Choosing an online MSW program

I graduated with my BSSW in February, now I feel like I should get my masters(because well in Illinois it’s hard to get a social work job or move up at a current job without it). I am fortunate enough to be working for crisis services, but an MSW is required for any further growth and I just feel like I want to be able to do more. Anyway, I have been looking at online programs, but have no idea which ones will work best for me. My big things are:

  1. It has to allow me to do my fieldwork at my current place of work.
  2. It’s got to be fully online.
  3. I would prefer to do an advanced standing program so I could complete it sooner.
  4. (Which is going to sound really dumb) Minimal intense papers or just smaller amounts of papers. I’m completely terrified of writing papers, I’m not great at writing papers, I do not have a lot of time to write papers, and again I hate papers!!!! Now I know an MSW program is going to have papers, but I do not know if I can do 2-3 or long papers a week.

Maybe I’m just being a baby about it, but I the idea of constantly writing long papers, or just papers in general, over and over again is what has kept me from starting my MSW. I’m worried that if I don’t get my butt in gear and do it, I just won’t ever and I’ll be stuck.

I would appreciate any suggestions or advice!

Thanks,
One very overworked crisis counselor on the edge of loosing it.💕

Posted Jun 7, 2026, 4:31 AM UTC

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