Undergraduate Education and Professional Achievement of MSWs

Abstract

(AASSW) ruled that, after 1939, a two-year graduate program leading to a master's degree (MSW) would be re quired of schools applying for accred itation.2 This was the primary crite rion for professional entry in social work until 1975, when the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the successor of the AASSW, recognized and began accreditation of bachelor level programs in social work (BSW). Earlier, in 1971, the National Asso ciation of Social Workers (NASW) opened full membership to graduates of BSW programs. Over the last decade, the number of accredited BSW programs in the United States has more than doubled; there were 151 accredited programs in 1975 and 303 by 1981.3 The num ber of graduate programs remained at approximately 87 during that pe riod. Along with the growth of BSW programs, there has been an increase in the number of MSW programs that are combined or joint, that is, programs offering both the BSW and MSW degrees through a five year course of study (approximately half of MSW programs).4 There has also been an increase in the num