About CSWE Accreditation

CSWE's Commission on Accreditation (COA) is responsible for developing accreditation standards that define competent preparation and ensuring that social work programs meet these standards. In accordance with the requirements of CSWE's recognition body, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the CSWE Office of Social Work Accreditation administers a multistep accreditation process that involves program self-studies, site visits, and COA reviews.

Current Number of Social Work Programs

As of the October 2021 COA meeting, there are

• 539 accredited baccalaureate programs
• 303 accredited master's programs
• 12 baccalaureate programs in candidacy
• 24 master's programs in candidacy
• 8 baccalaureate programs in pre-candidacy
• 14 master's programs in pre-candidacy

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

• Learn About Degree Mills and Accreditation Mills

CHEA, the organization that recognizes CSWE, has several new resources about degree mills and accreditation mills. Learn more about the problem and how to combat it at the CHEA website.

• Internships: Department of Labor Regulations, and Social Work Field Education

CSWE encourages all field coordinators and program directors to fully understand the Department of Labor factsheet about internships and share this information liberally with students and field site personnel.

• Guidance to Programs Related to Faculty Qualifications and Regional Accreditation

CSWE seeks to assist accredited programs with understanding and responding to regional accreditation standards related to faculty qualifications for teaching. We encourage you to read this document and contact your accreditation specialist if you have questions or need further assistance.