LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Best MSW Programs (http://www.bestmswprograms.com), an online guide to education in the field of social work, has published a ranking of the top 50 Master of Social Work programs for 2014-2015. The University of Chicago takes first place in the list, followed closely by Columbia University and the University of Michigan in second and third place, respectively. The complete rankings can be viewed at http://www.bestmswprograms.com/msw-program-ranking/.
Other schools on the list, in alphabetical order:
Arizona State University
Boston College
Boston University
Bryn Mawr College
Case Western Reserve University
Catholic University of America
Florida State University
Fordham University
Howard University
Hunter College — City University of New York
Indiana University — Purdue University Indianapolis
Michigan State University
New York University
Ohio State University
Portland State University
Rutgers University
Saint Louis University
Smith College
Tulane University
University of Albany
University of Buffalo
University of California at Berkeley
University of California at Los Angeles
University of Connecticut
University of Denver
University of Georgia
University of Houston
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Louisville
University of Maryland
University of Minnesota
University of North Carolina
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Southern California
University of Tennessee
University of Texas at Austin
University of Utah
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin
Virginia Commonwealth University
Washington University in St. Louis
Wayne State University
Yeshiva University
The schools considered were limited to those accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CWSE), which has given their accreditation to over 230 graduate programs across the country. Criteria for this ranking included the number of specialization and concentration options within each program, the presence of new and innovative approaches and ideas, and the overall sense that the social work program is important to each university as a whole. Two previous rankings were also taken into account: one by U.S. News and World Report, which has ranked graduate social work programs since 1993, and the other from The Gourman Report on Graduate Schools.
The youngest MSW programs in the rankings were accredited 40 years ago in 1974, and many of the programs have been accredited for over 80 years, points out Julian Schroer, lead editor for the ranking. "Age alone is no guarantee of a great program, but many of these older programs have had a chance to work out the kinks and really begin to expand into a variety of specializations, which means there is a rich and varied educational experience for their students." Schroer goes on to say that "One thing this list offers is a starting point for comparing the strengths and specialties of the best MSW programs in the country."
Best MSW Programs (bestmswprograms.com) is an independent online guide to finding the best Master's in Social Work degree programs. We offer expert reviews and rankings of campus-based and online MSW programs, as well as information on scholarship opportunities for MSW students, careers in social work, salary and job prospects, and much more.
Contact:
Julian Schroer
Site Editor, Best MSW Programs
479-841-8450
Email