Social Work Degree: Master of Social Work (MSW)
We're changing the name of our Master of Social Service degree to Master of Social Work (M.S.W.). Learn more about the degree name change.
About Our Social Work Masters Program
The Master of Social Work program is a balanced curriculum that prepares students for leadership in social work. The program emphasizes the development of professional skills and in-depth practice experience. Graduates of the M.S.W. program become leaders in a variety of social work settings, such as government agencies, health care services, clinical practices, and non-profit organizations. Our curriculum is presented in a flexible format necessary for continual growth in a changing world.
Next Steps Toward Your Masters in Social Work
Unique to our Social Work Masters Program
- Teaches social work ethics and frameworks for applying ethical principles to social work practice
- Promotes the use of knowledge, values, and skills for effective social work leaders across areas of social work practice at the foundation and advanced concentration levels
- Develops strong relationship, assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills
- Utilizes an integrated perspective on theory, practice, policy, research, and ethics
- Encourages self-reflection
- Advances social and economic justice
- Fosters a critical awareness of diversity and the social and cultural forces that impact individuals, families, organizations, and communities locally, nationally, and globally
- Understands and applies knowledge of human behavior in multiple social, cultural, and economic contexts
- Emphasizes critical and creative thinking skills
- Teaches strategies to engage in ethical research-informed practice and learn how practice experience can inform research for increased effectiveness of both
- Develops students' skills for advocacy and policy practice on behalf of clients and client systems
- Creates a learning community that is both challenging and supportive
Choosing an M.S.W. Social Work Degree
Choosing the right graduate degree in social work is about more than just credentials—it’s about finding a program that aligns with your values, career goals, and learning style.
Bryn Mawr College’s Master of Social Work (MSW) offers a rigorous preparation while fostering a tight-knit cohort experience, individualized mentorship, and a deep commitment to social justice.
Explore what sets Bryn Mawr's M.S.W. apart and how it can shape your future in social work.
Explore our Master Degree in Social Work
Curriculum
The Master of Social Work curriculum is comprised of generalist-year theoretical and practice courses, advanced-year practice courses, three units of electives, and four units of practicum education. Course units for earning the M.S.W. degree must total 18.
Bryn Mawr's Practicum Education: A Stand Out Among Master of Social Work Programs
Gain Practical Experience in our Social Work Degree Program
Bryn Mawr's unparalleled practicum education opportunities stand out above the rest. Practicum education is essential to our students' educational experience in the M.S.W. program. Students gain hands-on, real-world experience in their placements that propels them towards successful social work careers.
Enhance Your Social Work Masters Degree Experience
Program options for M.S.W. students.
Dual Degree
Accepted MSW students an apply for the M.S.W./M.P.H. dual degree program within the first year.
Advanced Standing
Designed for individuals who have completed a B.S.W. degree within the last five years.
Certificate Programs
Students who are currently enrolled in the M.S.W. program are also eligible to pursue a Certificate Program.
Guiding You Toward Success After Earning Your Degree in Social Work
Meet Our Social Work Program Alumni
Bryn Mawr’s Master of Social Work (MSW) goes beyond conventional training, equipping students with interdisciplinary skills, hands-on experience, and a deep understanding of social justice to prepare them for impactful careers across various sectors. See MSW Alumni stories below.
Janelle FitzPatrick, M.S.S. '24
“I feel like the GSSWSR has been an environment where I went from surviving to thriving academically. It has been conducive, not only to my learning, but also my personal growth. I’ve made meaningful relationships and networked with other people that ultimately would be beneficial to me in my career path."
Shawn Maxam M.S.S./MLSP '14
“The powerful thing about Bryn Mawr was that I had experiences in the classroom that were formative in developing skills around empathy and being able to listen to different worldviews. I think about how I can use those skills in my current role to create space for engaging ideas and disagreement."
Applicants are admitted with the understanding that they must be available for practicum placements a minimum of fifteen hours/week during regular working hours (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and that the availability of a practicum placement occurring only during evening and/or weekend hours is not guaranteed.
Calendars and Academic Information
Bryn Mawr's Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree and the M.S.W. program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Master of Social Service Degree Name Change FAQ
Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research is changing the name of its Master of Social Service degree to Master of Social Work. The change aligns the degree name with the terminology most commonly used across the social work profession while preserving the program’s long-standing academic rigor, values, curriculum, and outcomes.
Bryn Mawr College is changing the Master of Social Service degree name to better align with the standard terminology used across the social work profession. Master of Social Work, or M.S.W., is a more widely recognized name for graduate-level professional social work education in the United States.
The change is intended to make Bryn Mawr College’s graduate social work program easier to find and understand for prospective students researching social work programs online.
Search data show that many people looking for graduate social work programs search for terms such as “MSW,” “Master of Social Work,” and “social work degree.” Because “Master of Social Service” is less commonly used today, prospective students may not immediately recognize that Bryn Mawr’s M.S.S. is equivalent to an M.S.W. Updating the degree name helps Bryn Mawr better communicate the nature and value of the program.
No. The degree name change does not change the curriculum, academic requirements, field education, faculty, program rigor, or professional preparation.
Students in the Master of Social Work program will receive the same high-quality graduate social work education that has long defined Bryn Mawr College’s program.
The change does not affect the value, validity, or professional standing of M.S.S. degrees awarded by Bryn Mawr College.
Graduates who earned a Master of Social Service from Bryn Mawr continue to hold a fully recognized and valued graduate social work degree. The M.S.S. remains part of Bryn Mawr’s history and reflects the School’s long-standing leadership in social work education.
Yes. Bryn Mawr’s Master of Social Service has always been equivalent to a Master of Social Work in professional preparation, educational outcomes, and career pathways.
The M.S.S. degree dates back to the 1915 founding of Bryn Mawr’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, before the establishment of social work accrediting bodies and before social work licensure systems were created. Although the degree name was distinctive, the program has long prepared graduates for professional social work practice in ways consistent with M.S.W. programs.
No. Bryn Mawr cannot officially change previously awarded M.S.S. degrees to M.S.W. degrees.
However, M.S.S. graduates may request documentation confirming that the M.S.S. degree is equivalent to the M.S.W. in professional preparation and outcomes. Requests may be sent to socialwork@brynmawr.edu.
Bryn Mawr will begin awarding the Master of Social Work degree to students who enter the program in 2027.
Students entering the program in 2027 and later will graduate with an M.S.W. degree.
No. The degree name change does not affect social work licensure.
Bryn Mawr College’s M.S.S. has historically prepared graduates for professional social work licensure, and the transition to the M.S.W. degree name does not change the program’s licensure preparation, curriculum, or professional standards.
Because licensure requirements vary by state, students and graduates should continue to consult the licensing board in the state where they plan to practice.
No. The M.S.W. degree name will apply beginning with students who enter the program in 2027. Current students and students who entered before 2027 will receive the degree name in effect at the time of their admission.
You can read Bryn Mawr’s announcement about the degree name change here.
For questions about the M.S.S. to M.S.W. degree name change, please contact the Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research dean’s office at socialwork@brynmawr.edu.