Montana Online MSW Degree Program

Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida, but its online degree programs are available in states across the country including Montana. Florida State University master’s online program offers a clinically focused online Master of Social Work degree. The program was ranked one of the best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

Earn an MSW that prepares you for the future licensure and MSW jobs in Montana. Whether you have a baccalaureate in social work or are coming to the field with a degree in another concentration, FSU’s online program has a distinct curriculum focused on creating an engaging and supportive learning environment.

About FSU's Online MSW Program

You can take and complete courses as your schedule allows
You’ll be joining an interactive virtual learning community through Blackboard, and gaining support from a Student Success Advisor throughout the entire program
You will interact with the College of Social Work’s Office of Professional Development
Gain in the field experience with innovative field placements

Two Programs Available

The online Master of Social Work offers two programs for students:

An Advanced Standing program is available for students who have completed a bachelor’s of social work from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited program.
A Traditional program is available for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a separate concentration from social work. Both programs are clinically focused and offer field placements that may align with students’ interests.

Courses are 16 weeks; summer may have 12- or 13-week courses, depending on the year. The average time to completion is two years for Advanced Standing Program and three years for Traditional Program

Our Online MSW Admissions Requirements

Traditional program students must meet these requirements for admission:

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and be in good standing with the institution
A College of Social Work application, along with a personal statement and four letters of recommendation (two personal, two academic)
A transcript with all undergraduate and graduate courses, including a professional resume
A 3.0 GPA or better on everything past the first 60 hours of undergraduate courses (this is an upper-division GPA) or a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution

Advanced Standing program students must meet these requirements for admission:

Complete all general application requirements
Earn a BSW from a CSWE-accredited institution
Submit a copy of a BSW internship evaluation or letter of recommendation from the field office
Have a minimum of 400 hours of field education in generalist practice

The Florida State University Office of Admissions will receive GRE scores from the Educational Testing Service; FSU’s code is 5219.

If the applicant is earning his or her bachelor’s degree and applying for graduate school, he or she must send a second official transcript with the degree posted.

For full admission details, visit this page.

How to Become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Montana

Those wishing to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Montana must meet the following requirements:

Have a master’s or doctoral degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Complete 3,000 hours of supervised psychotherapy or clinical social work in no less than 24 months, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact and 100 hours of individual. and/or group supervision, with at least 50 of these hours being under the direct supervision of an LCSW.
Submit a completed application, fee, and fingerprints for a criminal background check to the Montana Board of Behavioral Health.
Pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical exam.

Requirements for licensure may change so be sure to frequently check Montana state requirements to ensure you are on the correct path to licensure.

Social Work Job Outlook in Montana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the social work field is poised to grow 12% by 2024. Breaking that information down into professions, there will be a need for more than 300,000 child family and school social workers, 190,000 health care social workers, more than 130,000 substance abuse and mental health social workers and more than 65,000 social work jobs in miscellaneous fields. An MSW salary can range between $40,000-$70,000 depending on the practice as well as the individual’s work experience. The standard average salary for Montana social workers is approximately $35,000 per year.

When you delve deep into social work employment in Montana, you’ll see the following jobs most frequently: