Online MSW Programs in Hawaii
A Master of Social Work (MSW) degree teaches methods for preventing, intervening in, and treating a variety of social and behavioral problems. Hawaii offers two MSW programs that meet the industry's quality standards, which may help prepare you to get licensed to do social work in the state.
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Overview Requirements Online Degrees Become a Social Worker LicenseAre There Online MSW Programs in Hawaii With CSWE Accreditation?
There is currently only one CSWE-accredited online MSW program in Hawaii, offered by Hawai'i Pacific University. Hawai'i Pacific University is located in Honolulu and has an average graduate tuition of $21,533 per year.
MSW Programs in Hawaii
Traditional MSW degrees immerse students in social work theory through 40-60 credit hours covering human social behavior, government policy, and treatment intervention techniques. They also require an internship period of 1,000-1,200 hours to help put academic knowledge into practice.
These degrees typically last 2-3 years depending on full- or part-time status. However, you may enroll as an advanced-standing student and skip some of the introductory classes if you have a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW). This can shorten the time needed to complete the MSW.
It's important to attend a program that has
You must start your MSW program in the fall along with the rest of your cohort. The exception is advanced-standing students at HPU, who take an introductory class in the summer.
Online MSW Programs in Hawaii
HPU's online courses are asynchronous, with no set meeting times. Instead, you sign in to a learning management system to view and submit assignments, interact with professors and classmates in forums, and access readings and recorded lectures.
UHM's hybrid program features synchronous classes that you attend over a video conferencing app. This program also requires some face-to-face instruction throughout the course of the degree. In addition, both HPU and UHM require in-person internships, which are an important part of any MSW.
Social work students aren't necessarily bound by the practicalities of geography, so check out our list of the best online MSW programs if you're interested in an online degree.
How To Become a Social Worker in Hawaii
You can take more than one path to become a social worker in Hawaii. Some careers may only call for a BSW, but others might require an MSW. All social worker positions require licensure through the state's
Social Work Jobs in Hawaii
With an MSW, you may be eligible for many careers in social work in Hawaii. Here are a few varieties of social work:
Child and family social workers often work for government agencies providing assistance to families in need and referring them for extra services.
Clinical social workers are mental health counselors who help with a variety of psychological issues.
Healthcare social workers help patients navigate complex healthcare systems, procedures, and facilities.
School social workers meet with students and their families to solve behavioral problems and help them get the necessary educational assistance.
An MSW may also qualify you for work outside strict social worker roles, especially in other community health or , notes that employers in Hawaii posted 522 ads for family, school, and general social workers in the last 12 months, along with 138 ads for medical and clinical social workers. The number of open social worker positions in Hawaii has steadily increased from a recent low of 85 jobs in 2017.