Social Work Program Data

Social Work Programs

There are more than 660 accredited social work programs in the United States and its territories. Over 460 of those programs are baccalaureate and almost 200 are master's. The programs are very diverse in institutional environment and curricular offerings. Further information about some of the CSWE data collection initiatives and resources on social work programs is below.

Annual Survey of Social Work Programs

Each year social work programs respond to the Annual Survey of Social Work Programs, which includes questions about program structure, faculty, students, financial aid, field placements, concentrations, and graduates. Summaries of the data are available below. Additionally, program directors can request individualized reports through the Benchmarking Service.

• 2008 Annual Survey Findings (Coming Soon!)

• 2007 Annual Survey Findings
  

- Research Brief (PDF)
- Special Brief - Top Findings on BSW Programs (PDF)

• 2006 Annual Survey Findings

- Research Brief
- Summary

Veterans

In 2008, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)—in partnership with the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD), the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE), the National Association of Social Work Deans and Directors (NADD), and the St. Louis Group (SLG)—established the Joint Task Force on Veterans Affairs. The Joint Task Force report was accepted by the CSWE Board of Directors in November 2009 and is now available (PDF). CSWE staff will be working to implement many of the recommendations this year. 

Community Colleges and Human Services Degrees

• Articulation Agreements in Social Work - Findings from a 2008 survey of accredited baccalaureate programs about articulation agreements formed between social work programs and human services degree programs. (PDF)

• Community Colleges and the Preparation of the Human Services Workforce - In 2006, Lazarina Topuzova prepared for the John A. Hartford Foundation, background information on human services educational programs at the community college level, the transfer of students from those programs to baccalaureate social work programs, and articulation agreements between social work programs and community colleges.(PDF)

Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression

In 2009, CSWE and Lambda Legal jointly released the results of a study on sexual orientation and gender expression in social work programs aimed to determine the level of preparation for students to serve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) individuals and LGBT youth in out-of-home care. This nationwide survey revealed that program directors and faculty need more resources to increase their knowledge on sexual orientation and gender expression and to further infuse content on LGBT individuals and youth throughout curricula areas.

• Executive Summary (PDF)
• Full Report (PDF)

Distance Education

In 2006, the Commission on Accreditation (COA), Research and Information Technology Committee surveyed programs on the use of distance education in social work education. The survey sought information on the number and type of courses being offered, future plans with distance education, and feedback on experience with distance education and issues that COA should consider in development of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.

Leadership Development

Bradford W. Shaefor studied leadership development in social work during his term as a CSWE Senior Scholar in Fall 2005. He examined what leadership development is currently available to social work faculty and the feasibility and needs for a leadership institute. Dr. Shaefor also worked with the Commission on Professional Development to survey the CSWE membership on which social workers were currently serving in leadership positions in academia or had completed leadership training. (PDF)