5 Top MSW Programs in Los Angeles

Ready to find MSW programs in Los Angeles that match your career goals and lifestyle? You’re in luck! Los Angeles has nine regionally accredited, non-profit universities with Master of Social Work programs.

The best MSW programs in Los Angeles give you impressive flexibility in program formats. All nine schools have traditional campus-based options, and three schools offer online alternatives. Students with a BSW degree can complete an Online Advanced-Standing MSW in just 12 months. The standard Online MSW Program takes about 27 months.

Los Angeles’s MSW programs come with specializations that align with your professional interests. These include advanced generalist practice, community mental health, social and economic justice, military social work, school social work, and direct clinical practice with individuals, children, families, and adults. The University of Southern California’s Susan Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers two campus-based MSW programs. Students can choose between two-year and three-year completion plans for daytime studies.

Let’s look at five top MSW programs in Los Angeles. We’ll cover their specializations, field education requirements, program formats, and accreditation status. This information will help you choose the right path for your social work education.

University of Southern California (USC)

USC ranks among the best MSW programs in Los Angeles. The Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work has shaped social work professionals since 1922. This 101-year-old program became the first full-time professional social work program in the western United States.

Program overview

USC’s Master of Social Work program takes a comprehensive approach to social work education. Students learn to tackle complex social challenges with breakthrough solutions. The program builds on evidence-based practices through experiential and competency-based learning. Research in artificial intelligence and neuroscience pushes prevention and intervention methods to new heights.

Students start with a generalist curriculum that introduces social welfare problems and programs. They then move to specialized practice to develop advanced skills in specific areas. The program gives students knowledge, values, and skills they need to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

USC gives about $1 million yearly in scholarships to MSW students. Students also join a big network of 480,000+ Trojan alumni. These professional connections last well beyond graduation.

Specializations offered

USC’s MSW program features five specialized tracks. Each track needs six units of integrative practice and three units of integrative assessment within the 48-unit curriculum. These tracks include:

• Adult Mental Health and Wellness: Students learn to enhance mental health and physical well-being throughout adulthood. The curriculum explores human behavioral theory and neuroscience’s impact on the mind-brain-body system.
• Children, Youth and Families: This track helps students support children, adolescents, and transitional age youth. Graduates can create service programs for diverse families and support children and youth.
• Social Change and Innovation: Students get cross-disciplinary training to solve society’s big issues. They study social change globally and can explore evidence-based research in business or community development.
• School and Educational Settings: Social workers learn to help individual students, school communities, and leadership. California residents can add this track to their Children, Youth and Families specialization.
• Military Populations and Settings: Students study evidence-based practices to help military personnel and their families. The focus includes PTSD, health concerns, military transitioning, and veteran support.

Field education requirements

Field education remains central to USC’s social work program after 100 years. Students must complete 1,000-1,200 hours of field education to earn their MSW degree.

USC partners with over 700 practicum agencies throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California. These agencies show dedication to social justice and educational goals.

Campus students complete two community-based placements over four semesters. They typically spend 16-24 hours weekly in the field. Online students start with a Virtual Practicum for 210-250 hours. They then move to an in-person community placement for 890 hours.

MSW-qualified practicum instructors supervise students as they apply theory to practice. Field education gives broad experiences that blend concepts with workforce readiness. Graduates emerge ready for professional social work.

Program format and length

USC offers flexible program formats to fit different student needs. The traditional MSW program needs 48 units (or 60 units by some sources) with several paths:

• Accelerated: Students with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work can finish in 12 months through Advanced Standing.
• Full-Time: Career changers or recent graduates can complete this two-year program through immersive study.
• Part-Time: Working professionals can balance studies with work over 28 months.
• Online: Students choose full-time or part-time options with both live and recorded learning.
• Hybrid: First year on campus, second year online combines flexibility with in-person benefits.

Full-time students take 9-15 units each semester, including coursework and practicum. Part-time students usually take 6-9 units per semester for better work-life balance.

Accreditation status

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Accreditation accredits USC’s MSW program. This proves the program meets or exceeds quality standards through peer review.

USC has kept its accreditation since 1922, starting with the Association of Training Schools for Professional Social Workers. The program faced conditional status only once, from November 1993 to November 1994.

CSWE accreditation covers all program options and delivery methods. Programs get reviewed every eight years. The school looks at its current state and future plans during this time.

This accreditation opens the path to licensure. The program helps meet California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination requirements. Graduates must meet additional requirements for full licensure.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits USC as a whole. This further shows the quality of education students receive.

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)

California State University, Long Beach ranks among the best MSW programs Los Angeles has. The university excels at preparing graduates who serve communities of all types. CSULB’s School of Social Work gives students the knowledge and skills they need. This helps them succeed at every practice level in economically and socially diverse settings.

Program overview

CSULB’s Master of Social Work program prepares students to become advanced generalist social workers who help vulnerable populations. The program uses ecological and systems viewpoints to understand how people interact with their environment. Students learn to work with different populations, support various causes, help disadvantaged groups access services, and champion social justice.

The program tackles major community challenges. These include child welfare, health care integration, substance use, poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, and aging population needs. Students follow a well-laid-out curriculum that blends theory with practice. This approach ensures they can contribute meaningfully to the field after graduation.

The program’s goal is simple – to educate and graduate diverse, ethical, and skilled social workers. These professionals think critically and use proven methods to help culturally-diverse, vulnerable individuals, families, and communities. This matches perfectly with Los Angeles area’s growing need for qualified social workers.

Specializations offered

Unlike many Los Angeles MSW programs that stick to general coursework, CSULB offers three specific areas to focus on:

• Child and Family Wellbeing: Students learn to use strength-based and proven methods to help children and families of all backgrounds thrive. Through focused coursework and field placements, they develop skills to help families both before and during challenges. Graduates excel in roles at child protective services, schools, public agencies, and community non-profits.
• Adulthood and Aging: This track teaches students how to support adults and older adults using proven approaches. The coursework looks at aging from several angles: biomedical, psychological, socioeconomic, spiritual, and cultural. Graduates work in adult protective services, family caregiver support, Alzheimer’s care, hospice, corrections, and long-term care.
• Integrated Health: Students here focus on helping people with physical, behavioral health, and substance use challenges. They master prevention and quick intervention methods vital in integrated care settings. This track suits those who want to work in outpatient facilities, behavioral health agencies, hospitals, and various care centers.

Students choose their specialization during their first semester. While most can pick any track, those with program stipends or pursuing the Pupil Personnel Services Credential must select a specific focus.

Field education requirements

Field education is central to CSULB’s MSW curriculum. Students complete 1,000 hours of field education through two 500-hour placements. These placements let them apply classroom knowledge and build practical skills at community agencies under expert supervision.

Field work runs from September through mid-May. Students typically work 16 hours weekly, either as two 8-hour days or one 8-hour day plus two 4-hour blocks. Each week includes at least one hour of one-on-one supervision with a field instructor, plus group supervision.

First-year students spend about half their time working directly with individuals, families, and groups. The rest goes to supervision, meetings, training, paperwork, and teamwork. Second-year placements match students’ chosen specialties, giving them focused experience in their interest areas.

CSULB partners with agencies in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Sonoma counties. This creates diverse placement options that show the many settings where social workers make a difference.

Format and length

CSULB’s program formats fit different student needs, making it one of Los Angeles’ best MSW options for working professionals:

• 2-Year Program: Students take the traditional full-time route, completing 60 semester units over four straight semesters. Each semester includes about 15 units or 5 courses.
• 3-Year Program: This part-time option spreads 60 semester units across eight semesters. Students take 6-9 units per term, perfect for those who work.
• Advanced Standing Program: Started in 2005, this fast-track option lets students with CSWE-accredited social work degrees finish in just 12 months.
• Distance Education Program: Running since 1995, this three-year part-time program brings MSW courses to off-campus locations across California. Current sites include Sonoma County and Ventura County. Saturday classes use interactive TV with CSULB faculty visits. This program focuses on Child and Family Wellbeing.

Every option requires 60 semester units – 51 units of required courses plus 9 units of School electives. Students must earn a “C” or better in all courses unless specified otherwise.

Accreditation status

CSULB’s MSW program holds full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This ensures the program meets national social work education standards and helps graduates get licensed.

The university also has regional accreditation from WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). CSULB earned WSCUC’s maximum 10-year accreditation term on February 19, 2021. The next review comes in Fall 2030.

The university’s strong accreditation results earned it a spot in a select group for Thematic Pathway for Reaffirmation. This shows CSULB’s continued dedication to excellent education and growth.

These accreditations mean CSULB MSW graduates receive quality education meeting both field-specific and regional standards. This prepares them for successful social work careers in Los Angeles and beyond.

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

UCLA Luskin’s Department of Social Welfare stands out among the elite MSW programs in Los Angeles with its impressive national ranking. The program has climbed to No. 8 nationwide, sharing this distinguished position with Boston University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Texas, Austin. The UCLA Luskin Social Welfare program ranks in the top 5 among public universities nationwide and remains in the top 2 in California.

Program overview

UCLA Luskin’s Master of Social Welfare program combines theory, leadership, and research with generalist practice and specialized concentrations. The program’s mission advances social justice, improves health and mental health throughout life, and promotes child and family well-being.

The program creates skilled, compassionate social work professionals who improve health and well-being through a person-in-environment framework that blends global perspectives and scientific inquiry. Graduates are ready to tackle society’s most pressing social issues while honoring human diversity.

The program aligns with social work values and ethics by emphasizing:

• Eliminating poverty and racism
• Promoting social, racial, economic, and environmental justice
• Creating conditions that uphold human rights and dignity
• Respecting and embracing human diversity

UCLA’s program delivers a complete educational experience guided by core values of justice, service, integrity, competence, anti-oppression, and human relationships’ fundamental importance.

Specializations offered

Students select one of three Areas of Concentration (AoC) during their first year’s spring quarter. This choice shapes their second-year curriculum and practicum experience:

Child and Family Well-Being: Students learn about factors affecting children’s and families’ well-being both within and outside the family system. The curriculum builds expertise in interventions at individual, family, community, and policy levels. Graduates find work in public and private welfare agencies, school systems, mental health settings, and health care practices.

Health and Mental Health Across the Life Span: This concentration builds expertise through integrated research, critical thinking, practice, leadership, and policy analysis. It uses the social determinants of health model to connect quality of life and longevity with social and economic disparities. Career paths include behavior change, case management, administration, policy formulation, and research.

Social and Economic Justice: This social-first concentration promotes justice and equity in domestic and global settings through integrated theory, policy advocacy, research, and advanced generalist practice skills. Students explore social justice theories and coalition-building methods to address race and gender disparities, poverty, and criminal justice challenges.

Field education requirements

UCLA’s MSW program features two year-long field placements where students apply classroom learning in real-life settings. This approach creates an integrated experience that connects theory and practice.

These practicum placements help students realize their learning and develop practical skills under professional guidance. UCLA arranges internship hours throughout the academic program for part-time students.

The Department protects students during field placements by purchasing student liability insurance with $2,000,000/$4,000,000 coverage for all registered and enrolled students.

Format and duration

UCLA offers several program formats that fit different student needs:

Full-Time Program: Students complete 95 academic units over two years (6 quarters). The first year focuses on required courses, while the second year allows more flexibility in course and field placement selection.

Part-Time Program: UCLA launched a three-year part-time option in fall 2021 (8 quarters or 9 quarters with Pupil Personnel Services Credential) for the Child and Family Well-Being concentration. Students take morning classes and complete internship hours throughout their program.

Note that the part-time option runs during regular business hours—not evenings or weekends. This format works best for students with afternoon commitments.

Concurrent Degree Programs: UCLA offers four joint graduate degrees:

• Social Welfare MSW / Asian American Studies MA
• Social Welfare MSW / Law JD
• Social Welfare MSW / Public Health MPH
• Social Welfare MSW / Public Policy MPP

Accreditation status

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits UCLA’s MSW program. This accreditation validates the program’s educational standards and qualifies graduates for professional licensure.

Students participate in annual learning objective assessments each spring quarter to maintain CSWE accreditation. These anonymous assessments don’t affect grades but provide essential data for CSWE reporting.

CSWE accreditation shows that UCLA’s program meets high educational standards and continuously assesses learning outcomes to prepare graduates for social work practice.

UCLA’s combination of top rankings, diverse specialization options, and flexible program formats makes it a strong choice for advancing your social work career in Southern California.

California State University, Northridge (CSUN)

Located in the heart of Los Angeles County’s San Fernando Valley, California State University, Northridge runs a unique Master of Social Work program. The program focuses on urban community practice. CSUN stands out among MSW programs in Los Angeles because of its strengths-based, community-oriented approach that champions social justice with special attention to multicultural populations.

Program overview

The MSW program readies practitioners to meet social service needs throughout Greater Los Angeles and Southern California. Students learn to enhance services for people in urban settings. The curriculum builds critical and creative thinking skills that help graduates create, modify, and assess interventions while staying aware of important national and global issues.

CSUN ranks 1st as a talent provider in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Anaheim for several roles. These include Social and Community Service Managers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Child and Family Social Workers, and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers. The university ranks 3rd in training Social and Community Service Managers, Chief Executives, and Administrative Services Managers in the same area.

Students learn to become anti-oppressive, socially just agents of change who promote well-being in urban settings. The program helps them understand the planned-change process as they work with vulnerable and at-risk populations.

Specializations offered

Many MSW programs in Los Angeles offer multiple concentration tracks. CSUN takes a different approach with one specialization: advanced generalist practice focused on urban communities. This strategy broadens students’ career options through a generalist curriculum. Graduates can work at any level:

• Individual/family (micro)
• Group/community (mezzo)
• Societal/policy (macro)

This complete preparation gives CSUN graduates excellent job market flexibility. They learn to work with everyone—from individuals and families to larger groups and policy makers.

Field education requirements

Field education lays the foundation of CSUN’s MSW program. The Council on Social Work Education recognizes it as the “signature pedagogy” of social work education. Students must finish approximately 1,000 hours of field education split between foundation and concentration years.

Students work 16 hours weekly during their first year of field placement. Their internship covers all three practice levels (micro, mezzo, and macro). They apply social work skills and knowledge from both generalist and specialized advanced years.

The MSW Practicum Education Program works hard to place students in internships within a 90-minute commute from home. Students need to complete internship hours during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm). Evening and weekend hours aren’t usually available.

Program format and length

Students can choose from several flexible program options. The program comes in these formats:

• Two-year full-time program: A fast-paced curriculum for quick degree completion and career entry
• Three-year part-time program: The same curriculum at a slower pace, with weekday evening classes
• Online options: Complete online programs in both two-year and three-year formats

Students progress through the program in cohorts. New students can’t join once a cohort begins. This system guarantees enrollment, fixed schedules, and team-based learning opportunities.

Full-time MSW students complete 20 courses totaling 60 credits over two academic years. This includes 12 credits in practicum internships. Evening cohorts finish in 3 years, taking two or three courses each semester.

Accreditation status

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits CSUN’s MSW program. This accreditation shows the program meets established social work education standards and prepares graduates for professional licensure exams.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits all CSUN academic programs. This further validates the university’s educational quality.

Getting into programs that lead to licensure and credentialing doesn’t guarantee a license or credential. Agencies outside the CSU system control licensure requirements, which can change anytime.

CSUN offers one of the best MSW programs in Los Angeles for students interested in urban social work. The program combines generalist training, flexible formats, and strong community connections to prepare students for various social work careers.

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific University has been a standout among MSW programs in Los Angeles for nearly 50 years with its faith-informed approach to social work education. The Bachelor of Social Work program is one of California’s pioneering social work initiatives. The MSW program has built on its 20-year legacy of excellence.

Program overview

APU’s Master of Social Work program shapes competent practitioners who blend scientific knowledge, professional values, and social work skills to champion human well-being and social justice. The program prepares graduates to serve individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities both locally and globally. The program’s success speaks through its impressive outcomes with 60% of 2023 MSW graduates had job offers before graduation. Students learn in small classes with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio that ensures tailored attention throughout their academic experience.

Specializations offered

The program features two specialized tracks:

• Clinical Practice with Individuals and Families: Students prepare for clinical roles in mental health clinics, veterans’ services, child welfare agencies, and other settings that focus on therapeutic intervention.
• Community Leadership and Program Administration: Students gain leadership skills for nonprofit agencies, government programs, and advocacy organizations, with emphasis on program management and social policy development.

Students can also earn additional credentials through the Human Services Management Certificate or the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Social Work.

Field education requirements

Field education forms the core of APU’s curriculum. Students complete two year-long internships that total 960 hours. These placements happen at more than 380 partner agencies across five Southern California counties. Students contribute approximately 97,740 service hours each year. Students also attend practicum seminars during their internships to connect classroom learning with field experience.

Program format and duration

APU’s program offers flexible learning options:

• Full-time options: one-year and two-year tracks (60 units)
• Part-time program: three years (60 units) with classes one weekday per week from 4:20 p.m. plus five Saturdays each semester
• Advanced Standing program (for BSW graduates): full-time (10 months, 36 units) or part-time (2 years)
• Innovative 4+1 program that combines senior undergraduate year with MSW’s first year

The program combines in-person and online learning smoothly, with locations in both Azusa and San Bernardino.

Accreditation status

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits the MSW program. The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) accredits Azusa Pacific University. These accreditations confirm the program meets established educational standards and prepares graduates to qualify for licensure.

Choose Your Los Angeles MSW Program Today

Picking the right MSW program is a crucial step toward your social work career goals. This piece explores five outstanding MSW programs in Los Angeles. Each program brings its own strengths and opportunities to the table. These programs share key qualities while taking different approaches to social work education.

The Council on Social Work Education has fully accredited all these institutions. This ensures graduates can take licensure examinations and receive professional recognition. Field education is the basis of professional development. Students must complete 900-1,200 hours of supervised practice before they graduate.

These institutions offer flexible programs. Students can choose full-time, part-time, or online options that fit their circumstances. The schools also provide specialized tracks to help students reach specific career goals, from clinical practice to community leadership.

USC’s prestigious specialized tracks come with strong alumni connections. CSULB offers great value with three distinct specialization areas. UCLA pairs top national rankings with research excellence. CSUN focuses on urban community practice through its advanced generalist approach. Azusa Pacific completes the list by offering a faith-informed view on social work education.

Your final choice depends on where you want to study, your schedule, interests, and budget. The best program isn’t always the highest-ranked one – it’s the one that fits your needs and career goals. Any program you pick from this list will give you the knowledge, skills, and credentials you need. You’ll be ready to make a real difference in people’s lives across Los Angeles and beyond.