Earn Your USC MSW in San Diego
A USC education. A local community. A new way to make a difference.
Pursue your Master of Social Work at USC’s San Diego Academic Center, where in-person connection, hybrid learning and hands-on experience bring your education into the community around you. Build the knowledge, skills and relationships to take your next step in social work.
Your USC Experience, Here in San Diego
Build connections face-to-face while pursuing your degree through a combination of campus-based and online learning. The San Diego Academic Center offers a local setting for your USC education, with opportunities to learn alongside peers and develop professional relationships in the region.
Military and Veterans: Our Unique Focus
San Diego’s military-connected community is an important part of the region’s identity. Understanding the experiences of service members, veterans, and their families can improve social work practice across San Diego health care, schools, community organizations, and other settings—and not just in military-specific roles.
The San Diego Academic Center taps into USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck's unique strengths in this arena. Our degrees provide exclusive access to robust programs, research, and other opportunities to connect your education and career to military and veterans' issues. And as part of USC, a Yellow Ribbon School, we offer a variety of supports for veteran-students and the military community.
Spotlight Opportunities
D.C. Immersion
The Social Work 656: National Military Immersion gives students backstage access to military and veterans policymaking.
University Support
As a Yellow Ribbon School, USC has been supporting the U.S. military, the military community, and veteran-students for more than 100 years.
Academic Track
The Military Populations and Settings MSW track specializes in programs and issues connected to service members, veterans, their families.
Make a Difference in What Matters
Homelessness & Housing Affordability
Help those experiencing homelessness and combat policies and practices that make housing unaffordable.
Health & Healthcare Disparities
Improve access to healthcare services, support for aging populations, and behavioral health care.
Practitioner Shortages
Alleviate the practitioner shortages blocking access to family support and mental healthcare.
Economic Inequity & Poverty
Help communities disproportionately affected by resource, income, and wealth gaps.
An MSW opens doors to numerous career paths. Traditional social work roles are available in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. The degree also makes you a competitive candidate for a variety of professional roles, from human resources and management to education, policy, urban planning, and more.
Many of our San Diego students are especially interested in military social work, either with the VA or other organizations that serve San Diego's large and vibrant military and veterans community. With a wealth of specialized course and practicum options, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck is the ideal choice for working with this unique population.
Put Your Learning to Work in San Diego
Social work comes to life through practice. During your practicum—the supervised, hands-on component of your MSW—you’ll connect classroom learning with professional experience, develop your skills, and learn how organizations respond to the needs of the people they serve. USC matches students with placements based on factors including professional interests, educational goals and agency needs.
Local Learning in Action
San Diego students have completed their practicum at local organizations such as Strength in Service, PsychArmor, VA La Jolla and VA Mission Valley, 0800, and Camp Pendleton. Focus areas have included behaviorial health, substance use disorder, family services, and military and veterans services.
Already Working in the Field?
Your current workplace may qualify as your practicum site. USC reviews workplace-based placements to ensure they provide appropriate learning experiences and supervision. Approval is required before your employment setting can be used for practicum credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hybrid mean?
Hybrid means that you can earn your degree through a combination of online and in-person experiences. Students typically take their first-year courses in person at the San Diego Academic Center, then take their second-year courses online. Practicum hours are completed in the local community. No commute to L.A. required!
Sample course schedules are available on the Registration Information page.
What is the course load like?
The standard MSW program requires 48 credits of coursework plus practicum. Students entering with an accredited BSW degree are eligible to enroll in the advanced standing MSW program, which requires 24 credits of coursework plus practicum. Sample course schedules are available on the Registration Information page.
Our programs provide extensive flexibility, with full-time, part-time, in-person, and hybrid enrollment options. Full-time students typically complete the standard MSW degree in two years, or the advanced standing MSW in one year.
During the second year of the MSW, students select a track for specialization. Students interested in the Military Populations and Settings track can choose any two of the following advanced courses:
- 633 Theories and Concepts of Military Social Work
- 640 Clinical Practice with Military Families
- 641 Clinical Practice with Service Members and Veterans
- 650 Military Veteran Policy and Program Management
- 656 National Military Immersion in Washington, D.C.
When is the next start date?
Find start dates and deadlines on the Admissions page.
How much does a San Diego social worker earn?
As of May 2025, the annual median wage for San Diego social workers across industries (private, federal, state, and local) is as follows:
| Occupation | Annual median wage |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $59,770 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $82,630 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $75,570 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $77,010 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
What does it cost, and how do I pay for my degree?
Tuition and fees are set by USC and vary each semester based on the number of units you're enrolled in. We also recommend that you consider estimated total cost of attendance, which includes books, transportation, and other variable expenses. See the USC Financial Aid website for full details.
Various stipends, loans, and other financial aid are available to help you pay for your degree. More than 65 percent of incoming in-person MSW students receive a scholarship of some sort to help defray the cost of tuition. Most students combine scholarships with loans and personal savings to fund their education.
Are there resources specifically for military-connected students?
Yes. Eligible students may be able to use military education benefits, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) funds, toward the cost of your education. USC also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program for qualifying students. Note that benefit coverage and award availability vary, and admission does not guarantee a Yellow Ribbon award.
USC's San Diego Academic Center is conveniently located in Rancho Bernardo, just off the 15 freeway. It brings together multiple USC programs, with a particular focus on those connected with the health sciences. This arrangement provides San Diego-area MSW students with not just a place to attend classes, but also an entire community of fellow Trojans studying in related fields.
A Local Community. A Lasting Network.
Meet Our Alums
Strengthening Families in Difficult Times
Oscar Gomez, MSW '16, Chief Operations Officer, Ronald McDonald House San Diego
"Having USC’s San Diego Academic Center gave me the opportunity to pursue my graduate education while also building connections right here in San Diego. I think there is real value in being part of the community you want to serve and understanding it firsthand. The education and relationships I developed through USC have played a major role in my career and continue to influence the work I do today."
Serving Military-Connected Communities
Joey Jerome, MSW '16, OnWard Ops Outreach Manager, San Diego Veterans Coalition
"Many [USC] alumni are throughout the San Diego community. It is always a starting point for conversation! My MSW helps me better understand what to look for in military personnel and families transitioning out of the military. Many of these families have family members who might struggle with PTSD, long deployments, and other common issues just like the civilian community."
Learn From Faculty Who Connect Research and Practice
Meet the professors who'll equip you to connect social work education with the needs of individuals, families and communities.
San Diego Faculty
