CSUSM Earns Accreditation for Master of Social Work

California State University San Marcos announced this month that its Master of Social Work (MSW) program has been granted accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting body for social work higher education.

Accreditation is a rigorous multiyear process to verify that social work degree programs meet high standards.

Blake Beecher, chair of CSUSM’s Department of Social Work, notes that accreditation is a recognition of the outstanding work of the faculty and staff and a reflection of the quality of the program.

Accreditation enables program graduates to be eligible for the state licensure process and provides greater access to professional opportunities which impact the quality of life for all populations.

“Cal State San Marcos’ accreditation in its Master of Social Work program is a credit to the hard work, commitment and dedication of Dr. Beecher and faculty in the department,” said Janet Powell, dean of CSUSM’s College of Education, Health and Human Services.

Under the umbrella of the College of Education, Health and Human Services, the Master of Social Work program helps to develop culturally competent, ethical and effective professionals for direct social work practice with diverse populations. The program prepares students for practice in a variety of settings, including public, private and nonprofit.

The Master of Social Work degree requires completion of 60 graduate units and may be completed in two or three years, depending on full- or part-time status. The MSW program at CSUSM has already been recognized as a high quality graduate social work program as indicated by its Top 10 ranking at graduateprograms.com.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of social workers is projected to grow from 12-19 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. Overall job prospects are particularly good for candidates with a MSW degree and state licensure.

Please visit www.csusm.edu/socialwork for more information.