There are two major program options for MSW students at ECU. The first option for matriculation is located on the main campus of East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. This option is for full-time students only. The Off-Campus Program is the second option. It offers the complete MSW degree in other locations in eastern North Carolina for students who wish to study on a part-time basis. Enrollment in the Off-Campus Program is based on a cohort system rather than being open-ended. In other words, you enter at one given point in time and complete the program in a specific sequence with the same group of students. If you miss the enrollment date for a given location, you will not likely have this option at this location for several years. However, locations are changed so that there normally are options for entering one of these sites each year.

The same curriculum (regular track and advanced standing) is offered in both the on campus and off campus programs. Students are expected to be prepared to take courses with varying technologies, such as internet courses and courses offered by way of interactive video, in addition to the usual mode where the instructor is in class with the student. Thus, students must have access to up-to-date computers and adequate internet connections.