Is An Online MSW Program Right For Me?

Great! Then you have some idea of what the classes will be like. In almost every online class there is a synchronous and asynchronous component. 

Note that in our synchronous sessions, we ask you to have your camera on, your face showing, and to be fully participating in conversations and activities.

You might want to try attending an online conference or attending an online professional development training before you apply for the online program. In almost every online class there are both synchronous and asynchronous components. The technology can take some getting used to, and some people find it challenging to interact with people online who they have never met in-person.

Note that in our synchronous sessions, we ask you to have your camera on, your face showing, and to be fully participating in conversations and activities.

Great! In our online program you will need to do everything from recording videos of yourself in role plays, to sharing written and video discussion posts with your classmates, to submitting papers and presentations—all online.

This is something you’ll want to practice doing and become confident in before jumping into an online program.

If yes, great! But also—double-check. Sometimes students think their access will work and then it is not strong enough for a live session of an online class.

If no, do not despair. Here are some resources you could investigate: 

1. If you have an existing Internet provider and can afford it, you can ask for an upgrade. 
2. If you are experiencing financial barriers, Xfinity, Spectrum, and Verizon offer high speed connections at a reduced cost to people who meet certain income restrictions. 
3. Public libraries also often have strong internet and private study rooms—just make sure they’ll be open during your class times and when you want to do asynchronous work. 
4. Of course, the university has WiFi on campus but if you’re coming here anyway, do you want to just be an in-person student instead? 

Whatever route you choose, you’ll want to have a solid plan in place for accessing the Internet regularly, both during live session times and times when you need to do other course work.

You’re ahead of the game. Just make sure it’s working before classes start. You’ll need to have your camera on and microphone working for all live sessions, as well as for recorded asynchronous assignments.

These are pieces of equipment you will need to participate in an online class. If that’s not affordable to you right now, some public libraries have laptops you can check-out that have webcams and microphones. You’ll want to ensure you have access to one throughout the semester to complete assignments.

Being on camera is required during live sessions and some assignments because it helps build community and engagement in online classes.

Being on camera is required. Even if you are in a fully asynchronous class, you may have to submit videos of yourself talking. If this is uncomfortable for you, you might want to consider the in-person program.

If yes: All online MSW students are required to meet the Salem State University Community Standards and Code of Conduct, the School of Social Work’s professional standards of behavior required of social work graduate students, and the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers which are delineated in our handbook and informed by the Council on Social Work Education. We take respectful online conduct very seriously. 

All online MSW students are required to meet the Salem State University Community Standards and Code of Conduct, the School of Social Work’s professional standards of behavior required of social work graduate students, and the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers which are delineated in our handbook and informed by the Council on Social Work Education. Students who do not meet the standards are at risk for dismissal. 

You’ll want to make sure you can use it consistently and that nobody else will be in the space with you while you are in class. Students and faculty expect only each other to be in the room, and it is against the procedures of the MSW program to have non-students in the virtual, or in-person, classroom spaces (that means, partners, children, guests, should not be in your quiet space during classes). Note that class discussions often contain sensitive material inappropriate for non-MSW students, and especially for children.

To be in our online program, you’ll need to have a consistent quiet space where you can attend virtual lectures without the presence of others. Students and faculty expect only each other to be in the room, and it is against the procedures of the MSW program to have non-students in the virtual, or in-person, classroom spaces (that means, partners, children, guests, should not be in your quiet space during classes). Note that class discussions often contain sensitive material inappropriate for non-MSW students, and especially for children. If accessing a quiet space to attend classes would be difficult, consider the in-person program where the space is set aside for you and your classmates.  

You’re ahead of the game. You’ll need to use online meeting platforms for most of the classes in the program.

If you have not used these platforms before, a library might be able to direct you to tutorials to help you learn to navigate these platforms. Alternatively, our Information Technology Services department has created a useful support webpage. 

An online program might be a good fit for you. You’ll need to stay focused and able to participate in live session conversations and activities.

An in-person program might be a better fit for you. Online learning requires strategies for managing distractions, such as turning off notifications or using productivity tools.

That’s important to know. Just because a class is online, doesn’t mean it’s not time consuming, just like an in-person class. In fact, online classes are specifically designed to take the same amount of time every week that in-person classes take when homework, asynchronous work, and live sessions are all included. 

Our online classes are rigorous and specifically designed to take the same amount of time every week that in-person classes take. Keep in mind that aside from live session times, an advantage of an online program is you can do the class work in small pieces of time over the week. But be realistic—when you consider all your time constraints, if you still don’t have the time for the MSW program now, come back when your schedule has more flexibility and you can get the most out of your education. We’re not going anywhere.

This is important. Being able to ask for help is essential to getting through any graduate program. 

Whether you are in an online or in-person MSW program, being able to ask for help is essential to getting through any graduate program.