National University Social Work Programs
A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) serves as your gateway to a rewarding career in social work. Most provinces require this degree as the minimum educational qualification. Students need to complete a four-year undergraduate program to earn their bachelor’s degree.
Your BSW opens doors to some of the best masters in social work programs. BSW graduates can get their master’s degree with just one year of postgraduate studies. The United States has more than 600 accredited schools of social work. This makes finding the right social work program a vital part of achieving your career goals. The best MSW programs receive scores that reflect their average rating on a scale from 1 to 5. These ratings come from surveys completed by academics at peer institutions.
This piece walks you through everything about National University’s social work programs. You’ll find details about degree options, specializations, online learning opportunities and career outcomes.
Types of Social Work Degrees Offered at National
National University’s social work degree programs prepare students for diverse career paths in this helping profession. The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) serves as the starting point of these National Social Work Programs. This degree gives students essential knowledge and skills they need for entry-level positions.
Students looking to advance their careers can pursue National’s strong graduate education through the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. This advanced degree creates opportunities for clinical practice, leadership roles, and specialized interventions. The MSW program ranks among the best social work master’s programs because of its detailed curriculum and expert faculty.
Students aiming for the highest academic achievement can choose National’s doctoral programs in social work. These terminal degrees prepare graduates for academic careers, research positions, and executive leadership roles in major organizations.
The top social work programs in the US like National’s stand out because of their accreditation status. Social work degrees at National maintain accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This ensures students receive education that meets professional standards recognized across the country.
National’s degree programs use a progressive learning model. Students build their knowledge systematically as they advance through their educational experience. Many BSW graduates return to complete their MSW with advanced standing, which reduces their graduate degree completion time.
Students get practical opportunities through extensive field experience requirements. They apply classroom theory in real-life settings under professional supervision. This hands-on learning is the life-blood of social work education at National and explains its ranking among the best MSW programs.
Faculty members bring both academic expertise and field experience to the classroom. They give students unique insights that connect theory with real-life application—a distinctive feature of the best masters in social work programs nationwide.
Degree Specializations
National University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program stands out among National Social Work Programs with tracks that match your professional background and career goals.
Students can choose between two main tracks. The Generalist Track welcomes newcomers to social work who don’t have a CSWE-accredited undergraduate degree. This path helps you learn modern social work practices, ethics, and key communication skills that build a strong foundation for your career.
The Advanced Generalist Track welcomes students with a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program earned within the past five years. This faster option needs fewer credits and lets you tackle advanced topics like complex client needs and support for marginalized populations.
Each track has different transfer options. The Advanced Generalist track accepts up to six credit hours, while the Generalist track takes up to 12 credits. This makes National one of the best MSW programs for students with transfer credits.
National University uses the Advanced Generalist model that combines micro and macro approaches to social work practice. Many other programs offer multiple specializations, but CSWE statistics show this model bridges clinical/direct practice (micro focus) and community development/policy (macro focus) concentrations.
The Advanced Generalist approach offers clear benefits compared to highly specialized programs. Students develop expertise in multiple areas:
- Direct clinical intervention with individuals and families
- Community-focused practice and organization
- Leadership and program development
This well-rounded preparation remains a hallmark of top social work programs in the US. Some MSW programs focus on specific areas like child welfare or substance abuse counseling. National’s flexible curriculum provides core training that works in healthcare, education, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.
This balanced approach prepares you for licensure exams and opens doors to various career paths instead of limiting you to one specialty.
Online and Hybrid Options
The Social Work Programs at National University offer flexibility through different learning options that suit busy adult learners. The university provides reliable options to help you balance your education with work and family commitments.
Among top social work programs in the US, the MSW program excels by offering a blended learning approach. Students combine online coursework with in-person practicum experiences. Working professionals pursuing advanced degrees will find this structure gives them hands-on training while keeping their schedules flexible.
National University’s course delivery has three main formats:
- Fully online instruction with virtual components
- Onsite traditional classroom-based learning
- Hybrid options combining both online and in-person elements
Students can pick between two distinct approaches for online components:
- Asynchronous learning lets you access course materials and complete assignments on your schedule while meeting weekly deadlines
- Synchronous learning needs participation at specific times through web and video conferencing for live instruction
The best MSW programs know flexibility matters. National University stands out with several advantages:
- Weekly course starts
- No scheduled lecture hours
- Individual rather than group assignments
- You can arrange coursework around personal and professional commitments
The best masters in social work programs like National ensure quality through their 100% doctoral faculty and direct student-professor engagement. Students use interactive tools in the online learning environment. These tools include threaded discussions, video lectures, interactive presentations, and digital collaboration spaces.
The program keeps high educational standards while meeting diverse scheduling needs. Regular interaction between students and instructors remains central to the experience, even in distance education. This mix of flexibility and quality makes National one of the best social work master’s programs for working professionals who want to advance their careers.
Graduation Rates
Graduation statistics help you evaluate how well National Social Work Programs perform. National University shows different completion rates based on student types and program duration.
The university achieves a 32% six-year graduation rate during standard measurement periods. This puts them in the bottom 35% nationally. But these numbers don’t paint the complete picture. Looking at specific student groups reveals significant differences:
- First-time, full-time students: 46% complete within 8 years
- Other full-time students: 70% complete within 8 years
- First-time, part-time students: 6% complete within 8 years
- Other part-time students: 15% complete within 8 years
These numbers reflect National’s student makeup, as they serve mostly working adults and transfer students instead of traditional freshmen. The university proudly highlights that their second-largest student group achieves a 70% graduation success rate.
Social work education has grown substantially nationwide. Schools awarded 32,801 master’s degrees in social work during 2021-22. Students earned 238 PhD degrees and 267 practice doctorate degrees that same year.
Social work programs accept 65.3% of applicants on average, with typical classes taking 37 students from 60 applications. The field remains largely female-dominated, with women making up 83.4% of enrolled students.
Money matters significantly, as 34.6% of MSW graduates have student loans averaging $38,500. Practice doctorate graduates typically owe $48,402 in educational debt.
Standard graduation metrics don’t fully capture how well non-traditional students perform at top social work programs in the US. National University’s student body consists mainly of adult learners, so they measure graduation rates over eight years to better reflect actual completion patterns.
Career Outcomes
National Social Work Programs boast remarkable job placement rates. Their graduates have a 94% success rate in finding work within their first year after graduation, and 91% stay employed five years after getting their degree. These numbers showcase the real-world value of National’s social work education.
National graduates’ earnings are a big deal as it means that they outperform national averages. They earn a median of $66,420 in their first year—nearly double the national average of $36,427. Their earnings grow to $73,353 five years after graduation, while the national average sits at $45,519.
The university’s career support system works well. About 80% of students say career services helped them land jobs or internships. The alumni network proves valuable too, with 69% of graduates crediting it for strong professional connections. Students can access career services online through the Handshake™ portal to connect with employers for jobs and internships.
MSW graduates from National typically work in these rewarding fields:
- Licensed Clinical Social Work with median annual earnings of $63,688
- Child and Family Social Work averaging $50,390 annually
- School Social Work with median salaries of $51,777
- Healthcare Social Work earning approximately $50,390 yearly
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Work at $48,520 annually
Advanced career paths offer even more opportunities, including roles as social work professors ($104,179), nonprofit directors ($61,455), and community development managers ($126,520).
National University’s education makes a real difference in career growth. A graduate shares, “Earning my degrees from NU has increased not only my abilities and knowledge but allowed me to become more competitive for promotions”. Another graduate adds, “I have successfully been hired by a company for my dream position”.
National University’s MSW graduates emerge ready for leadership roles, administrative positions, and clinical practice. They also meet licensure requirements in their respective locations.
What’s Unique about the Social Work Programs at National
The hallmarks of National Social Work Programs go beyond simple curriculum and delivery methods and set them apart in several ways. National University’s approach stands out because of its practitioner-focused education model that connects theory with real-life application at every level.
These programs deliver exceptional value for your investment. Graduates earn median salaries of $66,420 within one year—almost double the national average. Your financial prospects look much brighter after completing a National University social work degree. The earnings gap grows wider over time, with five-year post-graduation salaries reaching $73,353 compared to the national average of $45,519.
The Advanced Generalist approach makes these top social work programs in the US unique. National provides complete training across both micro and macro practice domains instead of pushing you toward a narrow specialization early in your studies. You’ll be ready for a variety of career paths rather than having limited options.
National University’s programs definitely set themselves apart from others through their dedication to non-traditional students. Working adults will appreciate these flexible formats and scheduling options:
- Weekly course starts that eliminate long waits between enrollment and beginning your studies
- No scheduled lecture hours, so you can fit education around existing commitments
- Individual rather than group assignments that prevent scheduling conflicts with peers
The program quality improves without doubt through the university’s faculty composition. All instructors hold doctoral degrees and bring both academic expertise and practical experience to your education. This blend of theoretical knowledge and real-world insights creates one of the best MSW programs available.
The numbers speak for themselves when it comes to career outcomes. With 94% employment within one year and strong salary figures, these programs prove their worth through measurable results. This makes National University a compelling choice for your social work education.