Board of Accreditation
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA), formerly the Commission on Accreditation (COA), is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to confer accreditation status to baccalaureate and master’s social work degree programs in the United States and its territories. Since its inception in July 1952, CSWE has accredited master’s programs. In 1974, CSWE began accrediting baccalaureate programs.
In addition to baccalaureate and master’s program accreditation, CSWE-BOA also accredits post-master’s social work fellowship programs and is currently piloting accreditation processes for professional practice doctoral programs.
The CSWE-BOA is responsible for both formulating accreditation standards and determining the criteria and process for evaluating these standards. The BOA's accreditation decisions are accompanied by a reasoned opinion, and the accreditation process is conducted in a manner that ensures the continuation of the BOA’s role as the accrediting body for social work education.
Memorandum Of Agreement Between the Council on Social Work Education Board of Directors and the Accrediting Body
In January 2023, the CSWE Board of Directors and the CSWE accrediting body updated the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with respect to delegation of accreditation authorities of the CSWE accrediting body, as established in the CSWE bylaws Article 3, Section 5.
The completion of the MOA comes from a years-long collaborative process between the CSWE Board of Directors and the CSWE Board of Accreditation to update the previous memorandum of understanding, adopted in 2010.
View the MOA revision and process timeline here.
Chair
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Thomas K. Gregoire, PhD, MSW
Associate Professor, Dean Emeritus
The Ohio State University
Vice Chair
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Octavio Ramirez, PhD., LICSW
Professor and BSW Program Director
Fort Hays State University
Member
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César G. Abarca, PhD, MSW
Dean and Professor
New Mexico Highlands University
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George Ashley, PhD, LMSW
MSW Field Director and Associate Professor
Eastern Kentucky University
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Diane Bessel, PhD, LMSW, CNM
Associate Professor, MSW Program Director, and Chair, Social Work & Sociology
Daemen University
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Sheri Boyle, MSW, PhD
Professor
Pennsylvania Western University
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Christina Bruhn, PhD, LCSW
Associate Professor
Aurora University
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Terry Cluse-Tolar, PhD
Professor and Chair
Ohio University
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Roxxi M. Davis, DSW, MSW, LCSW
Assistant Professor, BSW Program Director
University of Indianapolis
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Kim S. Downing, PhD, LCSW, ACSW
Professor and Director of the Social Work Program
Elizabeth City State University
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Antoinette Y. Farmer, PhD
Professor and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
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Maria A. Gurrola, MSW, PhD
Professor
California State University, Monterey Bay
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Jodi Hall, BSW, MSW, EdD
Department Head and Associate Professor
Shaw University
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Daria V. Hanssen, PhD, LCSW-R
BSW Program Director and Associate Professor
Marist College
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Sarah Hessenauer, PhD, MSW, LSCW, MBA
Professor and Chair
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
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Lihua Huang, MSW, PhD
Associate Professor
Grand Valley State University
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Carol Hurst, PhD, MSW, LCSW
Associate Professor of Social Work
Eastern Mennonite University
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Christian Itin, PhD, MSW
Professor
Metropolitan State University of Denver
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Sebrena Jackson, PhD, LICSW
Associate Dean of Educational Programs and Student Services and Associate Professor
The University of Alabama
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Shonda Lawrence, PhD, LMSW, MS
Associate Professor
Governors State University
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Randy H. Magen, PhD
Dean
Yeshiva University
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Cheryl A. McAuliffe PhD, LMSW
Director of Social Work
Grand Canyon University
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April Murphy, PhD, MSW, CSW
Associate Professor
Western Kentucky University
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Emmerentie Oliphant, PhD
Director Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) and Buddy Zeagler Endowed Professor of Community-Based Research
Stephen F Austin University
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Larry P. Ortiz, MSW, PhD
Professor, Social Work & Social Ecology / Director, Social Policy & Social Research PhD Program
Loma Linda University
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Katherine Perone, DSW, MSW, LSW
Professor and Director of Field Education
Western Illinois University
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Mary Rawlings, PhD, LCSW
Professor
Azusa Pacific University
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Emarely Rosa-Davila, PhD, MSW
Associate Professor, BSW Program Coordinator
Texas Woman's University
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Shelly A. Wiechelt, MSW, PhD
Chair & Associate Dean
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
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James Herbert Williams, PhD, MSW, MPA
Arizona Centennial Professor of Social Welfare Services
Arizona State University