In Oklahoma you must have at least an undergraduate social work degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) to apply for a license and practice social work. A Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is a great step to further your career in advanced generalist, clinical, or administrative social work. This page provides a summary of CSWE-accredited programs where you can earn either the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or MSW degree. Currently, no Oklahoma social work programs offer online degrees accredited by the CSWE, though prospective social workers may be able to meet licensing requirements by completing an accredited online program from a school in another state.

Quick Facts

• 8 schools offering social work programs in Oklahoma are in our database (see below)
• Of the social work schools in Oklahoma, 2 offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 6 offer bachelor’s degrees, and 2 offer a master’s or advanced degree¹
• 1 school ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges
• 1 school ranked in US News Best Graduate Social Work Programs
• No schools ranked in Social Work Guide’s Top Online MSW Programs⁴
• Across 5 schools, 6 bachelor’s and master’s social work degree programs in Oklahoma are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)⁵

Featured Online Programs in Social Work

Top-Ranked Schools with Social Work Programs in Oklahoma

Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges

• University of Oklahoma (#52 in-state, #49 out-of-state)

*Institution-wide ranking.

US News Best Graduate Social Work Programs

• University of Oklahoma (#75 tie)

Schools with Social Work Programs Accredited by the CSWE

• East Central University
• Northeastern State University
• Northwestern Oklahoma State University
• Oral Roberts University
• University of Oklahoma

Schools in Oklahoma with Social Work Degree Programs

BSW and Other Undergraduate Programs

Oral Roberts University

Located in Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a private Christian institution. It offers a CSWE-accredited BSW founded in social work values and ethics and the Christian worldview. All students in the ORU College of Science and Engineering take courses from the university’s general education curriculum including Biblical Literature, Economics, a foreign language, and American Government in addition to core social work courses. Examples of social work courses offered include Introduction to Social Work, Principles of Psychology, Social Welfare Policy, and Minority Group Relations. The university’s student-run Social Work Club organizes events and service activities throughout the year that complement the social work and faith-based philosophy of the school. Students may apply to receive credit for activities organized for the club if they are in good standing. Program graduates have found employment in Church-based organizations, public institutions, and the nonprofit sector. In 2016, US News & World Report ranked the school #50 among regional universities in the West.

Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Northwestern Oklahoma State University is located in the rural town of Alva near the Oklahoma-Kansas border. The school’s CSWE-accredited BSW program has a generalist curriculum; course content focuses on the needs of communities in the northwest region of Oklahoma where the school is located. The program, within the college’s School of Arts and Sciences, prepares students to work effectively in micro, mezzo, and macro systems and act as a case manager, advocate, researcher, mobilizer, or mediator. The curriculum includes classes in communications, social science, and natural science. Students complete 420 hours of supervised field education in the senior year; this can be completed as a block placement during the spring semester or spread out over the spring and summer semesters. Candidates interested in child welfare practice can apply to the Child Welfare Professional Enhancement Program offered by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

Northeastern State University

Northeastern State University maintains a Bachelor of Social Work program that lays the foundation for professional social work practice. Admission to the program is competitive. Once accepted into the program, students are trained in generalist practice. The BSW can be pursued at either the Tahlequah or Broken Arrow campus. A field practicum, consisting of 440 field hours across two semesters, is completed during the senior year. A child welfare specialization traineeship, which includes a stipend, is available for qualified students.

MSW and Other Graduate Programs

University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma is a large public institution with many research centers related to social work practice. The university is the only school offering a CSWE-accredited MSW in the state, which can be completed at the university’s Norman and Tulsa campuses. Like many MSW programs, the degree takes two years to complete for those who do not have a CSWE-accredited BSW. In the first year of the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work program, students gain generalist skills and in the second year choose to specialize in either Direct Practice or Administration and Community Practice. Advanced standing, which allows applicants with a CSWE-accredited BSW to skip the first year of the program, is possible. Dual degrees in public health or international studies, as well as certificate programs in gender studies, public health, and social work with American Indians, are available. In 2016, the university was ranked #108 among national universities in the US by US News & World Report.

Accreditation Information for Oklahoma Social Work Schools

*The net price is calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics by subtracting the average amount of aid (including grants and scholarships) from the total published cost of attendance for in-state/in-district students, which includes tuition, books, room and board, and other expenses. To gain a better understanding of how to interpret the statistics discussed in this table, see our list of important definitions.

Featured Online Programs in Social Work

Directory of Oklahoma Social Work School Programs

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Schools with an asterisk (*) have programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

East Central University*
1100 E 14th St
Ada, OK 74820-6999
(580) 332-8000
https://www.ecok.edu

Northeastern State University*
600 N Grand Ave
Tahlequah, OK 74464-2399
(918) 456-5511
http://www.nsuok.edu

Student Review: “The staff I have had the pleasure of coming into contact with have been very helpful in the two years I have spent at Northeastern State University. The teachers seem to have a genuine interest in my educational experience by keeping in contact with me, and when I have a question or problem they always reply to me in a timely manner. The online platform they use which is Blackboard, has become a very convenient tool throughout schooling. Though I have had a few teachers not provide grades on the assignments and tests we have taken through this tool, they still provide me with emails that give me the information I need.” -Student at Northeastern State University

Northwestern Oklahoma State University*
709 Oklahoma Blvd
Alva, OK 73717-2799
(580) 327-1700
http://www.nwosu.edu

Oklahoma Baptist University
500 W University
Shawnee, OK 74804
(405) 275-2850
http://www.okbu.edu

Oklahoma Christian University
2501 E Memorial Rd
Edmond, OK 73013-1100
(405) 425-5000
http://www.oc.edu

Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City
900 N Portland
Oklahoma City, OK 73107-6195
(405) 947-4421
http://www.osuokc.edu

Oral Roberts University*
7777 S Lewis Ave
Tulsa, OK 74171
(918) 495-6161
http://oru.edu

Tulsa Community College
6111 E Skelly Dr
Tulsa, OK 74135-6198
(918) 595-7000
http://www.tulsacc.edu

University of Central Oklahoma
100 N University Dr
Edmond, OK 73034
(405) 974-2000
http://www.uco.edu

Student Review: “During my time at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) I felt that I was able to learn a lot. It took me a while to decide on a major but in the end I choose Social Work/ Human Services and I am glad that I did. The program was challenging at times but for the most part was very interesting and fun to learn. The professors within this program truly care about each student and try their best to help you succeed. A moment that stands out the most to me is a professor in my last year of school. He contacted me after the semester had ended and offered me extra credit in order to bump my grade up a letter. I thought this was amazing that he would take the time even after the semester was over to still try and help me improve my grade. Overall my experience in the Human Services major at UCO was very positive and I am happy I was able to study there and complete my degree.” -Student at University of Central Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus*
660 Parrington Oval
Norman, OK 73019-3072
(405) 325-0311
http://www.ou.edu

Schools with an asterisk (*) have programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=all
3. US News & World Report Social Work Best Grad Schools Rankings: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/social-work-rankings
4. Social Work Guide’s Top Online MSW Programs: /degrees/masters/online/
5. Council on Social Work Education: https://www.cswe.org/Accreditation/Directory-of-Accredited-Programs.aspx