Master of Social Welfare (MSW)

students sitting in classroom

Berkeley Social Welfare develops scholars and practitioners who challenge conventional wisdom and discover new paths forward for all members of our society.

Apply to the MSW

Admissions Eligibility and Application Requirements and Process, Funding Options, and Info Sessions

MSW Program Curriculum

Requirements for the two-year, full-time Master of Social Welfare degree.

Berkeley Social Welfare consistently ranks among the top 10 schools of social work and social welfare in the country. Our fully accredited Master of Social Welfare (MSW) Program prepares multi-level practitioners who are trained to:

  • Integrate multiple disciplinary sources of knowledge
  • Provide service to diverse individuals and communities across the social ecology
  • Advance social and economic justice through anti-oppressive and anti-racist practice
  • Leverage evidence-informed practice to inform change strategies focused on individual families, organizations, communities, and policies

Accreditation

The Berkeley Social Welfare MSW Program has been continuously accredited since 1928 by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the sole accrediting agency for professional social work education in the United States. The Berkeley Master of Social Welfare degree is fully equivalent to the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and can lead to a professional license in social work.