Master of Social Work | Online

Earn Your Master of Social Work From the No. 1 Most Diverse University in the U.S.

Develop a multicultural social work practice, advocate for social and economic justice, and assist in healing communities. You may qualify for the Advanced Standing track.

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Three Start Dates

Spring, Summer, Fall

12–36 months

Program duration

Small Class Sizes

No more than 15 students per class

Get Faculty Mentorship

Receive support, guidance, and accountability

Join Our CSWE-Accredited Program

Our program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). When you earn your Master in Social Work online from Hawai‘i Pacific University, you’ll graduate prepared to pursue licensure, become a fierce advocate for social and economic justice, and empower diverse communities affected by systemic inequities.

Careers in Social Work

Graduate ready to work effectively and respectfully in a range of social work roles with and on behalf of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and non-profit organizations.

Potential Industries for Master in Social Work Graduates

Health care services

Veteran-centric organizations

International non-profits

Advance Your Leadership in Social Work

Master the nine competencies of social work practice, as declared by CSWE. Our program provides structure with the knowledge, values, and skills needed for advanced practice and leadership.

Practice with different sizes of client systems

Advocate for social and economic justice

Work effectively with diverse populations

Engage in research-informed practice

Understand the changing nature of social work contexts

Choose From Two Focus Areas

During the program’s foundation year, you’ll learn to approach your social work practice from a Native Hawaiian perspective. Then, after the online MSW foundation year, you’ll choose from two focus areas.

Pacific and Original Nations Orientation (PONO) Focus

Learn a reciprocal, interdependent approach to understanding various cultures and Indigenous worldviews.

Military and Veteran Affairs (MLVA) Focus

Learn the nuances of social work practice within local, state, and federal government programs when treating active-duty military, family members, and veterans.

Meet Your Instructors

In addition to being committed teachers, researchers, and scholars, faculty in the MSW program are also veteran practitioners. You will greatly benefit from their experience as community leaders and advocates.

Danielle Giroux PhD, MSW

MSW Program Chair

Dr Giroux is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Hawaiʻi Pacific University (HPU). Originally from Ohio, Dr. Giroux graduated with her MSW from HPU in 2010. Following completion of her MSW she moved to Alaska to complete her PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage. While in Alaska she worked on state-wide suicide prevention efforts with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and completed her clinical internship with Norton Sound Behavior Health in Nome.

Lori Daniels PhD, LCSW

Professor of Social Work

Dr Lori Daniels has worked for two main organizations in her social work career: the Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Hawaiʻi Pacific University. She earned her MSW from the University of Chicago (1987) and her PhD in Social Welfare from the University of Hawaiʻi – Mānoa (2002). Her clinical practice treating traumatic stress among veterans spans over 20 years.

Lisa Dunn, MSW

Director of Field Education

Lisa A Dunn, MSW is the Director of Field Education for Hawai’i Pacific University’s School of Social Work. She received her master’s degree from the School of Social Work at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa in 1982 and has worked at a variety of nonprofit organizations serving people and communities in need. Lisa’s career has included work with sexually abused children, victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, isolated frail elderly, street youth, houseless, HIV positive, physical and cognitive disabilities, and developmental delays.

Get Admissions and Tuition Information

Answer a few quick questions to get more information about the program.