Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in Tennessee

There are six MSW programs in Tennessee. Each of these have been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which means they have been vetted for quality and to ensure that they meet the current standards for innovative social work education. If you live in Tennessee (TN) and have considered earning a master’s degree in social work, this article will review these programs so that you can decide which one is right for you. Whether it’s your first time exploring social work as a career, or work in social services already and want to expand your career opportunities, an MSW program might be for you to help you meet your goals.

Social work is a rewarding and challenging career. Many people go into the field because they want to help others. To succeed as a social worker, you should be resilient, compassionate, be a good communicator, and want to help create social change. Day to day as a social worker might consist of working with clients to meet goals, help clients find resources like food and housing, document client progress through case notes, support clients through services they need, and even advocate for policy change in your community.

If you have your master’s degree, you might qualify for more responsibilities. You might be able to provide mental health therapy as a licensed clinical social worker. Maybe you could supervise or manage a social services organization, mental health facilities, hospitals, VA clinics, or nonprofits.

O*Net Online reports that the Tennesee’s social work career outlook and median annual income is as follows:

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 10% (faster growth than other occupations)
  • Average Annual Wages: $48,410
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 23% (much faster growth than other occupations)
  • Average Annual Wages: $43,890
• Healthcare Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 23% (much faster growth than other occupations)
  • Average Annual Wages: $57,110
• Social Workers, All Other
  • Projected Growth: 15% (faster growth than other occupations)
  • Average Annual Wages:  $47,060
• Social and Community Service Managers
  • Projected Growth: 18% (much faster growth than other occupations)
  • Average Annual Wages: $75,490

Comparatively, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that US social workers have a median annual wage of $58,380 as of mid-2023, with the lowest 10% of social workers making less than $38,400 annually, while the highest 10% earned more than $94,910. The BLS also reports that the average career growth is 3%. You might observe that all social work related positions described above have a growth rate that is much higher than 3%, meaning that Tennessee is statistically likely to be in need of social workers.

It’s important to note that the income is just an average, and the pay may vary greatly based on factors such as years of experience, organization, and even location in the city. Even if you work as a social worker already at a bachelor’s degree level, getting a master’s degree might help increase your income opportunities. Master’s level social workers are often in higher demand.

If your goal is to earn a master’s degree in social work in Tennessee, the rest of this article will give you the information you need to know to decide which school to attend.

Tennessee Online Masters in Social Work

There are four MSW programs in Tennessee that offer an online version of the program. Several of them also offer an on-campus version as well.

Online programs can hold a lot of benefits for social work students. In fact, many students in an MSW program are already employed full time, and may have difficulty working their classes around their day job. Online MSW programs in Tennessee give students the opportunity to earn the degree through an online format. However, be aware that many of these programs do require students to come in a couple of times a semester. In addition, students usually have to complete a field practicum that takes place at a local agency in their city. Otherwise, online programs are a great way to earn a degree if it suits your preferences and lifestyle.

Below is an overview of MSW programs in Tennsssee that offer an online component.

CSWE Accredited MSW Programs in Tennessee

All six of the MSW programs in Tennessee are accredited by the CSWE, making any of them a great choice. The CSWE, or Council on Social Work Education, is the sole organization in the US that accredits social work programs. Accreditation is a status awarded to universities who have proven that their program meets the quality standards of the accrediting organization. The CSWE determines these standards to ensure that future social workers are receiving an innovative education that educates students with the most recent studies and knowledge in the field. The CSWE is composed of individuals who are experts in their field, and these experts work together to decide the standards of MSW and other social work programs. So, if you decide to attend a CSWE-accredited program, you can rest assured that it has been vetted by experts.

Enrolling in a CSWE-accredited MSW program can benefit your future as well. These programs properly prepare you to take any post-graduate licensing exams that may come up, such as the clinical social work exam. Because the CSWE standards are consistent across the US, it can allow you to transfer your social work license across some state lines more easily than if you didn’t attend an accredited program. FInally, employers also tend to hire social workers who graduated from a CSWE accredited program, for all of the reasons above.

Below are some of the MSW programs in Tennessee that were not reviewed in previous sections.

No GRE Required MSW Programs in Tennessee

None of the six MSW programs in Tennessee require students to take the GRE for admission. The GRE stands for the Graduate Record Exam. This exam was designed to help universities determine who is most suited to enter their graduate programs by assessing a student’s skills in subjects such as critical thinking, vocabulary, math, problem-solving, and more. The idea was that these skills would indicate the chances of success the student would have in a graduate-level program. However, many universities are beginning to opt out of this requirement for some or all of their programs. Instead, they are choosing to look at the big picture when it comes to a student’s qualifications. These days, programs might look at a combination of factors, including undergraduate grades, life and work experience, references, and more. This tends to give programs a much more well-rounded view of what a student is capable of. Other requirements may vary by program. If you are going to apply to an MSW program, take care to look at their application requirements and fulfill each one, including the essay portion. GPA and test scores are not the end-all, be-all for programs nearly as much these days due to these changes.

Tennessee MSW Programs with Accelerated Advanced Standing Options

All six of the MSW programs in TN offer an advanced standing option. These programs, which were reviewed in previous sections, include:

• Austin Peay State University
• East Tennessee State University
• King University
• Southern Adventist University
• Middle Tennessee State University
• Tennessee State University

An advanced standing program offers qualifying students the opportunity to complete the MSW program in about half the time as the standard program. For example, the standard program usually requires the completion of about 60 credits. The advanced standing program only requires students to complete around 30 credits. It can take about one year to complete this version of the program as opposed to the two years of the standard program (or two years as opposed to three or ffour years for the standard program, if attending part time). An advanced standing program can also benefit students because it is often less expensive than a standard program, since there are less credits that need to be taken.

There is a small catch to enrolling in these programs. To qualify for advanced standing, one must have earned their bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited university, and often within the last 5-10 years. There are also often certain GPA requirements set by the program to qualify. For many, this may not be a problem. But if you have your bachelor’s degree in a subject other than social work, not to worry. You can still apply to the standard social work program.

Affordable MSW Programs in Tennessee

Affordability is a big concern for many students who are considering attending a university. Luckily, there are certain strategies to figure out what will work best for you financially. For example, you might consider filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application determines what grants and loans you may be eligible for based on things like your family size, income, and other factors. The FAFSA has helped millions of individuals save money every year when it comes to school. There are also scholarships available to social work students. Many of these can be found through the university directly, so reach out to your program of choice to find out what is available.The CSWE also offers scholarships in some cases to social work students. 

Additionally, certain schools, usually state schools, offer a more affordable tuition compared to others. The more expensive tuition tends to come from private universities. State universities are often more affordable because part of the cost is supplemented by tax dollars. So, if you go to an in-state school, it is often more affordable because you may have paid into it with your taxes. So, if you want to save money on tuition, look at state colleges in your state first. Below is an example of some of the more affordable MSW programs in Tennessee. The details of these universities were reviewed in previous sections.

• Austin Peay State University
  • Tuition: $470 per credit hour
• King University
  • Tuition: $610 per semester hour
• East Tennessee State University
  • Tuition: $613 per credit hour

Tennessee CSWE Accredited MSW Programs

University Name	City	State	Program Title	Program URL
Austin Peay State University	Clarksville	TN	Master of Social Work	https://www.apsu.edu/socialwork/
East Tennessee State University	Johnson City	TN	Master of Social Work	https://www.etsu.edu/crhs/socialwork/default.php
King University	Bristol	TN	Master of Social Work	https://www.king.edu/programs/social-sciences/master-of-social-work/
Union University	Jackson	TN	Master of Social Work	https://www.uu.edu/programs/socialwork/
University of Tennessee at Knoxville	Knoxville	TN	Master of Science in Social Work	https://www.csw.utk.edu/

Conclusion

If you want to become a Tennessee social worker, the state has a lot to offer. Tennessee is known as the birthplace of country music, Dollywood, the Great Smoky Mountains, and their amazing barbeque. However, like any other state, TN is not without its problems, and social workers are often a vital part of helping people through these problems. Challenges in Tennessee, according to our.tennessee.edu include drug use, elementary school educational needs, and “community decline”, which involves a significantly lower median household income compared to other states, worse health-care access, and more. When it comes to substance abuse, opioids and alcohol are the biggest substances being misused in the state.

Social workers in this state can help with this issues in a number of ways, especially if one is highly educated with a TN MSW degree. A social worker with a master’s degree might support families and individuals who are struggling with substance misuse, help guide families with children who are struggling in school, help families find financial resources, and more. Social workers at a master’s level might find themselves advocating for state or local policies that improve conditions for their community as a whole.

A MSW degree opens up both income and career opportunities for individuals interested in a challenging, but rewarding, career. Those who want to attend a Tennessee school have multiple CSWE-accredited options to choose from.