSWE Board of Accreditation is expected to make a decision about the program’s candidacy status in June of 2026.
Students who are admitted to pre-candidate programs in the fall (or later) of the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation. EOU’s MSW program should receive Candidacy status in June of 2026, however, it is not guaranteed. Candidacy is typically a 3-year process, and attaining pre-candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain candidacy and initial accreditation.
EOU’s Master of Social Work degree does not meet the educational requirements for licensure in Florida, New Hampshire, and New York. Admission to the program, whether for regular standing or advanced standing, is not available to students who reside in these states.
For the 2026-2027 academic year:
All Regular Standing students from all states other than Florida, New Hampshire, and New York may apply to the program.
Part-time Advanced Standing students from all states other than Florida, New Hampshire, and New York may apply to the program.
Full-time Advanced Standing students from Florida, New Hampshire, and New York or the states listed below may not apply to the program.
States that require full accreditation to be able to take in order to sit for the first-level level licensure exam: include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Our MSW program does not accept international students at this time.
For more information, please contact our admissions team or visit our page here.
“Social work education is accessible to you, and it will prepare you to become a professional social worker who can really make an impact. I want students to know that they are welcome, belong and have a community here.”
–Christine M. Saladino, Ph.D., LMSW (she/her/hers)
MSW Program Director
College of Education
Curriculum
Our MSW Curriculum
62 Quarter Credits
Field Placement & Practicum Opportunities
The online MSW program requires the completion of 62 quarter credit hours, including core social work courses, a selection of diverse electives and hands-on learning through practicum and field placement opportunities. As Oregon’s Rural University, EOU’s MSW program thoughtfully integrates rural social work content throughout the curriculum to address the needs of underserved communities. Further, the curriculum ensures you graduate ready to support diverse individuals and apply anti-oppressive and anti-racism efforts in your work.
Field placements can be paid and, in some cases, completed at your current place of employment. Elective options include courses on addictions, human trafficking, rural social work, interpersonal violence, healthcare and more.
Course Highlights:
- Ethics, Human Rights and Social Justice
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Trauma-Informed Practice
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
No GRE or GMAT Score Required
Full- and Part-Time Options Available
| Online Application Form | Online Application |
| Degree and minimum GPA |
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| Transcripts |
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| Official GMAT/GRE Score | No GRE required |
| Additional Requirements |
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Tuition & Aid
Tuition Details
$558.50 per Credit
Transfer Up to 31 Credits
We feature affordable tuition, especially when compared to similar universities. The total cost of your program (assuming no transfer credits) is $34,627. The cost per credit hour for EOU online graduate courses is $558.
About 92 percent of online students benefit from financial aid and scholarships to cover part of these costs. We also accept military benefits and offer scholarships that award over $4 million to students each year.
Additionally, we offer a generous transfer credit policy that allows you to apply previously completed education to your degree at EOU, decreasing the total cost of your program.
Get Your Tuition Covered
We are excited that we have been awarded Oregon state grant funding for workforce development. As a result, for Oregon residents, EOU will be able to FULLY cover tuition for the 2025 fall quarter, for 12 students! EOU intends to continue to offer additional scholarships, for 12 students and up to $6,250 for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years.
We are committed to equitable tuition, and opportunities for financial support for your degree. Request more information and learn more about opportunities that may be available to you.
Learn More
Careers with Social Work Degree
The need for social work professionals is growing, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics expecting the field to expand by 7 percent and create more than 54,000 new jobs through 2033.1 With our online MSW program, you’ll graduate prepared to effectively serve others through ethical and trauma-informed social work practice.
Explore CareersWhat You’ll Learn
Through the online MSW program, you’ll learn to effectively address diverse social issues in rural communities while promoting social justice and equity for individuals, families and groups. You’ll receive one-on-one support from industry-experienced educators as you advance your skills to expand your practice as a solution-driven and compassionate social worker.
Program Outcomes
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
- Advance human rights and social, racial, economic and environmental justice
- Apply anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in practice
- Become immersed in practice-informed research and research-informed practice
- Engage in policy practice
- Assess diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities
- Provide effective intervention services
- Evaluate practice with diverse clients
What It’s Like to Study Online
Earning your degree online from Eastern Oregon University is a great opportunity because there are no on-campus requirements. You will have access to the same professors, content and opportunities as on-campus students while learning online in a creative digital format. Our professors work on campus and are experts trained to deliver innovative, engaging online education.
Explore the Online ExperienceTop Recognition for EOU Online
Earn a quality education online from a highly-respected and awarded institution. Eastern Oregon University’s degree programs have received considerable recognition such as Colleges of Distinction, Value Colleges, College Choice and Military Friendly.
Eastern Oregon University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) Diversity and Inclusion Statement Summary
At Eastern Oregon University’s Master of Social Work program, we are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment that celebrates the richness of human diversity. Our program actively embraces anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices, recognizing that effective social work education must acknowledge and challenge systems of oppression while promoting social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. We welcome and value students, faculty, and community partners of all backgrounds, including diverse ages, cultures, abilities, ethnicities, genders, gender identities, immigration statuses, political ideologies, races, religions, sexual orientations, and tribal sovereign status. Through our curriculum, field experiences, and community partnerships, we prepare social workers who understand the impact of privilege and power, practice cultural humility, and are equipped to advocate for and create positive change in both rural and global communities. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion isn’t just a statement—it’s an active practice that shapes everything we do as we prepare the next generation of social work practitioners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions about this program.
EOU’s MSW program is not yet fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), but has received pre-candidacy status, with candidacy expected in June 2026. Students admitted in the fall of the year the program receives candidacy will be retroactively recognized as graduates of a CSWE-accredited program if the program achieves initial accreditation. Candidacy is not guaranteed, and prospective students should review state-specific licensure requirements before enrolling.
EOU’s MSW Advanced Standing Track, is designed for students who already hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program. Rather than completing the full 62-credit MSW, Advanced Standing students need only 30 credit hours, significantly shortening the time and cost to earn their graduate degree.
MSW graduates are prepared for a broad range of roles, including medical social worker, mental health clinician, substance abuse counselor, child welfare specialist, geriatric social worker, program manager, and public policy analyst. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the social work field will grow 7% and add more than 54,000 new jobs through 2033.
The online MSW includes 62 quarter credits.
Because the Advanced Standing Track requires only 30 credit hours (compared to 62 for the standard MSW), qualified BSW graduates can complete the program in a substantially shorter timeframe. EOU’s online, asynchronous format also gives students flexibility to balance coursework with professional and personal commitments.
Tuition is $558.50 per credit hour. For this program, you’ll complete 62 quarter credits for a total tuition of $34,627.
Source
- Social Workers. Aug. 29, 2024. Retrieved Sept. 3, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm.












