5 Top MSW Programs in San Diego
Social workers in California can earn up to $98,340, and MSW programs in San Diego provide an excellent pathway to these rewarding careers.
Three universities in the San Diego area offer Master of Social Work degree programs. Students can choose between campus-based and online options. The SDSU MSW program and other masters in social work programs in San Diego take about two years to complete. Part-time students typically need three to four years. These MSW programs require students to complete at least 900 hours of in-person field education. This requirement aligns with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) standards. BSW degree holders might qualify for Advanced Standing status and complete their MSW within 9-12 months.
The average education cost stands at $14,317. Investing in one of these five top programs could launch your social work career effectively.
1. San Diego State University – Traditional Campus-Based MSW Program
San Diego State University is one of just three universities in San Diego County that has complete MSW programs for aspiring social workers. The SDSU School of Social Work runs a strong traditional campus-based program that prepares students to lead in professional social work.
Program overview
The SDSU MSW program lets you choose flexible completion options based on your needs. You can pick from 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-year plans that fit your personal and work life. This campus-based program needs between 38-60 units, which depends on your education background and chosen path.
SDSU’s MSW program aims to create versatile leaders ready for professional, ethical, and advanced specialist social work. The program puts emphasis on evidence-informed practices and social justice. It promotes human rights and takes action to boost individual and community well-being. These values match perfectly with the needs of US-Mexico border regions, Tribal and Indigenous communities, and beyond.
The masters in social work San Diego program at SDSU creates graduates who:
- Have strong professional values and ethics
- Can work in different settings with various populations
- Know how to analyze social, economic, and environmental justice issues
- Use research evidence to make practice decisions
- Keep learning throughout their career
- Lead within the profession
After finishing the program, you can apply for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) certification through California’s Board of Behavioral Science Examiners. This certification helps graduates advance their careers in social service settings across the region.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) shapes the program’s competency-based framework. Students start with generalist foundation courses and move toward advanced specialist practice. Foundation courses introduce social work practice basics, then build specialized knowledge in year two.
Students must pass a multiple-choice qualifying exam after completing 31 units. Your final year gives you choices: write a thesis (Plan A), take a complete exam (Plan B), or eligible students can write a publication-ready data-driven article under Plan A.
Program specializations
SDSU’s MSW program has two main concentration paths that prepare you for specific social work careers:
- Direct Practice/Clinical Advanced Specialization This path trains you to become an advanced social work practitioner in public and non-profit agencies. You’ll learn about interpersonal conflict and social functioning, with focus on evidence-based methods for individuals, families, and groups. The program builds your skills in assessment/diagnosis, intervention/treatment, and evaluation within service systems. You’ll take advanced clinical courses while getting hands-on experience working with clients.
- Administration and Community Development (A/CD) Advanced Specialization This macro-focused path helps you become a social change agent who works with systems, communities, and organizations. You’ll learn skills to challenge unfair systems, change policies, and strengthen communities. The specialization offers two tracks:
- Administration: You’ll learn management skills like strategic planning, program design, financial management, and supervision. Many graduates become supervisors, program managers, analysts, or program evaluators in public and nonprofit agencies.
- Community Development: This track strengthens marginalized communities through civic participation and group action. You’ll work with community members to solve social and economic inequities at local, national, and global levels.
A/CD specialization requires two core courses (SW 740 and SW 720 Civic Engagement) plus electives in either Administration or Community Development. Final year courses cover civic engagement, management functions, advanced evaluation/research, advanced social policy, and field work.
Field education requirements
Field education plays a vital role in SDSU’s MSW curriculum. Social work educators often call it the “signature pedagogy”. This hands-on experience connects classroom theory with real-life skills development.
SDSU’s MSW program requires 1,050 hours of field education at approved sites. These hours split across your program:
- MSW I Foundation Year: 450 hours (about 16 hours weekly)
- MSW II Advanced Year: 600 hours (about 20 hours weekly)
Foundation Year students start their field work in week two of classes. Advanced Year students begin in week one. You’ll apply social work theory in real situations, build key skills, and follow professional ethics under qualified supervision.
SDSU partners with hundreds of excellent social service agencies throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties. Field sites include public agencies, non-profits, healthcare teams, psychiatric facilities, child welfare agencies, hospitals, family services, hospices, mental health centers, substance abuse programs, law enforcement, senior care, schools, and community clinics.
Field practicum combines agency internship with school-based seminars. Your assigned field faculty instructor leads regular seminars throughout the academic year and connects with your practicum site. Seminars cover professional concepts, values, ethics, strategies, and evidence-based practice models.
Foundation Year and Advanced Year placements must happen at different agencies with different instructors. Foundation Year gives you broad experience across micro, mezzo, and macro practice. Advanced Year matches your chosen concentration and specialization.
SDSU offers special opportunities like the California Title IV-E Education Program. This program gives up to $50,000 as a taxable stipend if you want to work in public child welfare.
2. California State University San Marcos – Advanced Standing MSW Program
California State University San Marcos provides a unique path for qualified BSW graduates through its Advanced Standing MSW Program. This 10-year-old program, fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), stands out among MSW programs in San Diego because of its quick completion timeline and flexible learning format.
Program overview
CSUSM’s Master of Social Work program shapes culturally informed, ethical, and effective professionals who work directly with people from all backgrounds. Students with a BSW can complete their MSW in just one year, unlike traditional two-year programs.
Students need only 30 graduate units to graduate, compared to 60 units in standard MSW programs. The program uses a hybrid learning model. Students attend most classes online, with a few weeks each semester requiring campus visits to San Marcos.
The fall semester curriculum includes:
- MSW 602 Clinical Assessment and Evidence Based Treatment (3 units)
- MSW 629 Trauma and Addiction (3 units)
- MSW 636 Policy and Administration (3 units)
- MSW 642 Advanced Field Instruction I (3 units)
- MSW 600-level elective or 695 Thesis I (3 units)
Spring semester coursework consists of:
- MSW 643 Advanced Field Instruction II (3 units)
- MSW 650 Program Evaluation and Research Methods (3 units)
- MSW 698 Culminating Experience/Thesis II (3 units)
- Two MSW 600-level electives (6 units)
CSUSM’s program specializes in advanced generalist practice, preparing students for work in settings of all types. This approach is different from many specialized MSW programs. Students receive broader training for various career paths rather than focusing on one specialty. The program also lets students emphasize children, youth, and family work, as well as behavioral health.
Advanced generalist practice at CSUSM builds on the generalist foundation. Students develop deeper knowledge, skills, and values for effective multi-level practice. This all-encompassing approach accepts new ideas and social justice while readying students for teamwork and leadership in various settings.
The program’s tuition rates remain competitive. In-state students pay around $14,352, while out-of-state students pay $38,112. Full-time students usually attend online classes twice weekly and spend two to two-and-a-half days doing fieldwork.
Advanced standing eligibility
Advanced Standing program admission requires specific criteria beyond standard MSW application requirements. Students must have a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited undergraduate program. This ensures they’ve completed equivalent first-year (generalist) coursework through their BSW program.
Applicants must meet these specific criteria:
- BSW degree earned within the last five years from a CSWE-accredited college or university
- Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
- A grade of C or better in an undergraduate statistics course
- At least 300 hours of volunteer or paid experience in social services
The application needs a personal statement, three recommendation letters from academic and professional references, and proof of social service experience. Resumes must show the 300 experience hours and supervisor contact details clearly. Candidates must also complete an interview, either face-to-face or online.
Applications follow a two-step process. Candidates first apply to the university. Then they choose the one-year advanced standing option online. Classes start in fall semester, with both in-person and online sessions.
Recent data shows CSUSM’s social work program awarded 58 master’s degrees in 2022. The program’s diversity breaks down as: 53% Hispanic or Latino graduates, 24 White graduates, 5 Black or African American graduates, 3 Asian graduates, and 9 graduates from other racial backgrounds.
Fieldwork expectations
In CSUSM’s MSW program, students build competence through hands-on practice that complements classroom learning. Advanced Standing students must complete Advanced Field Instruction I and II during fall and spring semesters.
These field experiences develop key behavioral skills:
- Direct practice interventions with disenfranchised and underserved populations
- Awareness and integration of cultural contexts in client work
- Application of theoretical models and evidence-based interventions
- Engagement, assessment, diagnosis, planning, and treatment
Field education shows students how social welfare, social work practice, and broader social contexts connect. This includes socioeconomics, demographics, and political systems. Students learn how regional, national, and global factors shape direct social work practice and policy decisions that help clients and communities.
CSUSM field internships span San Diego County plus Riverside and Orange Counties. Students work in schools, family service agencies, child welfare organizations, mental health clinics, substance abuse treatment facilities, hospital medical units, veterans’ programs, hospice care, and forensic settings.
Students must complete field internships at regional agencies in person, whatever their course format. Real-world experience helps students apply classroom concepts before graduation. They develop practical skills while learning theory.
The program combines practical experiences with academic work. Students practice direct service skills in simulation labs alongside their field placements. This mix of theory and practice leads to successful careers. Graduates earn median salaries of $62,668—well above the national average of $51,347 for social work master’s graduates.
3. National University – Online MSW Program
San Diego residents looking for flexibility in their social work education can now earn their MSW degree online through National University without visiting campus. NU’s program stands out from other San Diego MSW programs with full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through October 2029. This makes it a valid choice to get licensed.
Program structure
NCU’s MSW program offers two educational paths based on your previous studies:
- Generalist Track (60 credits) – Students without a social work bachelor’s degree can take this complete track. It prepares you to practice social work in agencies of all sizes and purposes.
- Advanced Generalist Track (36 credits) – Students who earned an accredited BSW degree with a 3.0 GPA in the last seven years can choose this path.
Both tracks open up career chances in healthcare, human services, clinical practice, and administration. The curriculum uses a strengths-based and research-informed approach to give you the knowledge, values, and skills needed in professional social work practice.
Students learn to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The integrated curriculum builds expertise you can use in many service areas such as:
- Health and behavioral health care facilities
- Correctional institutions
- Educational settings
- Courts and legal systems
- Human service agencies
- Employee assistance programs
- Governmental organizations
NU gives students 5 years to finish all Master’s programs of 36 credits or less. Most students complete the program in about 24 months. Students who follow the recommended schedule without transfer credits can finish in 12 months for the Advanced Generalist track and 29 months for the Generalist track.
Online learning format
NU sets itself apart from other San Diego MSW options by offering classes completely online. Working professionals, parents, and people with busy schedules find this format helpful when traditional campus programs don’t work for them.
NU’s online program matches the quality of traditional programs while adding flexibility. The format lets you:
- Do coursework when it fits your schedule
- Skip the campus commute
- Keep your job while studying
- Study anywhere with internet access
The program keeps high academic standards with courses that meet CSWE’s national accreditation requirements. Advanced generalist practice training opens up career chances in many social service settings.
Students can use what they learn right away at work. This hands-on application helps improve learning outcomes and career growth.
The online format includes structured learning and chances to connect with faculty and peers. Dr. Valerie Radu, MSW program director, confirms that accreditation means graduates can take social work licensure exams in their states.
Field placement
NU’s online program includes essential field education to build real-life social work skills. Field practicum is the cornerstone of social work education.
Each track has different field requirements:
- Generalist Track: Four practicum courses (MSW-6009, MSW-6010, MSW-6901, MSW-6902) worth 12 credits
- Advanced Generalist Track: Two practicum courses worth 6 credits
Students must complete the Practicum Preparation Process (PPP) before their first practicum course. NCU helps by:
- Offering guidance from the Field Education Director
- Helping you talk to potential placement sites
- Providing access to a national placement database
- Sharing training materials for professional presentation
Advanced Generalist students complete 450 hours while Generalist students do 900 hours, with each practicum needing at least 225 hours. Students join bi-weekly practicum seminars to discuss field experiences and connect theory with practice.
The Field Education Director helps students find local practicum sites and supervisors. This team approach ensures placements meet program needs while fitting your location and career interests.
Students need good evaluations from both local site supervisors and Northcentral faculty supervisors to pass. This two-part evaluation maintains high standards in field education.
San Diego residents benefit from NU’s field education through:
- More freedom in choosing placement sites than traditional programs
- Field hours that work around job schedules
- Building professional connections locally
4. University of Southern California – Hybrid MSW Program (San Diego Cohort)
The prestigious Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at University of Southern California now brings its renowned program to San Diego through a specialized cohort with flexible education paths. Students can find another valuable option among MSW programs in San Diego through this expansion of USC’s acclaimed social work education to Southern California’s second-largest city.
USC MSW program in San Diego overview
Students at USC’s San Diego Academic Center get the same innovative curriculum as the Los Angeles campus while staying in their home community. You’ll earn a respected USC degree without moving and build professional connections in San Diego’s social service sector. Your local presence means quick application of learning within San Diego’s diverse communities and organizations.
San Diego USC MSW students benefit from:
- A curriculum matching the Los Angeles campus
- Class schedules that work for professionals
- USC’s renowned faculty members
- Professional training at local San Diego agencies
- Regional networking with peers and professionals
Students need 48 units for the traditional track or 24 units if they qualify for advanced standing. The program costs about $89,754 for both 4-semester and 7-semester options. This investment gives you credentials from one of California’s most prestigious social work programs. Graduates qualify for licensure and various career opportunities in mental health, family counseling, advocacy, and more.
Specializations and dual degrees
USC’s MSW program lets you customize your education through five distinct specialization tracks:
- Adult Mental Health and Wellness – This track enhances mental health throughout adulthood using human behavioral theory and neuroscience related to mind-brain-body systems
- Children, Youth and Families – Students learn to support younger populations and create service programs for families from diverse backgrounds
- Social Change and Innovation – The program combines multiple disciplines to address society’s pressing issues through evidence-based research
- School and Educational Settings – Students become skilled at working at all practice levels in educational environments, from individual student needs to leadership challenges
- Military Populations and Settings – Students receive specialized training to work with military service members and their families
USC offers seven dual degree options that need fewer total course hours than pursuing degrees separately. These options include:
- Juris Doctor (JD) – Four-year program with USC Gould School of Law
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Three years (six semesters) typically
- Master of Public Health (MPH) – Minimum 81 units required
- MS in Gerontology (MSG)
- MA in Jewish Nonprofit Management (MAJNM)
- Master of Urban Planning (MUP)
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)
The MSW/MBA readies students for careers in human resources, corporate social responsibility, and organizational development. Students choosing the MSW/MPH program get interdisciplinary training in public health and social work to promote health and prevent disease.
Hybrid learning model
USC offers three program formats: in-person, online, and hybrid. San Diego students find the hybrid option especially helpful when balancing education with work and personal life.
The hybrid format starts with structured in-person courses in year one, followed by flexible online courses in year two. Students get:
- Face-to-face learning to build core skills and relationships
- Online coursework flexibility later
- Full-time and part-time options
- Day, evening, and weekend classes
- Advanced standing for qualified BSW graduates
This approach works with different learning styles and life situations while keeping high academic standards. Students get immediate feedback and peer interaction plus schedule flexibility through this hybrid model.
Field education partnerships
Students complete 1,200 hours of practicum training throughout their program. The practicum experience covers four semesters and combines:
- Community-based placements
- Classroom instruction
- Simulated client training
USC has one of the largest practicum education networks among social work schools nationwide. The school partners with over 700 agencies throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California to provide quality field experiences. Partner agencies must show:
- High-quality professional practice
- Strong focus on social problems
- Support for MSW student education
Each placement offers learning opportunities that reflect social work practice in the student’s region. Agencies provide assignments that develop knowledge and practice skills while working with various client populations.
San Diego students complete field placements at local agencies and community settings. This setup helps them apply classroom concepts to regional social service challenges quickly. Students receive weekly supervision through individual and group meetings. Agencies provide office space, supplies, and support staff to help with learning.
This field education system blends theory with hands-on skills development. Students graduate ready for licensure and professional practice in San Diego and beyond.
5. Loma Linda University – Faith-Based MSW Program (San Diego Extension)
Loma Linda University stands out among MSW programs in San Diego with its faith-based approach. Their San Diego extension program has spent three decades training advanced clinical practitioners in social work.
Program overview
The 78-unit program at Loma Linda uses a biopsychosocial-spiritual framework to teach advanced clinical social work in behavioral health settings. Their graduates earn a median starting salary of $57,300, which tops all similar master’s programs in California. Students can choose from several completion options: 2-, 3-, and 4-year in-person tracks. Recent BSW graduates can take a 12-month Advanced Standing path. The program holds full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through 2025.
Spiritual integration
This San Diego program shines through its Christian environment. Students learn in a setting that values compassionate whole-person care. A dedicated Spiritual Integration Hour helps students connect faith, religion, and spirituality with social sciences. Yes, it is different from typical healthcare models. Loma Linda takes a comprehensive view that combines smoothly spiritual aspects with psychological and social factors. These values are the foundations of the university’s mission to continue Jesus Christ’s healing and teaching ministry.
Clinical focus
Students learn advanced, evidence-based trauma and resiliency-informed interventions. They study prevention, early intervention, diagnosis, and treatment for various populations. Every program option has 29 academic units of advanced clinical specialization. Graduates work in many fields including:
- Clinical/Psychiatric Social Work
- Medical/Geriatric Social Work
- Child and Family Social Work
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Work
Field education
Field education leads the way in Loma Linda’s MSW San Diego extension. Students complete 1,080 hours of field work and 120 hours of concurrent integrated consultation, adding up to 1,200 hours. Loma Linda University’s internationally recognized health system gives students hands-on experience in integrated behavioral health, tertiary level inpatient care, and global practice settings. Students develop nine core competencies from ethical practice to evaluation skills during their field education. The department believes each student can identify their learning needs and shape their educational journey.
Choose an MSW in San Diego Today
Your choice of MSW program will shape your career path and how much you can earn. San Diego’s social work education scene offers five different programs. Each program has its own strengths that match different career goals. SDSU gives you a complete traditional campus-based education with special tracks in direct practice and administration. As with SDSU, CSU San Marcos has a one-year advanced standing option for BSW graduates who qualify. Northcentral University makes advanced education available to everyone with its online format, whatever your schedule looks like.
USC brings its well-known program to San Diego through a mix of in-person and online learning. Loma Linda University adds faith-based elements to clinical social work training. These programs have CSWE accreditation. This means your degree meets national standards to be eligible for a license.
Field education requirements range from 900 to 1,200 hours based on your chosen path. This hands-on experience helps you develop practical skills before you graduate. It also lets you finish in just 9-12 months with a BSW degree through advanced standing options.
Money plays a big role in picking your program. Tuition varies from $14,000 at state universities to $90,000 at private schools. Your investment opens doors to high-paying career opportunities. California social workers can earn up to $98,340 yearly. This is a big deal as it means that they earn more than the national average.
San Diego has options that match your learning style and career goals. You can choose traditional classroom learning, flexible online study, or a mixed approach. An MSW degree from any of these respected schools will help you make a difference in a variety of settings. You’ll enjoy great pay and chances to grow throughout your career.