7 Signs of a Great MSW Program

There are many good Master of Social Work (MSW) programs. But when you’re ready to earn your MSW degree, don’t settle for good. You want great.

What takes an online MSW program from good to great? Here are seven signs to look for. 

1. CSWE Accreditation

The best online MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE accreditation is a mark of quality, and your assurance that an MSW program provides the knowledge and skills you need to become a social work practitioner. Earning a degree in a CSWE-accredited program academically prepares you to pursue licensure.

2. Career-Focused Curriculum

A great social work master’s program prepares you for advanced generalist or specialized practice. If you’re interested in becoming a specialized practitioner, the best MSW program for you will offer focused learning options that fit your career goals. A great MSW program will offer specialty tracks that are relevant in today’s world, and specific to your community’s needs.

3. Emphasis on Serving All People

Social workers are often called to act as advocates for those they serve. As such, great social work programs will help prepare you to uphold what the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) calls the profession’s primary mission: “to enhance human well-being and help meet basic and complex needs of all people, with a particular focus on those who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty.”¹

4. Expert Faculty Members

When you invest in a master’s program, you want to learn from a diverse group of faculty members who are experienced, responsive and engaged. In a top online MS in social work program, your instructors should be all that and more. Look for MSW faculty members who are thought and social justice leaders, and experts in their field.

5. Online MSW Option

For working professionals who want to earn a master’s degree, an online option is the mark of a great MSW program. It can be hard, and sometimes impossible, to find time to commute to campus for classes and other study commitments. But in an online MSW degree program, course work is available online 24/7, so you can log on and study when it’s convenient for you. Look for a CSWE-accredited online MSW program, like Chamberlain University’s.

7. Enrollment and Completion Flexibility

Good MSW programs will meet you where you are, offering you rolling start dates and flexible completion options. Here’s an example from Chamberlain’s MSW degree program: If you have a bachelor’s degree, you may be able to earn an MSW online in as few as two years as a full-time student; three years as a part-time student. There’s also an Advanced Standing Option, which gives eligible students the opportunity to earn a degree in as little as one year at a full-time pace and two years studying part time.

8. Robust Student Support

At graduation, you’ll see your name on your diploma. But as you start your journey toward that proud day, know that in a great MSW program, you won’t have to go it alone. The best MSW programs offer student support services from enrollment through graduation. As you explore online social work master’s programs, find out who’s on your team. Look for a program offering student success tools, academic services, technical support and more.

Enroll in a Great MSW Program

You’ll find those seven signs of quality — and more — in Chamberlain’s Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program.

In Chamberlain’s online MSW degree program, you can pursue generalist or specialized practice. Prepare for the career you want in Chamberlain’s flexible, online program by choosing one of three contemporary MSW tracks: Crisis and Response Interventions, Trauma or Medical Social Work.

You can use the skills and knowledge you acquire in your social work master’s program to enhance your current social work career or change directions. You’ll find that social workers are in demand now, with their overall employment projected to grow by 7% through 2033.²

An MSW degree can help prepare to you to work for the kind of that improves lives and builds healthier, more equitable communities. Find your path to an impactful future in a great MSW program.

Chamberlain University, an HLC-accredited institution, offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs in nursing and healthcare professions. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 130 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.

¹Source: www.socialworkers.org/Careers/NASW-Career-Center/Explore-Social-Work/Why-Choose-the-Social-Work-Profession

²Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm#tab-1

By Chamberlain University