Master of Social Work (MSW) Degree Guide

Social work is a fast-growing profession, and a master of social work (MSW) degree is a must for anyone hoping to break into the industry and earn their license.

The top MSW programs equip students with the skills to work with a broad range of potential clients. Typically, those interacting with a social worker are seeking counseling and guidance.

Social workers touch the lives of millions of Americans. A 2023 poll of more than 1,000 social workers conducted by global market research company Ipsos and published in conjunction with National Social Work Month found that roughly one in six people said a social worker assisted them or a family member at some point.

An MSW degree program equips students with the skills to manage a wide array of cases, including clinical counseling practices to work with clients during difficult or traumatic moments. MSW degree programs also place heavy emphases on advocacy and research so that social workers can keep up to date on best practices.

Earning an MSW degree also entails at least 900 hours of social work field practicum experience.

MSW programs are accepting of a wide range of students. Some social workers find this career later in life, often after they or a family member has an impactful interaction with a social worker. As such, the typical MSW program often has students from many different bachelor’s degrees, with only one-third of new MSWs holding a bachelor’s degree in social work, according to the 2019 Social Work Workforce Study conducted at George Washington University.

An MSW degree is the minimum requirement for most clinical-level social work jobs, making this degree a must-have if you’re interested in becoming a social worker or joining a related social services profession.

However, if you’re only looking to pursue more entry-level roles or a case management position, then a bachelor’s degree in social work may be sufficient.

Most MSW program grads go on to become licensed social workers. This is a moderately in-demand profession, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment for these professionals to grow by 7% from 2023 to 2033, which is higher than the average projected job growth rate of 4% across all occupations.

The most common focuses of new social workers in terms of population served were children and families (34.9%), people with mental health disorders (25.9%), and people receiving healthcare (11.3%), the Social Work Workforce Study found.

More than four-fifths (82%) of these new social workers provide direct or clinical care to individuals or groups, as opposed to macro-social work.

The median annual salary for social workers was $58,380 in 2023, according to the BLS. Rarely do social workers post salaries above $100,000.

Though 90.4% of the new social workers surveyed in the 2019 Social Work Workforce Study said they were very or somewhat satisfied with their new jobs, only 72.8% said they were very or somewhat satisfied with their salaries — and only 25.6% said they were very satisfied outright.

Meanwhile, the median debt for the new social workers surveyed in the 2019 Social Work Workforce Study was $65,000. That figure was significantly higher for new social workers who are Black ($85,000) or Hispanic ($75,000).

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Continuing education (CE) doesn’t just help social workers stay on top of their game; in many states, it’s required to maintain your license.

In Florida, for example, licensed clinical social workers must fulfill at least 30 hours of CE every two years. These hours must be spread across specific categories of study. You should check with your state’s licensing board to determine the CE requirements and which approved vendors for this education your state will accept.

The National Association of Social Workers offers online CE courses and certifications.

Some social workers may opt to pursue a doctor of social work (DSW) or doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in social work.

The average cost for an MSW program is $21,079 per year for in-person instruction and $13,681 per year for a fully online format, according to 2019-2020 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). After grants and other financial aid, in-person MSW programs cost an average of $18,424 per year while fully online ones cost an average of $12,466 per year.

MSW program costs can vary widely depending on the type of program and the prestige of the institution.

On average, a two-year master’s program costs less at a public university ($61,200) than at a private, nonprofit institution ($87,960). Grants and scholarships can help offset these costs, with 65% of full-time master’s students receiving grant funding in 2020.

It’s worth noting that MSW programs require a field practicum, and these internships tend to be unpaid.

Before enrolling in an MSW program, you should understand how long your studies will last and what’s required in your master’s program application.

The time it takes to complete an MSW program depends on how many credits you take each semester. A part-time MSW student will take longer to earn their degree than a full-time student, for example.

Your time to earn a degree may also depend on whether you can fulfill your field practicum requirements while taking classes or if you need to pause your studies to work your internship full time.

Accelerated bachelor’s in social work programs exist, but accelerated master’s programs are rare.

However, if you have a bachelor’s degree in social work, you may be able to pursue an advanced standing MSW, which may allow you to earn your degree in just one year instead of two.

Application requirements for MSW programs vary by institution, but some commonalities include:

Some master’s programs require applicants to submit a standardized test score from an exam like the GRE. However, many programs have removed this requirement in recent years.

Many elements differentiate MSW programs from each other, including the accreditation status of different programs, what concentrations are offered, and the program’s format.

If you want to become a licensed social worker, you’ll need to pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Exam.

However, in order to even take the exam, you need to have attended an MSW program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). You can refer to CSWE’s directory of accredited programs to ensure your degree meets this requirement.

Attending a non-accredited MSW program can severely limit your career opportunities after graduation.

Concentrations allow MSW students to explore more niche areas of social work. Concentrations include:

Regardless of their concentration, MSW students will take a variety of courses to equip them with the skills to work with patients, administer treatment plans, and influence policy. Many MSW programs also include courses to help you understand the structural oppression that impacts different communities and research principles to keep you up to date on best practices.

There are three primary program formats for MSW programs:

Not all online programs are formatted the same. Asynchronous coursework allows students to watch lectures and complete assignments at their own pace at any time of the day. A synchronous program requires students to log in at specified times, similar to if they were attending an in-person class.

These formats offer varying degrees of flexibility, so think about what would work best for your schedule.