BRISTOL, Tenn., July 15, 2022 — King University’s new Master of Social Work (MSW) program recently marked a significant milestone in the accreditation process, receiving notification of candidacy status from the Commission on Accreditation with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The approval of candidacy status follows King’s creation of the graduate-level degree in 2021, the enrollment of the first cohort of students in August of that year, and the commission’s visit to King’s campus last November. 

Accreditation for new social work degrees is a rigorous process that typically takes three years, according to program coordinator Clifford Rosenbohm, Ph.D., professor of social work and coordinator of the MSW program.

“Receiving candidacy is the first critical step,” Rosenbohm said. “It affirms the legitimacy of our program and provides students with the assurance that they will be able to seek the necessary licensure needed after graduation. Lots of planning and collaboration are being invested into this process. We’re celebrating the accomplishment of this first milestone, and looking forward to the commission’s next visits.”

CSWE representatives will make additional visits to campus in the fall of 2022 and 2023 for program reviews. A final decision on accreditation for the MSW will likely be announced in the spring of 2024. Once accreditation is achieved, King students already participating in the program, as well as students who enroll for following cohorts, will be recognized upon degree completion as having graduated from a program with CSWE accreditation. 

“Curriculum for this degree is designed to build on the successful foundation of our bachelor of Social Work degree, which received CSWE accreditation in 2014,” Rosenbohm said. “We work very hard to create an academic environment that meets nationally recognized standards and provides our students with the experience they need to be successful. The degree’s online format also provides a flexible way for working adults to balance their time and move forward in their career.”

A fully online program designed to accommodate working adults, the MSW degree is offered in two enrollment options. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than social work may be eligible for the two-year foundational option. Alumni of King’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, along with candidates with an undergraduate social work degree from a program accredited by the CSWE, may be eligible for the advanced-standing option, which enables full-time students to complete their MSW at King in 12 months (30-33 credit hours).

Prospective students have until Aug. 1, 2022, to submit their application for admission to the next foundational cohort and up to April 1, 2023, for the advanced standing option. 

To learn more, visit https://www.king.edu/programs/social-sciences/master-of-social-work/. Additional information about King University is available at www.king.edu.