Major Takeaways:
- Accelerated MSW degrees let you finish your master’s faster, allowing you to enter the job market and start earning sooner.
- Employers generally value accelerated MSW degrees, appreciating the dedication and motivation required to complete them.
- These programs offer the same learning opportunities and field experience as traditional MSW programs, ensuring comprehensive education.
- Graduating from a CSWE-accredited program, whether accelerated or traditional, ensures high-quality education and prepares you for licensure in all states.
Accelerated MSW degrees come with many benefits. On the one hand, you can complete your MSW faster and enter the job market more quickly. On the other hand, the added knowledge and skills you acquire can help you find higher-paying social work jobs.
But what do potential employers think of accelerated degrees? In short, yes, they typically do. This guide explores what accelerated MSW degrees are, the perceived pros and cons of programs like this from an employer’s standpoint, and much more.
Related:
- Introduction to MSW Programs at Christian Colleges
- Is an MSW From an Online School Worthless?
- Affordable Online CSWE MSW Programs for Non-BSW Graduates
- Is a Non-CSWE MSW Program Worthless?
Understanding Accelerated MSW Degrees
An accelerated MSW is just what it sounds like – it’s a shortened version of a traditional MSW program.
Typical MSW programs usually require two years to complete 60 credits. These programs are designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree but not in social work. If you already have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), you’d likely qualify for an advanced standing MSW, which is a type of accelerated MSW program that requires one year of study to complete 30 credits.
If you don’t have a BSW, though, you don’t have to spend two years getting your MSW. There are fast-track MSW options for non-BSW students that significantly reduce the time to completion – just 18 months in many cases – rather than the more typical two years.
Accelerated programs are fast-paced. In many cases, you’ll take a heavy course load (e.g., four classes at a time rather than three), or you might be required to take classes year-round. Whatever the structure of the accelerated MSW program, you can be sure that you will have a lot of work to do!
Despite being fast-paced, accelerated MSW programs provide the same learning opportunities as traditional programs. You’ll complete the same coursework and finish the same number of field experience hours as students in a traditional MSW.
The Job Market for MSW Graduates
As noted earlier, one of the distinct advantages of an accelerated MSW degree is that you can finish faster and enter the job market. By getting into the job market more quickly, you can start applying for jobs weeks or even months before your peers complete a traditional MSW program.
This is advantageous for another reason – according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job growth rate in the social work field is predicted to be about seven percent over the next decade. This is a faster growth rate than the average; however, there is still a lot of competition for the best jobs. With the MSW job market a competitive one, the sooner you get credentialed and start applying for jobs, the faster you are likely to find employment.
Another advantage of completing an MSW is that you can pursue a social work career in many varied settings and industries. The BLS notes that popular employment areas for social workers include the healthcare industry, schools, and mental health settings. Many social work jobs are also available in the substance abuse, corrections, and child and family welfare spaces.
The current social work industry demand is highest in child, family, and school applications. As such, it’s prudent to pursue an MSW specialization in one of these fields. However, the need for healthcare social workers is expected to grow in the coming years and represents another excellent specialization option.
Employer Perspectives on Accelerated MSW Degrees
What’s obvious is that social work is an admirable career with excellent growth opportunities. What’s less obvious is whether employers prefer MSW graduates from traditional or accelerated programs – or if employers care at all.
We can gain a bit of clarity on this issue by examining some advantages and disadvantages potential employers might weigh when interviewing a graduate of an accelerated MSW program:
| Accelerated MSW Advantages | Accelerated MSW Disadvantages |
| Accelerated programs require students to be highly dedicated, motivated, and committed to their studies. | Accelerated MSW programs are perceived by some employers to lack depth of instruction and/or sufficient field experience. |
| The fast pace of accelerated programs prepares graduates for the rigors of working in this field. | Some accelerated programs are looked down upon for the perception that they lack the comprehensiveness of traditional programs. |
| Accelerated programs are often on the leading edge of best practices, which graduates can implement in their new job. | There is a perception that accelerated programs lack the intensity of traditional programs, especially pertaining to fieldwork. |
| Graduates from accelerated programs might need less training and onboarding than graduates from traditional programs due to the cutting-edge nature of accelerated studies. | There are some concerns that graduates of accelerated programs might be more prone to burnout because of the fast-paced nature of their studies. |
It’s important to note that the potential disadvantages listed above have more to do with employers’ perspective on MSW programs rather than reality. For example, CSWE-accredited programs (Council on Social Work Education) require the same preparation for graduation, whether a program is traditional or accelerated. So, as a graduate of an accelerated MSW, you’ll complete the same coursework and the same number of fieldwork hours (900) as a colleague in a traditional two-year MSW program.
Accreditation and Quality Assurance
One of the most important ways to mitigate concerns of potential employers about your academic preparation is to prioritize CSWE accredited programs.
CSWE is a nationwide non-profit professional organization. Not only that, but it is also responsible for MSW program accreditation. As a professional organization and an accreditor, CSWE is intimately familiar with the necessary qualifications and skills you should have upon graduation. Likewise, CSWE accreditation:
- Communicates to potential employers that you have participated in a high-quality program of study.
- Ensures you get a well-rounded, relevant education with proper hands-on training.
- Prepares you for licensure in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Though graduating from a CSWE-accredited program doesn’t guarantee you’ll gain employment after graduation, it certainly makes you a much more attractive job candidate. This is especially true for licensed social work positions because nearly all states require you to have a degree from a CSWE-accredited program for professional positions.
Professional Development and Continuing Education
Social work degrees go a long way in helping prepare you for employment. But graduating with your master’s degree is only part of the equation. MSW continuing education isn’t just a good way to stay informed of the latest practices in this field; it’s also a requirement to retain your professional license.
Professional development for social workers is important for a variety of reasons. According to the National Association of Social Workers, professional development and continuing education activities ensure that social workers:
- Have the knowledge and skills to provide competent care for their clients.
- Have opportunities to learn new skills and techniques.
- Enhance their understanding of ethical practices.
- Stay abreast of changes in the social work field.
- Can explore different specializations within the social work field.
Opportunities for further education and professional development for accelerated MSW graduates are important for another reason: they can help alleviate the fears of some employers about your preparation for the job. In fact, when hiring MSW graduates, some agencies offer their support – monetarily or otherwise – for new hires to engage in continuing education. When pursuing employment, inquire in your interviews about the organization’s continuing education policies and procedures, so you’re aware of any additional training you might need and understand how the agency might help you acquire that training.
In the end, the traditional vs. accelerated MSW debate mostly comes down to a matter of perception rather than substance. Still, perception is a power thing, so be prepared to face some headwinds as a graduate of an accelerated MSW program. Trust your training and your competence as a pre-service social worker, seek advice from colleagues who have already entered the workforce, and articulate to potential employers how well-trained you are, and you can make the process of finding a job a much easier t
