What is a Master of Social Work (MSW) Degree?

Concentration

There are several concentrations for MSW candidates to choose from—it all depends on the program. You could focus on direct and clinical practice, which will prepare you for working with families and individuals in a therapeutic setting. You may want to work in administration instead or become more of a leader in a private or public setting. Common areas of practice include geriatrics, children, families, school, healthcare, community and social systems and mental health.

Accreditation

The MSW program you choose needs to be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). In most U.S. jurisdictions, graduating from a CSWE-accredited program is the standard education requirement to be eligible for social work licensure and/or to sit for a licensing exam, although specific rules can vary by state and some boards may recognize equivalent pathways.

To become accredited, schools have to go through a multistep process that includes meeting benchmarks, site visits, self-studies and Council on Accreditation reviews.

Types of Degrees

Depending on your goals and circumstances, MSW programs are commonly offered in a few formats:

• Traditional MSW: Designed for students without a BSW; many full-time programs can be completed in about two years (with part-time options often taking longer).
• Advanced Standing MSW: An accelerated pathway for BSW graduates from a CSWE-accredited program that typically waives some or all of the foundation coursework so students can finish faster (often around one year of full-time study, depending on the school).
• Accelerated MSW (calendar-based): A faster-paced option that may use year-round scheduling (for example, adding summer terms) to shorten the overall time to graduation.
• Dual-degree programs: Let you earn an MSW alongside another graduate degree (such as an MSW/MPH), often with integrated coursework and an adjusted timeline.

You can take classes online, offline or in a hybrid setting, where you go in person to complete some courses.

Is a Master of Social Work Degree the Best Option for Me?

Are you passionate about helping other people? Do you like to talk to and work with people daily? Do you want to improve local communities as well as the world at large? If you’ve always loved volunteering and you are by nature a social person, this could be a good fit for you.

As a social worker, you’ll likely have to work full time, or even put in more than 40 hours a week at some points in your career, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report on social workers where there may be limited funds. Along with people skills, you should also have administrative skills to succeed as a social worker.

It’s not easy to earn an MSW degree and get your social work license, and continuing education may be necessary every few years based on your state requirements. If you’re going into a Master of Social Work (MSW) program, be prepared to put other responsibilities on the back burner.

What is the Value of an MSW Degree?

The number of social worker jobs is projected to increase 6% from 2024 to 2034, according to the BLS profile for social workers, which is faster than average for all other occupations. The 2024 median salary for social workers was $61,330 per year, but that includes entry-level social workers who only have a bachelor’s in social work. An advanced degree may lead to higher pay. The BLS reports that full-time wage and salary workers age 25 and over with a master’s degree had median weekly earnings of $1,840 in 2024, compared with $1,543 for workers with a bachelor’s degree, which is a difference of about $297 per week.

Each state has its own requirements for becoming a licensed social worker. In many jurisdictions, candidates must pass an ASWB social work licensing exam as part of the licensure process (requirements vary by state and license level). The ASWB exam is a 170-question, multiple-choice test; scores are based on 150 scored questions, while 20 questions are unscored pretest items used to evaluate future exam content.

How Do I Obtain a Master’s in Social Work Degree?

There are traditional and non-traditional ways to earn your social work degree.

With a master’s in social work online program, you’ll be able to complete your coursework remotely. The classes are held during a set time and you’ll communicate with other students and your professors via email and/or the school’s communication platform. Online is a great option if you have a busy schedule and don’t have time to go to in-person classes.

Hybrid MSW programs provide a mix of online and offline coursework. You may be able to complete some classes online, while others will require that you go to the campus and learn in person. That way, you’ll get to interact with the other students and your professors.

An on-campus MSW program may be best for you if you don’t want to spend your time earning your degree only on the computer. You will be able to meet other students and your professors in person and have opportunities to form study groups outside of class.

Master of Social Work (MSW) Program Choices

Now that you know what an MSW is, you can decide which social work degree programs to apply to. When you do your research, there may be some online MSW programs with no GRE required. Your choices include:

• Accelerated MSW (no BSW): An accelerated MSW program may take as little as one year, and you may not even need a Bachelor of Social Work degree to get into the program. If you do have a BSW and some fieldwork, however, it’s going to be easier to enroll in an accelerated program. With this MSW program, you can work fast and get into the field as soon as possible.
• Advanced Standing: Advanced standing MSW programs are like accelerated programs in that they take less time to complete. You’ll need your bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program to apply.
• Clinical MSW: If you want to work one-on-one with clients, you’ll need a clinical MSW from an LCSW program. You’ll need to complete classes and the required fieldwork before obtaining LCSW licensure.
• Dual SW: A dual social work degree will allow you to study two social work fields and broaden your career opportunities. You can earn your dual degree in less time than it would take to earn two separate degrees.
• Macro Social Work: In this program, you’ll learn about macro level social work, like what it will entail to work on a community, state and national level. These programs will give you the background to work for political advocacy groups, nonprofits, think tanks and universities.
• Post-Grad Certificate: If you’ve already obtained your MSW, you can go back to school and get a post-grad certificate to broaden your knowledge based on current research. This can make you a more attractive candidate for a job.
• Hybrid: A hybrid program will combine online and offline learning. You’ll take some classes online and then go to your school’s campus to complete other courses.