what is msw stand for?

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
• Family and Children's Social Work.
• Social and Community Work.
• Social Work in Schools.
• Social Work in Criminal Justice.

Making a difference in the lives of others is your calling. If you’re ready to pursue this passion with a career that can make an impact, it may be time to consider advanced social work. Whether you’re already working as a baccalaureate-qualified social worker or are employed in another industry with a bachelor’s degree in a different field, you have options.

Because social work includes many job opportunities, it can be difficult to determine the best path to the rewarding career you want. If you’ve done some research but are confused by the various social work titles and acronyms, you’re certainly not alone.

We’ve compared two of the most common options for advanced practice social workers: LCSW vs. MSW. Keep reading to find out how they differ, and which one is best for your career goals. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to answer the following questions: What is an MSW? What is an LCSW? What can you do with these credentials?

While both an LCSW and MSW are common for advanced practice social workers, they are distinct in several notable ways. Social work terminology can be confusing, so let’s start by answering some of the most common questions:

Now that you understand these important definitions, you can start to see that LCSW versus MSW isn’t exactly an apples-to-apples comparison. It’s not about choosing one or the other — in fact, you’ll need to first obtain an MSW before even being qualified to become an LCSW.

That being said, let’s explore the professional opportunities these social work credentials can lead to.

MSW programs attract students who value ethics, diversity and service to others. Some programs, like the one at UMass Global, take that a step further by providing flexible learning options and an innovative curriculum designed for working professionals.

The primary goal of an MSW program is to help students develop the competencies needed for advanced social work practice. Top-notch programs also focus on developing innovative leaders of change who advocate for social, economic and environmental justice.

MSW curriculum teaches you to identify and understand multidimensional problem solving and uses evidence-based assessment and intervention models that reflect best practices in the social work field. High-quality MSW degree programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which is required by most states for licensing.

MSW social workers can go on to pursue work in many settings. Some examples include:

Now that you know the LCSW meaning, you understand that you’ll actually need to obtain an MSW before being eligible for this title. This graduate-level education serves as a foundation for this important role.

LCSW social workers are licensed to diagnose and treat mental, behavioral and emotional disorders. They administer therapy services to individuals, groups, families and couples. They help clients develop strengths-based strategies to change problematic behavior or to cope with challenging circumstances. Another part of an LCSW’s job is to connect clients with additional resources and services.

Clinical social workers represent the largest group of mental health providers in the nation. They maintain a working knowledge of the following topics:

In addition to an MSW, one must complete at least two years of clinically supervised post-graduate experience before qualifying to become an LCSW social worker. It’s during this time that the student applies what he or she has learned and starts preparing for the advanced social work practice that awaits.

Across the board, social work positions are set to see promising growth. Overall employment is projected to grow 9 percent by 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is faster than the national average for all occupations. Healthcare social workers and those who specialize in mental health and substance abuse disorders are expected to see even faster job growth.

If you’re set on pursuing a rewarding profession, it’s natural to be drawn to social work. After digesting the information above, you should now realize that comparing MSW versus LCSW isn't exactly an equal comparison.

Analyzing your options and weighing the differences between an MSW and an LCSW has hopefully made the path forward a bit clearer. They both lead to rewarding roles – and they both begin with a graduate-level education.

Curious about what an MSW program includes? Explore our online Master of Social Work degree.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) is a master's degree in the field of social work. It is a professional degree with specializations compared to Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). MSW promotes macro-, mezzo- and micro-aspects of professional social work practice, whereas the BSW focuses more on direct social work practices in community, hospitals (outpatient and inpatient services) and other fields of social services. In some countries, such as Australia, the MSW and BSW degrees are equivalent qualifications.

In Canada, the MSW is considered a professional master's degree and is offered through several universities. Most schools are accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE).

All students entering an MSW program are required to have a recognized bachelor's degree in a related field. Generally, students with a Bachelor of Social Work would enroll in a one-year program, whereas those with other undergraduate degrees (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc.) would enroll in a two-year program. In Canada the average Master of Social Work graduate can earn anywhere from C$60,000 to C$150,000, depending on their role and work environment.

The oldest social work program in Canada is offered at the University of Toronto through the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. Social work students at the UofT choose from a number of specializations (gerontology; children and their families; mental health and health; human service management and leadership; and social justice and diversity), with opportunities to pursue a variety of collaborative programs, such as Addiction Studies, Sexual Diversity Studies, and Community Development, to name a few. Students could also pursue their MSW degrees in combination with either a Master of Health Science or a Juris Doctor degree.

Canadian universities that offer the MSW:

In the United Kingdom, clinical social work could first be studied in academia as part of a certificate program beginning in 1908. Later, two and three year programs were introduced. The Tavistock Clinic in London remains the leading centre for the study of clinically oriented social work and offers programmes up to and including Professional Doctorate level. The Journal of Social Work Practice represents the main organ of research and scholarly output in this area in the UK.

In the United States, MSW degrees must be received from a graduate school that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) should the graduate seek future licensure. The MSW typically requires two years of full-time graduate study in combination with two years (900–1200 cumulative hours) of internship, also referred to as field practicum, education, or experience. While some students obtain a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) before pursuing a master's, most MSW programs accept applicants with undergraduate degrees in a broad range of liberal arts fields. Some MSW programs provide BSW graduates with an advanced standing option, allowing them to complete an MSW in a shorter period of time (typically one year).

Most MSW programs allow students to choose a clinical or direct practice track, which focuses on direct practice with clients, or a macro practice track, with a focus on political advocacy, community organizing, policy analysis and/or human services management. While the clinical track tends to be more popular, there has been a resurgence in community practice concentrations recently. There are also opportunities at many universities to obtain joint degrees, such as an MSW and a Public Administration degree, MSW and Public Health, or MSW and Law. The MSW practice scope has broadened in recent years to include the specialty practice areas of geriatrics and work with veterans. In some schools the curriculum is based on a generalist model which integrates the facets of the various practice areas within social work.

The MSW is considered a terminal practice degree in the field of social work. The DSW (Doctorate of Social Work) and PhD in social work are the final degrees offered in the field of social work. There are inherent differences between the DSW and the PhD; the DSW further develops skills to continue practice with individual clients and client systems in the field. The PhD prepares graduates to conduct research and teach in institutions of higher education. It is important to note that the "Master's Degree" earned as part of the completion of a PhD in Social Work is not comparable to the Master of Social Work used in practice and to seek licensure. There are few DSW programs available in the United States.

Though Master of Social Work is by far the most common degree title used by graduate social work schools in the United States, it is not universal. For example, Columbia University School of Social Work offers an M.S. degree in social work, the School of Social Service Administration of the University of Chicago confers an A.M. degree, and the University of Texas confers the MSSW (Master of Science in Social Work) degree. The Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University confers the MSSA (Master of Science in Social Administration) degree. The UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley and the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles both confer the Master of Social Welfare degree, an MSW comparable to the Master of Social Work.

Clark Atlanta University's Whitney M. Young School of Social work is also credited with creating the administration of social work from an Afro-centric perspective. Clark Atlanta's school of social work has also had various stalwarts in the profession affiliated with it such as W. E. B. Du Bois, Dorcas Bowles, Whitney Young, Hattie Mitchell, Naomi Ward and Rufus Lynch.

Although it is possible to be a social worker with a bachelor's degree in the U.S., some fields of practice require a master's degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the profession is expected to grow by 25% between 2010 and 2020. The growing elderly population is resulting in accelerated job growth among gerontology social workers. Social workers with a focus on mental health and substance use are currently in high demand as offenders are directed to treatment instead of jail time, a trend that is expected to continue. A master's degree could be seen as a tool which will help to compete with tomorrow's job market. The Employment Projection shows that those with higher levels of education in the field tend to earn more than those with just a bachelor's degree.

The median annual salary for social workers according to the 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistics was $46,890, or $22.54 hourly. Between the years 2016 and 2026, the job outlook is projected to increase by 16%, which is 9% higher than the national job growth average. Average salaries will vary depending on the specific field of social work itself. Those who seek employment as social workers in the healthcare industry typically average the highest salaries, ranging between $54,141-$65,489. By obtaining a license in the field of clinical social work, the salary ranges from $40,494 to $76,205 according to PayScale.

Social workers' earnings varied according to their area of specialization and work environment:

MSW stands for Master of Social Work, which is a higher education graduate degree. What does LCSW stand for? LCSW stands for “licensed clinical social worker,” which indicates a professional has obtained additional state licensure after earning a master's degree in the field.