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Find MSW programs that teach military social work

What is a military social work program, and how can it prepare you for your next career? Find answers to these and other questions in this guide.

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Why earn an MSW with courses in military social work?

Specialize in a high-demand field

Develop the skills to address PTSD, substance use, and the mental health conditions that many military service members experience.

Support veteran reintegration

Understand the financial and social obstacles that veterans may face after service to help them smoothly reintegrate into civilian life.

Earn your degree in a flexible format

Online learning can give you greater control over your educational experience and flexibility than face-to-face programs.


Military personnel and veterans are population groups that commonly make use of social work services. Connect with master's in social work (MSW) programs with military practice specializations.

Browse MSW programs that teach military social work

Prestigious
An immersive cohort-based learning experience that is designed to optimize learning outcomes and ensure global networking opportunities.
Flexible
Choose your path with a range of completion options and class times.
Equivalent to on-campus
Earn the same degree and complete the same curriculum as on-campus students.

What is a military social work program?

Military social work programs can prepare you to provide service members, veterans, and their families and dependents with tailored support services, including:

  • Locating child care, employment, housing, and other resources.
  • Facilitating a smooth return to civilian life.
  • Providing connections to mental health and substance use treatment programs.

Your role may involve working with clients directly, advocating for systemic change, or both.

What to expect from an online MSW that teaches military social work

MSW programs focused on military populations emphasize support and care structures for the distinct challenges that service members and veterans face. These challenges include:

  • Physical and psychological side effects of combat readiness training and military deployment
  • Experiences of military sexual trauma
  • Depression, PTSD, substance use, and other mental health conditions
  • Healthcare access, especially for aging veterans

Military families also commonly endure financial and social obstacles, especially as they reintegrate into civilian life. MSW programs in military social work train students to assist military populations grappling with these and other obstacles.

Your coursework may cover:

  • Military culture and policy
  • Counseling and therapeutic techniques
  • Crisis intervention
  • Government and community services for service members and veterans

Military social work programs can equip social workers to help members of military populations navigate gaps in federal and state-level support programs.

What jobs can you get with an MSW that teaches military social work?

MSW degrees with a military concentration can lead to licensed social work careers. As a licensed social worker, you can work with military populations through specialized agencies or as an independent practitioner.

You could also become a Veterans Affairs (VA) social worker. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA is the largest employer of social workers in the United States.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for social workers in 2023 was $58,380. The lowest 10 percent of social workers earned less than $38,400, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $94,910 in the same year. Your exact salary depends on your role, experience, location, and specialization.

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