Distance Education Program

The School of Social Work has admitted its 2025-2028 Distance Education cohort. Applications for our next three-year MSW Distance Education offering from 2028-2031 will open on Oct. 1, 2027

Program Announcement

The School of Social Work at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is offering the MSW degree through our Distance Education Program at two sites (Sonoma State University and California State University, Channel Islands) during 2025-2028. Applications for the next 2028-31 cohort will be accepted from Oct. 1, 2027 to Jan. 15, 2028.

Program Description

The Distance Education program is a three-year part-time model. All classes are held in-person on Saturdays. Three academic years and two summers are required. Except for practicum seminars in years two and three, all classes are offered via teleconferencing with in-person visits by experienced CSULB faculty.

Teleconferencing enables students and faculty to interact in real-time. Distance Education students and faculty from the Long Beach campus view each other on large screens. Each student has access to ceiling microphones for comments, questions and group discussions.

Courses requiring intensive hands-on instruction are taught in-person by local faculty. Two practicum placements (during the second and third academic years of the program) are arranged locally. A local Site Coordinator attends all classes, provides in-person support and advisement, and generally serves as an additional link between Distance Education students and the Long Beach campus.

For further information about the program and curriculum, go to:

Distance Education MSW Program flyer 2028.pdf

Program History

Our Distance Education Program has a long and successful history. We have offered Distance Education coursework since 1995. Our previous Distance Education cohorts were located on the following campuses: CSU Bakersfield, CSU Channel Islands, CSU Chico, CSU Hayward (now East Bay), CSU Humboldt, CSU San Marcos, Santa Rosa Junior College (both Santa Rosa and Petaluma campuses), Sonoma State University, and Ventura College. For the 2025-28 cohort, the program is located at CSU Channel Islands and Sonoma State University. As of 2025, approximately 480 MSWs have graduated from our Distance Education Program.

Costs and Financial Assistance

For information about the costs of our Distance Education Program and the benefits of obtaining the Master of Social Work degree, go to:

Cost-Benefit Analysis (PDF)

Stipends are available for public child welfare employees through funding from the California Title IV-E Education Program. For information about stipend eligibility, go to:

California Title IV-E Education Program (Child Welfare MSW)