Master’s in Social Work (MSW) Programs | Guide and List

Earning a master’s in social work (MSW) may be fulfilling for graduate students who want to continue to work with people to improve their well-being and help them address life challenges, such as addiction, disability, poverty, abuse, divorce, physical illness, and mental illness. Holding an MSW means you may work in a variety of settings, such as local and state government, public or private school systems, human services, and hospitals. Additionally, an MSW may work in supervisory positions where you may have the credentials to provide therapy, such as psychotherapy, to clients. In this article, we’ll explain what an MSW degree is, how to obtain an MSW, and why it may be beneficial to earn one.

What Is a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) Degree?

A master’s in social work may provide you with more expansive knowledge and skills to find solutions to issues throughout the community, and a wealth of success and opportunity. Depending on the program you choose, you may find specializations such as mental health and substance abuse, working with children, families, and schools, or becoming a well-rounded generalist. Some of the skills you may attain on your journey to earning an MSW degree include:

• The ability to demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
• How to approach diversity in social change interventions and clinical practice.
• Advancing human rights through social, economic and environmental justice.
• How to perform practice-informed research.
• Engaging in policy practice.
• Learning how to intervene with individuals, organizations, groups, families and communities by leading change interventions through social policies and programs.

It’s also important to know that a master’s in social work is often the first step toward professional licensure, which may allow you to work in clinical settings with patients.

MSW Curriculum

The courses you may take during a master’s in social work may vary depending on the school you choose. However, some of the core classes in an MSW curriculum are generally the same no matter where you get your degree from. Some of the classes include:

• Foundations in Social Work Research: This course is one of the primary research courses that MSW students may be required to take. A class like this one may provide students with a basic understanding of the research methods used in social work.
• Social Welfare Policies and Services: A course of this nature may introduce students to American social welfare policies and social service programs through political, historical, economic, and social context.
• Advanced Social Justice: Anti-Oppressive Social Work: You’ll learn how to identify solutions and implement actionable processes to address all forms of prejudice and oppression.
• Foundation Field Practicum: Generally, MSW students are asked to participate in a field practicum. Students may work based on a generalist social work framework. Students may use a range of knowledge and skills at the micro and macro levels.

In addition to core coursework, MSW students in CSWE-accredited programs are required to complete supervised field education, often called a practicum, internship or field placement. Requirements vary by school and program format, but CSWE accreditation standards set 900 hours of field education as the minimum for master’s-level social work programs.

Admission Requirements

What you need to gain admission to an MSW program may vary by school. However, the general admissions requirements may be similar. Here are some of the requirements that may be expected of you.

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is typically required for admission to a traditional MSW program. Advanced standing MSW programs are generally limited to applicants who earned a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, often within a recent time frame set by the school.
• Graduate admission application and fee.
• Official transcripts from each college or university you have attended.
• GPA requirements (may vary depending on the school you choose).
• Letters of recommendation.
• Some MSW programs prefer or require relevant volunteer, internship, employment, or human services experience, but requirements vary by school. Many traditional MSW programs do not require a minimum of 6 months.
• Personal statement outlining your experience or background in social work.

Social Work Concentrations

Some schools may offer more than one concentration in their MSW programs. Some social work concentrations include:

• Clinical social work specialization: The clinical social work concentration is designed to help social work clients change their behaviors and address emotional issues stemming from people and the environment.
• Advanced generalist: This concentration focuses on both the micro and macro levels of social work. It may include prevention and intervention strategies to improve functioning in society at any level.
• Child and family welfare: This specialization prepares MSW students to promote family safety and well-being. The child and family welfare concentration may cover how to properly engage, assess, and intervene in specific case management for susceptible children and families.

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Accreditation

The Council on Social Work Education is the national accrediting body for social work education in the United States. CSWE accreditation is important because it confirms that a BSW or MSW program meets recognized standards for curriculum, faculty qualifications, field education and student outcomes. For students who plan to become licensed social workers, attending a CSWE-accredited program is especially important because state licensing boards commonly require graduation from an accredited social work program.

To earn and maintain CSWE accreditation, social work programs must demonstrate that they meet standards related to curriculum, field education, student learning outcomes, faculty qualifications, program governance and continuous assessment. Accredited programs are also required to prepare students for the competencies needed for professional social work practice, including ethical and professional behavior, engagement with diversity and difference, social justice, research-informed practice, policy practice, and effective engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Social Work?

With a master’s in social work, graduates are likely to find that there are many opportunities for employment. In any field that provides care to individuals, those with MSW degrees are needed to ensure patients receive proper and ethical care.

Licensed social workers work in hospitals, retirement homes, and even pediatric clinics, collaborating with physicians and patients to determine appropriate courses of treatment, such as therapy, counseling, or stress management. As an advocate for individuals suffering from addiction, a licensed social worker also works with individuals in rehabilitation facilities in order to keep them in touch with society and provide helpful resources for continued care even after their release.

You may be wondering, “What can you do with an MSW?” Here is a list of careers in social work and their May 2024 median annual wages, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Healthcare social workers: $68,090
• Mental health and substance abuse social workers: $60,060
• Child, family and school social workers: $58,570

Social Work Licensure

In most professional settings, some form of social work licensure is required. MSW graduates may qualify for master’s-level or clinical social work licensure, but license names and requirements vary by state. Clinical social work licenses generally authorize independent clinical practice, which may include assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and psychotherapy, depending on state law. Master’s-level licenses often allow social workers to provide certain clinical services only under approved supervision, but the type of supervisor and permitted services vary by state. Obtaining an LMSW designation may be a requirement to advance to an LCSW license, depending on the state where you practice.

It is important to note that each state has different types of licenses, and some states even require multiple licenses to become a specific type of social worker. Those interested in becoming social workers should review the standards in their state of residence to ensure that the program they choose meets the licensing requirements.

Master’s in Social Work vs. Master’s in Counseling

People often conflate social work and counseling. This is understandable because both fields are designed to help people in need. However, counselors typically help individuals and families work through a specific set of problems, often related to behavioral or mental health, while social workers provide broader assistance and help people navigate a range of social services.

There are key differences between social work and counseling. The biggest difference between social workers and counselors lies in the skills they use on a daily basis. Social workers tend to use skills such as crisis intervention, patient care, discharge planning, and navigating social services. Counselors generally need an understanding of psychology, the ability to build effective relationships, and proficient organizational and writing skills.

An individual with a master’s in social work and an individual with a master’s in counseling may work with patients through various therapy sessions, but social workers may dive deeper to address a patient’s mental health issues. A social worker may examine other aspects of a patient’s life to provide interventions that help them live better. On the other hand, counselors may focus on the patient’s mental and emotional health without taking into account other day-to-day aspects that may affect the patient’s overall mental health.

FAQs on Master’s in Social Work

Below are answers to some of the most popular questions prospective master’s in social work students have. These questions may be beneficial when searching for an MSW program that suits your needs.

Information last updated: June 2026