If you feel called to make a greater impact in the lives of others, you're in good company. According to the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the number of MSW degrees conferred in the U.S. has increased by 67% since 2010, as more social workers seek to address the growing demand for social work practice.

For social workers who already hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), an Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program allows you to advance your social work qualifications and prepare you to meet licensure requirements in an accelerated timeframe. Whether advancing into leadership, influencing policy or specializing in clinical social work practice, earning an MSW can help you uplift individuals, families and communities.

In this blog post, you'll discover the benefits of upskilling from a BSW to MSW and what to expect from the Advanced Master of Social Work program—so you can take the next step in the meaningful work you're called to do.

 

Why Advance from a BSW to MSW Now? 

Interest in graduate-level social work education is growing. According to the CSWE, enrollment in MSW degree programs has increased annually over the past decade, climbing to 83,610 students in the 2022-23 academic year.

This growth reflects the increased availability of online social work programs, which make advancing from a BSW to MSW more attainable. It also shows the rising need for mental health and social services—and the growing demand for social workers.

 

What Is the Career Outlook in Social Work?

Social workers have strong career opportunities, especially in roles requiring advanced education.

Between 2023 and 2033, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects social worker employment to grow by 7%, almost twice as fast as average. Employment growth for those specializing in mental health and substance use and healthcare is projected to be even higher, at 12% and 10%, respectively. Many specialized social work practice roles, such as clinical social work, require an MSW for state licensure.

As demand grows, social workers will find opportunities nationwide. Some of the best states to be a social worker offer competitive compensation, ample job opportunities and a healthy work-life balance.

 

How Can Advancing from a BSW to MSW Transform Your Career in Social Work?

Advancing from a BSW to MSW will help you meet the growing demand for social workers. With a BSW, you may be limited to generalist social work, which can hinder your professional growth, scope of social work practice and earning potential.

Advanced Master of Social Work programs offer an accelerated path to earning an MSW for individuals who have a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program. Graduates are prepared to drive transformative change through specialized social work practice with individuals, families and communities.

 

3 Reasons to Consider Upskilling to an Advanced Master of Social Work

When you progress from a BSW to MSW, you will unlock opportunities to grow, lead and make a meaningful difference in social work. Earning an Advanced Master of Social Work can prepare you to become a licensed clinical social worker, take on advanced and specialized roles and become a leader capable of driving systematic change.

 

1. Obtain Clinical Social Work Licensure 

The State of the Behavioral Health Workforce report from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) states that the nation’s unmet behavioral health needs have reached the level of a “mental health crisis.” Approximately 1 in 4 U.S. adults experience mental illness, yet significant behavioral health provider shortages continue.

When you advance from a BSW to MSW, many advanced standing master of social work programs, such as the one at St. Bonaventure University, provide you with the specialized education needed to pursue clinical social work licensure and close critical gaps in mental health care. While the state licensure rules for clinical social work vary, all states require a master’s degree in social work.

 

What Is the Impact of Clinical Social Workers?

Clinical social workers make a meaningful impact in the lives of others by assessing, diagnosing, treating and preventing mental illness, emotional and other behavioral disturbances, often through individual, group and family therapy.

As a clinical social worker, you will also have a critical role in addressing barriers to behavioral health care:

• Providing education, community outreach and client-centered communication to normalize mental health care and counteract stereotypes that discourage people from seeking it.
• Connecting clients to community resources that improve access regardless of ability to pay, including public benefits.
• Helping clients navigate complex systems that indirectly affect their mental well-being, such as housing assistance programs and healthcare and insurance networks.

Clinical social workers combine direct care, advocacy and research to improve people's lives and advance the broader mission of social work.

 

What Are the Professional Benefits of Clinical Social Work Practice?

A career in clinical social work has advantages for social workers seeking new professional opportunities.

By earning a master’s degree in social work, you can expand your scope of practice and increase your earning potential while making a profound impact on people’s lives:

• Greater Autonomy: With clinical social work licensure, social workers can make practice decisions without approval from a supervisor and, depending on their practice setting, manage their caseload, set their schedule and specialize in a client population. Many clinical social workers maximize their autonomy by starting a private practice.
• Career Advancement: Obtaining an MSW degree and clinical licensure will qualify you for specialized and leadership roles often unavailable to non-clinical social workers, such as clinical director and trauma-informed specialist.
• Earning Potential: Clinical social work jobs often come with higher salaries than generalist positions. According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the average clinical social worker salary is approximately $13,000 higher than that of a social worker in general.

 

2. Take on Advanced or Specialized Roles

Social workers with a BSW are qualified for entry-level and generalist roles. With an Advanced Master of Social Work, you will be prepared to lead change, shape policy and deliver more targeted impact in advanced and specialized social work roles in areas including:

• Clinical practice
• Administration
• Leadership
• Policy
• Advocacy
• Research

These roles require higher-level expertise and often carry greater decision-making authority.

You can also focus your career in a specialized practice area, such as crisis intervention or palliative care, or work with a specific population, including children, veterans or individuals with disabilities.

Examples of advanced and specialized roles in social work practice include:

• Clinical Social Worker: Provides psychotherapy, diagnoses mental health conditions and develops treatment plans.
• Program Director: Oversees social service programs to ensure they deliver intended outcomes, managing resources, budgets and teams.
• Clinical Supervisor: Manages daily clinical operations, ensures services meet goals and standards and supports staff development through training, mentoring and performance management.
• Policy Analyst: Researches, evaluates and develops evidence-based policies that improve access to and quality of social services, often collaborating with government agencies, advocacy groups and community organizations.
• Advocacy Director: Leads efforts to influence policies and practices that advance social justice, including coordinating campaigns, building coalitions and engaging with legislators, stakeholders and the public.

Advanced and specialized roles often carry higher earning potential. According to the NASW, social workers with an MSW earn an average of $13,000 more annually than those with a BSW. This difference can compound significantly over the course of a career.

By moving from a BSW to MSW, you can achieve greater career advancement and expand your influence to transform individual lives and strengthen families and communities.

 

3. Become a Leader in Social Work

Upskilling to an MSW can help you grow personally and professionally through social work leadership. Leadership extends beyond job titles—it’s about advancing social work practice, upholding justice and addressing structural inequities to better serve individuals and communities.

Students in Advanced Master of Social Work programs develop into leaders by acquiring specialized skills in evidence-based practice and building upon their commitment to ethics and social justice. As graduates, they are positioned to lead and influence change with purpose, integrity and impact.

 

How Do MSW Degree Programs Advance Evidence-Based Practice?

Earning a master’s degree in social work will equip you with the advanced evidence-based practice skills to:

• Engage and assess diverse populations in complex problem areas.
• Design and implement targeted interventions.
• Evaluate outcomes using research-informed methods.

Advanced evidence-based practice involves collaborating effectively across disciplines, integrating the latest scientific findings and adapting your approach to be culturally responsive and equitable.

MSW graduates can use these skills to drive meaningful change in their social work practice.

 

How Do MSW Degree Programs Build on Ethical Practice?

MSW programs instill a strong ethical and social justice framework, preparing graduates to lead with integrity and equity.

Guided by the NASW Code of Ethics and principles of anti-oppressive, anti-racist practice, you will learn to confront systemic inequities, apply cultural humility and build inclusive, empowering relationships across all levels of social work.

Grounding your practice in these values prepares you to uphold the highest standards of social work practice.

 

What Should Social Workers Know About Earning an Advanced Master of Social Work at St. Bonaventure University?

You’ve explored how advancing from a BSW to MSW can expand your career opportunities and influence in social work practice. Now, you may be curious about the structure and requirements of Advanced Master of Social Work programs.

St. Bonaventure University (SBU) offers an online Advanced Master of Social Work for individuals who hold a BSW and are seeking roles in clinical counseling settings. It develops students as confident social work practitioners who have the skills to make a long-lasting impact in their community.

Let’s explore common questions about SBU’s online Advanced Master of Social Work so you understand what to expect and how it can support your professional goals.

 

What Do Students Learn in SBU’s Advanced Master of Social Work Program?

SBU’s online Advanced Master of Social Work aligns with the CSWE Social Work Competencies, ensuring graduates are prepared to become empowered leaders in their communities and pursue clinical social work licensure.

The curriculum emphasizes advanced theory and real-world application, equipping students with the skills to deliver ethical, evidence-based and culturally responsive care directly to individuals, families and communities.

Graduates of the program are prepared to:

• Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior guided by social work values.
• Advance human rights and social, racial, economic and environmental justice.
• Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion in practice.
• Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice to address complex client needs, including trauma.
• Engage in policy practice, with specialized training in courses like Social Policy, Justice, and the Law.
• Engage, assess, intervene and evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

In SBU’s online Advanced Master of Social Work program, students develop the ability to work one-on-one with clients and the leadership capacity to enrich their community and shape the future of social work practice.

 

What Are the Program Prerequisites?

Applicants must demonstrate a strong academic background and relevant experience in social work.

Admission requirements for SBU’s online Advanced Master of Social Work program include:

• BSW earned within the past seven years from a regionally accredited and CSWE-accredited program.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references.
• Application essay.
• Official transcripts.
• BSW field evaluation verifying readiness for advanced social work practice.

 

Is the Program Part-Time or Full-Time?

SBU’s online Advanced Master of Social Work program is designed with flexibility in mind. It offers both part-time and full-time options:

• Part-Time: Complete your degree in five semesters (18 months).
• Full-Time: Complete your degree in just three semesters (12 months).

This flexibility allows students to earn their Advanced Master of Social Work in as little as one year, while choosing a schedule that best fits their personal and professional commitments.

 

Is the Program 100% Online?

Students complete their coursework entirely online with no on-campus residences required. They also complete 500 in-person practicum hours in their community.

The coursework and fieldwork run concurrently, so you can immediately apply new skills in practice and develop as a change agent in real time.

 

Do I Need to Find My Own Field Placement?

SBU offers field placement services during the online Advanced Master of Social Work program to support you in securing field work opportunities near your local community—whether in New York or other states.

Field placement services are part of SBU’s broader commitment to student success, which also includes 1:1 advising throughout your educational journey and free career development counseling to help you strengthen your career prospects and marketability after graduation.

 

How Much Does the Advanced Master of Social Work Program Cost?

With SBU, students can earn their Advanced Master of Social Work at a below-average total cost while benefiting from a high-quality, nationally recognized education.

SBU’s online Advanced Master of Social Work program is $825 per credit hour, and SBU is recognized as the #6 Best Value School by U.S. News and World Report.

 

Advance Your Career and Impact in Social Work with an Advanced Master of Social Work from St. Bonaventure University

Advancing from a BSW to MSW positions you to pursue clinical licensure, step into advanced or specialized roles and grow as an influential leader in social work practice. With the rising demand for behavioral health and social services, now is an ideal time to advance your social work skills and approach.

The online Advanced Master of Social Work program at SBU will prepare you to advance your career through education grounded in Franciscan values, commitment to service, respect for human dignity and engagement in critical inquiry. You’ll gain the advanced knowledge, values and skills for effective evidence-based social work practice.

Get started today! Click here to fill out an information form or visit our program page for more information.