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FAQ: What is the difference between an MSW, MSSW and MSSA?
Answer: There is no major difference between MSW, MSSW, and MSSA programs – all three are names for a master’s degree in social work, and the CSWE accredits master’s programs against the same 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) whatever title a program awards.
For students who are interested in a career in social work, especially clinical social work, an important consideration when choosing a masters in social work program is whether the program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE’s Board of Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit bachelor’s, master’s and practice doctorate social work programs in the United States and its territories, and CSWE notes that most state and U.S. territory licensing requirements call for a degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
To become a licensed clinical social worker, you generally need a master’s degree in social work from an accredited institution, supervised practice experience after the degree and a passing score on the Clinical exam, according to the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), though each state’s board sets the exact requirements. Each program decides the formal title of the degree it awards, according to CSWE’s 2022 EPAS Interpretation Guide (version dated July 21, 2026, p. 32), so you may see any of these names for a master’s degree in social work:
- MSW = Master of Social Work
- MSSW = Master of Science in Social Work
- MSSA = Master of Science in Social Administration
CSWE’s program directory shows the degree type for each program it lists, including earlier titles and the years they were used.
Online master’s in social work programs do offer different curricula and concentration options for students, so programs are not exactly the same between different universities. This goes for programs with any designation: MSW, MSSW or MSSA. CSWE’s standards don’t set a list of courses every program must offer, so each program’s course requirements differ (2022 EPAS Interpretation Guide, pp. 31–32).
CSWE now accredits some social work doctoral programs: after piloting practice doctorate accreditation from 2021 to 2025, it began accepting applications from practice doctorate programs, most of which award the DSW, in August 2025. It does not accredit PhD programs in social work, according to CSWE’s practice doctorate accreditation page.
What the degree name tells you, and what to check instead
The letters on a diploma show the title a school chose, not whether a program fits your plans. Whatever a program calls its degree, these are the points to compare:
What to check | What CSWE and licensing bodies say | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
Accreditation status | CSWE lists programs as accredited, in candidacy or in pre-candidacy; candidacy and pre-candidacy apply to all of a program’s locations and delivery methods, and candidacy doesn’t guarantee accreditation (CSWE accreditation FAQs) | CSWE’s program directory |
Field education | Every CSWE-accredited master’s program requires at least 900 hours of field education (2022 EPAS, Accreditation Standard 3.3.3) | The program’s field education office; how social work internships work |
Curriculum and specialization | Each master’s program has at least one area of specialized practice that it defines, and the standards don’t mandate a list of courses (2022 EPAS, Accreditation Standard M3.2.1; Interpretation Guide, pp. 31–32) | The program’s published curriculum; concentrations in online MSW programs |
Licensure in your state | Each state sets its own licensing criteria, and requirements may differ by state (CSWE accreditation FAQs; ASWB) | |
Format and pace | All accredited programs are held to the same accreditation standards whatever delivery method they use, and many offer part-time, evening or online options (CSWE accreditation FAQs) | The program’s plans of study |
Sources: CSWE accreditation FAQs (updated July 2026); CSWE 2022 EPAS; 2022 EPAS Interpretation Guide (July 21, 2026); ASWB, “Becoming a licensed social worker.”
What this means for you: if two programs differ only in their degree title, compare them on these five points instead.
Related questions
Is an MSSA the same as an MSW?
An MSSA, or Master of Science in Social Administration, is another title for a master’s degree in social work; CSWE accredits the program, not the name (2022 EPAS Interpretation Guide, p. 32). Titles can change over time: one long-established MSSA program was authorized in April 2021 to offer the MSW and offers earlier graduates a certificate stating that their MSSA is equivalent to the MSW. If you hold or are reviewing an older title, check in CSWE’s program directory that the program was accredited when the degree was earned.
Does the degree name affect licensure?
Licensing requirements are set by each state’s social work board and may differ by state, according to CSWE’s accreditation FAQs, and CSWE notes that most state and U.S. territory requirements call for a degree from a CSWE-accredited program. Because CSWE accredits master’s programs against the same standards whatever title they award (2022 EPAS Interpretation Guide, p. 32), confirm the program’s accreditation status and your state’s rules rather than the degree name.
Is an online MSW, MSSW or MSSA held to the same standards?
Yes. CSWE says all accredited programs are subject to the same accreditation standards and review criteria regardless of how the curriculum is delivered, and that if a state board requires a CSWE-accredited degree, there is no difference between one earned online and one earned on campus (CSWE accreditation FAQs, updated July 2026).
Is an LCSW higher than an MSW?
They’re different credentials: an MSW, MSSW or MSSA is a degree, while the LCSW is a clinical license issued by a state social work board. ASWB describes the clinical license as typically requiring a master’s degree in social work from an accredited institution, supervised practice after the degree and a passing score on the Clinical exam; learn how the LMSW and LCSW differ.
Online Social Work Programs by School
| Institution & Program | Enrollment | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Time, Part-Time | 54-81 graduate-level credits | |
| Full-Time, Part-Time | 36-60 | |
| Full-Time, Part-Time | 45+ | |
| Accelerated, Full-Time, Part-Time | 37-65 | |
| Full-Time, Part-Time | 57 | |
Adelphi UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 32+ |
Arizona State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 60 |
Boise State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 61 |
Boston UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 43+ |
California State University, NorthridgeMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 60 |
California State University San BernardinoMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 60 |
Campbellsville UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 30 |
Capella UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 44+ quarter credits |
Colorado State UniversityMaster's of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 60+ |
Delaware State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 30+ |
Edinboro UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time | 33+ |
Florida State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 39+ |
George Mason UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 33+ |
Humboldt State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 36+ |
Indiana UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 41+ |
Louisiana State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 33+ |
Metropolitan State University of DenverMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 36 |
Morgan State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time | 30+ |
New Mexico State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 30+ |
Ohio State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 43+ |
Ohio UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 36+ |
Our Lady of the Lake UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 30+ |
Portland State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time | 46+ |
Samford UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 33+ |
San José State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time | 37+ |
Temple UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 30+ |
Texas State University - San MarcosMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 36+ |
The Catholic University of AmericaMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 30+ |
Tulane UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 48+ |
University at Buffalo, SUNYMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 35+ |
University of Alaska, AnchorageMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 34+ |
University of Arkansas at Little RockMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 60 |
University of Central FloridaMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 32 |
University of HoustonMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 39+ |
University of IowaMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 36+ |
University of KentuckyMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time | 30+ |
University of LouisvilleMaster of Science in Social Work (MSSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 30+ |
University of MissouriMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 39+ |
University of Nevada, RenoMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time | 30+ |
University of New EnglandMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 35+ |
University of New HampshireMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 35+ |
University of North DakotaMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 36+ |
University of South FloridaMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 35 |
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleMaster of Science in Social Work (MSSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 37+ |
University of UtahMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time | 45+ |
Western New Mexico UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 39+ |
Widener UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 36+ |
Winthrop UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Part-Time | 39+ |
Yeshiva UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW) | Full-Time, Part-Time | 30+ |
More FAQs about Online MSW Programs
- FAQ: Are there any online MSW programs for non-BSW students?
- FAQ: Are there any online MSW programs that do not require the GRE?
- FAQ: Are there any online MSW programs with a trauma concentration?
- FAQ: Are there any two year online MSW programs?
- FAQ: Can you get an MSW without a BSW?
- FAQ: MSW vs. LCSW
- FAQ: What are the GPA requirements for online MSW programs?
- FAQ: What is the difference between micro, mezzo and macro social work?
- FAQ: What are the highest-paying social work jobs?
Information last updated: October 2026