Social Work Schools and Programs in The United States

Social Work Studies in The United States

Social work prepares students to help people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social workers are employed in child welfare and human service agencies, healthcare providers and schools, among other settings. In the United States the field is organised around a professional degree, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or the Master of Social Work (MSW), and around state licensing.

How the degree is organised

There is no national list of degree titles in the US: each accredited college or university designs its own programmes. The usual levels are:

• Associate degree (two years) at a community college, either as a vocational qualification or as the first half of a bachelor's degree
• Bachelor's degree (four years), in social work a BSW
• Master's degree (typically two years), in social work an MSW
• Doctorate (five to eight years), usually a research PhD

According to the BLS, a BSW is the most common requirement for entry-level non-clinical social work positions, and all programmes include supervised fieldwork or an internship. The MSW generally takes two years, includes a supervised practicum, and does not require a bachelor's degree in social work: a bachelor's degree in almost any field is accepted. US credits reflect the hours a class meets each week; they are not ECTS credits. The academic year usually runs from August to May.

Accreditation and licensing

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), founded in 1952, is the national association representing social work education in the United States, and it accredits programmes. Checking that a programme is accredited matters twice over: according to EducationUSA, recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to an institution's accreditation, and for social work the BLS describes the master's degree for clinical work as coming from an accredited programme.

Practising is regulated state by state. According to the BLS, all states require clinical social workers to be licensed, and becoming a licensed clinical social worker requires an MSW, supervised clinical experience after graduation and a clinical exam. Because requirements vary by state, anyone planning to work in the US should check with the state licensure board where they want to practise.

Admission, English and visa

For a bachelor's degree you need to have finished secondary school and generally be at least 17. Each university reviews foreign records itself, sometimes through a credential evaluation agency, and US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission.

Before applying for a student visa you must be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which then issues a Form I-20 (or DS-2019 for exchange programmes).

Where to study social work in the United States

This page lists 93 active schools in the US for social work, spread across the country. No city has more than two, and those with two include New York, Baltimore, Normal and Brookville. Examples include large public universities such as The Ohio State University, the University of Washington and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; private universities such as Columbia University and Long Island University; and community colleges such as Bergen Community College and Broward College.

The Ohio State University College of Social Work shows how a department can be set up: it has bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes and says it helps match students with nearly 2,000 partner agencies for the practicum. When comparing programmes, check CSWE accreditation, how the practicum is arranged, and whether the programme prepares for licensing in the state where you want to work. A degree from one state does not automatically give a licence in another.

Careers

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for social workers was $61,780 in May 2025, and employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. Typical roles include child and family social worker, school social worker, healthcare social worker and, after the MSW and licensing, clinical social worker. For an international graduate, working in the US after study depends on visa rules and on state licensing, which should be checked before choosing a programme.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a bachelor's degree in social work before the master's?

No. According to the BLS, a bachelor's degree in social work is not required to enter a master's programme in social work, and a bachelor's degree in almost any field is acceptable.

How long does an MSW take?

According to the BLS, MSW programmes generally take two years and include a supervised practicum or internship.

Can I work as a clinical social worker with a degree from a US university?

Only with a state licence. According to the BLS, all states require clinical social workers to be licensed, which requires an MSW, supervised clinical experience and an exam. Requirements differ by state.

What does it mean for a social work programme to be accredited?

The CSWE, the national association for social work education, accredits programmes and states that accredited programmes are held to higher standards of responsibility. EducationUSA adds that recognition of degrees by other institutions and employers is linked to accreditation.