What CSWE Accreditation Tells You About an MSW Program

When you’re considering earning a Master of Social Work (MSW), there are four important letters to look for as you compare online degree programs. They are CSWE.

That’s the acronym for the Council on Social Work Education, the national organization that accredits bachelor’s and master’s social work programs. CSWE’s Board of Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as the only accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories.

There are just 324 CSWE-accredited master’s programs in the U.S.,¹ and Chamberlain University’s online Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program is one of them. You already know that accreditation is a mark of quality. But knowing why CSWE accreditation matters can help you choose the best MSW online program for your social work career.

Here are five things CSWE accreditation tells you about a social work master’s program:

1. It meets the highest standards for social work education.

Social work programs undergo a rigorous review to earn CSWE accreditation. This process ensures that all aspects of an MSW program meet or exceed CSWE criteria standards. As an MSW student in a CSWE-accredited program, you’ll know you’re learning the social work competencies needed today.

“Attending a CSWE-accredited social work program provides assurance that the program in which a student enrolls is committed to quality and educating students on social work competencies necessary to enter practice,” the CSWE explains on its website.²

2. The program’s excellence is enduring.

CSWE accreditation means MSW programs, like Chamberlain’s, meet continuous performance, integrity and quality benchmarks.

“Beyond review for reaffirmation of accreditation every eight years, CSWE-accredited programs engage in continuous quality improvement ensuring that students are prepared to practice safely, competently and ethically with all clients, constituents and the public,”² the CSWE says.

3. It is committed to anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion.

CSWE accreditation tells you that a program can prepare master’s candidates to work for social justice in all cultures and communities.

“CSWE-accredited programs are held to higher standards of responsibility for educating students to be respectful and responsible social workers for diverse cultures and communities,” the CSWE says. “A value of social work as the degree of choice is in the fact that graduates from undergraduate and graduate social work education programs can critically think, problem solve and advocate for justice, equity, inclusion and diversity.”¹

4. It academically prepares you for licensure.

To sit for licensing exams in most states, you must have a social work degree from a CSWE-accredited program.

“Licensing exists to provide state and provincial governments with a way to verify that a social worker has the skills and knowledge necessary to provide a safe level of practice,” the CSWE explains. “All states and the District of Columbia have licensing, certification or registration requirements for social work practice.”³

5. It upholds the highest ethical principles.

“CWSE accreditation speaks to public trust and accountability across the social work continuum,”² the CSWE says.

Employers, clients and others recognize CSWE accreditation as a sign of integrity, one of the social work profession’s core values.

“CSWE’s vision is ‘To ensure a well-educated social work profession equipped to promote health, well-being and justice for all people in a diverse society.’ Accreditation is a systematic and rigorous process of operationalizing this vision and ensuring consumer protection and the public good through quality social work education programs.”¹

Earn an MSW Online

Chamberlain University’s online MSW degree program can help prepare you for a rewarding social work career in generalist or specialized practice.

MSW tracks let you tailor your learning to help meet your career goals. Choose crisis and response interventions, trauma or medical social work. The MSW degree program also includes a practicum, where you’ll use what you’ve learned in a real-life social work setting.

If you’ve been wanting to earn a master’s degree but aren’t sure you have the time, you may want to consider an online MSW program. With coursework available 24/7, Chamberlain’s CSWE-accredited program gives you the flexibility to earn a degree while balancing your personal and professional activities.

Social work is a fast-growing career field, with employment of social workers projected to grow by 7% between 2022–2032.⁴ If you’re ready to become an agent of social change in your community, this may be a great time to earn an MSW degree.

Chamberlain University, an 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.cswe.org/accreditation/ (numbers as of 1/17/24)
²Source: www.cswe.org/accreditation/about/value-benefits/
³Source: www.cswe.org/students/prepare-for-your-education/social-work-at-a-glance/
⁴Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm#tab-1

Chamberlain University’s Master of Social Work degree program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

By Chamberlain University