MSSW Frequently Asked Questions

The Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) awarded by the University of Tennessee is fully equivalent to a Master of Social Work (MSW) for all licensure, employment, and educational purposes — in Tennessee and nationwide. Both degrees are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and meet the same professional standards. UT has used the MSSW designation since the program’s founding, consistent with the university’s tradition of awarding Master of Science degrees. Graduates are eligible for LMSW and LCSW licensure in all 50 states, just as they would be with an MSW.

Yes. The Master of Science in Social Work program at the University of Tennessee is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) — the gold standard for social work education in the United States. The UT College of Social Work has been continuously accredited since 1943, making it one of the longest-standing accredited social work programs in the Southeast. CSWE accreditation ensures your degree is recognized by employers, licensing boards, and academic institutions across the country. All three delivery formats — Knoxville, Nashville, and Online — hold the same CSWE accreditation.

The MSSW requires 60 credit hours for students in the Full-Time or Extended Study programs. This includes 30 credit hours of generalist coursework (including 6 credit hours of field education) and 30 credit hours of concentration coursework (including 12 credit hours of field education). Advanced Standing students — those who hold a BSSW or BSW from a CSWE-accredited program — complete 37 credit hours, consisting of concentration coursework and field education.

It depends on the program path you choose. Your advisor will help you develop a program of study that fits your schedule and career goals.

The UT MSSW offers two concentrations:

• Clinical Practice (CP): Prepares you for direct practice with individuals, families, and groups. You’ll develop advanced skills in assessment, evidence-based interventions, counseling techniques, and therapeutic modalities. This concentration leads to Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensure in Tennessee. Graduates work in mental health, hospitals, schools, substance abuse treatment, private practice, and other clinical settings.
• Organizational Leadership (OL): The only macro social work concentration in Tennessee. Prepares you to lead nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations. You’ll develop skills in program development, financial management, grant writing, policy analysis, and advanced change management. This concentration leads to Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker (LAPSW) licensure. Graduates work in nonprofit management, policy analysis, community development, and organizational administration.

You select your concentration when you apply. Both concentrations are available in Knoxville, Nashville, and Online.

Switching concentrations is possible in some circumstances but is not guaranteed. Students who wish to change concentrations should discuss this with their academic advisor as early as possible. A change may affect your course sequence, field placement timeline, and graduation date. Approval depends on course availability and where you are in your program of study.

MSSW students at UT can pursue one of five specialized graduate certificates alongside their degree:

1. Forensic Social Work — Working at the intersection of social work and the legal system, including criminal justice, family court, and victim services.
2. Gerontology — Serving older adults and their families in healthcare, residential, and community settings.
3. Sport Social Work — Supporting athletes and sports organizations with mental health, performance, and transition issues.
4. Trauma Treatment — Providing evidence-based treatment for individuals and communities affected by trauma.
5. Veterinary Social Work — UT’s pioneering program addressing the human-animal bond, compassion fatigue, grief and loss, and animal-assisted interventions.

Each certificate has its own application process and includes specific coursework and field components. Certificates are optional and do not add significant time to your degree if planned in advance with your advisor.

UT offers three dual degree programs that allow you to earn two graduate degrees in less time than completing them separately:

• MSSW/JD (Social Work + Law) — In partnership with the UT College of Law.
• MSSW/MLS (Social Work + Legal Studies) — Combines social work with legal knowledge for policy, advocacy, and compliance roles.
• MSSW/MBA (Social Work + Business Administration) — Prepares you to lead at the intersection of social services and business management. In partnership with the Haslam College of Business.

Dual degree students apply to both programs separately and must meet the admission requirements of each. Shared elective credits reduce the total coursework required. Contact your advisor or the admissions office for specific credit-sharing details and timelines.

No. The GRE is not required for admission to the MSSW program at the University of Tennessee — for any program path, concentration, or delivery format (Knoxville, Nashville, or Online).

Clinical Practice (CP) focuses on direct work with clients — individuals, families, and groups. You’ll learn advanced therapeutic techniques, assessment methods, and evidence-based interventions. CP graduates typically pursue LCSW licensure and work in roles like therapist, clinical social worker, school social worker, or healthcare social worker.

Organizational Leadership (OL) focuses on macro-level change — leading organizations, developing programs, writing grants, analyzing policy, and managing teams. OL graduates typically pursue LAPSW licensure and work as program directors, nonprofit executives, policy analysts, and community organizers.

Both concentrations share the same generalist foundation (first year for full-time students). You specialize in your concentration during the second year.

We accept applicants with a variety of undergraduate degrees. Applicants typically have a liberal arts background with coursework spanning both social and biological sciences. Typical areas of study include social work & social welfare, and behavioral sciences such as psychology, sociology, child & family studies, criminal justice, anthropology, political science, etc. Students with specific academic deficiencies may be asked to complete prerequisite undergraduate coursework prior to admission.

No, our accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) stipulates that only applicants from a CSWE-accredited BSW/BSSW program can be considered for admission to the Advanced Standing program.

No. Graduate credits that have been used for the completion of another master’s program or graduate certificate cannot be applied toward the MSSW degree. If you have completed a graduate-level course but have not used this course for another master’s degree or certificate program, you may be able to use the course as an elective for the MSSW program if you received a grade of a “B” or higher in that course. Acceptance of such a course as an elective is decided on a case-by-case basis. Please contact [email protected] for additional information.

Applications will be reviewed until the class is full. If your application is complete after the deadline, you will be considered for admission only if space is available, and it is possible that you will be put on a waiting list

Students may apply for admission to either the Full-time, Extended Study, or Advanced Standing program. Application for admission to all three programs is completed through the same admissions process, and the same application is used for all options. In the program selection section of the application you will be required to choose the campus (Knoxville, Nashville, or Online) you are applying to. In the the Social Work section within the application you will select the program of study (Advanced Standing, Full-time, or Extended Study) that you would like to apply to.

Applicants for the hybrid evening program should select Nashville in the program selection section of the application.

Please note that you may be contacted if the MSSW admissions committee feels you are more qualified for one program than another. For example, if you applied for admission to the Full-time program but the committee feels Extended Study would be a better option for you.

No, applicants may only be considered for admission at one campus.

Your application is considered complete when all required documents have been received. Due to the large number of applications we receive, you will not be notified when your application is complete, but you may contact the Office of MSSW Admissions to check the status of your application and find out if any items have not been received.

You may also check the status of your application by logging back into the online application system. Go to the ApplyWeb application portal, click “Online Application,” and enter the same user name and password you created when submitting your application. Click “View Checklist” to see the status of your admission application.

Please be aware that it is your responsibility to make sure that all application materials arrive by the February 1 deadline.

As part of your application to the MSSW program you are required to submit a personal statement. Your personal statement must specifically address your motivation in seeking an MSSW, and as such, it is an extremely important part of the application. There is a 500 word limit for each question. Please see the MSSW Personal Statement Guidelines for details on writing the personal statement. Your personal statement document must be uploaded in your application.

In order for your application to be processed, you will need to upload scanned copies of official transcripts to your application. Copies of transcripts from all undergraduate and/or graduate institutions you have attended are required.

A transcript acceptable for uploading is one that you obtain from your institution’s registrar or recorder of records. Transcripts that are in a language other than English must be accompanied by English translations.

Do not upload into the online application any of the following:

DARS reports or advising transcripts
An evaluation provided by a credential service, for example, Educational Credentials Evaluators (ECE) OR World Education Services (WES)
Institutional web-based transcript/academic record
If you do not upload your transcript(s) with your application, you must have your official transcript(s) mailed directly from the institution(s) to the Graduate Admissions Office. Do NOT have transcripts sent to the College of Social Work Office of MSSW Admissions.

We do allow students from other CSWE-accredited graduate social work programs to transfer credits into our program. Transfer applicants must complete the entire application process and must also submit a course syllabus for each course they are seeking to transfer. Please contact [email protected] for additional information.

All MSSW applications are processed through the MSSW Admissions and Records Office, which is located on the Knoxville campus in Stokely Management Center. An applicant may contact this office with questions about the program, the application process, or the status of his or her application (865-974-1096 or by e-mail at [email protected]

Three (3) references are required as part of your application. References constitute an essential part of the admission process and should be chosen with care. Please choose references who have known you long enough and well enough to make a sound evaluation of your abilities.

Requirements for References:

• Three (3) professional/academic references are required as part of your application. Your references should be from professional (not personal) sources and /or academic faculty.
• Suitable references include individuals familiar with your volunteer, internship, or paid work experience such as employers/ supervisors, professional and academic references. The person evaluating you needs to have been in a supervisory/evaluative position in relation to you.
• References should be able to provide information regarding your ability, character, past academic and/or employment performance over an extended period of time, as well as potential for success in the practice of social work.
• It is required that references NOT be relatives, friends, co-workers, clients, peers, or social acquaintances as references. Please be mindful of dual relationships and provide references that meet the criteria of being academic or professional.
• Applicants to the advanced standing program must have at least one academic reference and one field reference (field coordinator or field instructor/supervisor). If you are applying as a transfer student from another MSW program, include at least one member of the social work faculty at your current/previous MSW institution.

Recommendations for References:

If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program, or have recently graduated, it is strongly recommended that at least one reference be an academic reference from a professor or instructor

It is recommended that references be as current as possible and represent multiple academic, professional, and/or volunteer settings in which you have engaged in a meaningful way.

If you check, “I waive the right to examine this evaluation,” the person writing the reference will write the reference knowing that you will not have access to reading it. If you check, “I do not waive the right to examine this evaluation,” the person writing the reference will write the reference knowing that you can ask to read the reference.

To check the status of your references for a University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) application, log in to your Go Vols Portal or your ApplyWeb application portal. Navigate to the “View Checklist” or Application Status page. You can also contact the Office of MSSW Admissions at [email protected]. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all of their application materials have been received.

Field education is the signature pedagogy of social work — it’s where you apply classroom learning in real-world professional settings under the guidance of an experienced social worker. At UT, field placements are a required part of the MSSW curriculum.

• Full-Time and Extended Study students complete two placements: a generalist placement (first year) and a concentration placement (second year or later).
• Advanced Standing students complete one placement: the concentration placement only.

Your UT Field Coordinator manages the placement process — identifying prospective agencies, facilitating interviews, and matching you with a site that aligns with your learning goals and career interests. You do not contact agencies on your own; the Field Coordinator initiates all agency contacts.

Generalist placements are typically scheduled two days per week during the fall and spring semesters. Concentration placements may vary based on your program path and location.

Yes, in some cases. The UT MSSW program offers an Employment-Based Placement (EBP) option for students who are currently employed at a social service agency. To qualify:

• Your agency must sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Tennessee.
• Your field assignments must be distinct from your regular job duties and aligned with MSSW learning competencies.
• A qualified field instructor (holding an MSW/MSSW from a CSWE-accredited program with at least two years of post-master’s experience) must be available to supervise your educational experience.
• You must have been employed at the agency for at least four weeks before an EBP can be approved.
• Field supervision must remain separate from any employee performance evaluation.

Not all employment settings qualify. Your UT Field Coordinator will review your situation and determine eligibility. If approved, you’ll complete a Confirmation of Field form and meet with the Field Coordinator and an agency representative to finalize the plan.

Field placements are available throughout Tennessee and, for online students, across the country. The UT College of Social Work maintains partnerships with hundreds of agencies — including hospitals, schools, mental health centers, government agencies, nonprofits, courts, and community organizations.

• Knoxville students are placed at agencies in the greater Knoxville area and East Tennessee.
• Nashville students are placed at agencies in the Nashville metro area and Middle Tennessee.
• Online students are placed at agencies in or near their home community, wherever they reside. The UT Field Coordinator works to identify or develop field sites in the student’s geographic area.

International field placements are also available in limited circumstances, typically during the summer term. Students interested in international placements should contact the Assistant Director of Field Education at least 6–12 months in advance.

Very few evening and weekend placements are available. The overwhelming majority of field placements operate during regular weekday business hours (typically 8 a.m.–5 p.m.). This is because CSWE accreditation standards require that students be supervised by a qualified social worker — and most agency-based social work supervisors work standard daytime hours.

Some agencies that serve clients around the clock may offer limited evening or weekend hours, but even in those settings, students are typically required to be available during some weekday hours for orientation, training, supervision meetings, and staff meetings.

If you can only complete your field placement during evenings and weekends, you may be unable to complete the MSSW program. Students with scheduling constraints are strongly encouraged to meet with their UT Field Coordinator early in the planning process to explore options. The Hybrid Evening Program in Nashville is designed for working professionals, but even those students should expect some daytime field obligations.

During your field placement, you’ll receive structured educational supervision from a qualified Agency Field Instructor — a professional social worker who holds an MSW/MSSW from a CSWE-accredited program and has at least two years of post-master’s practice experience. Your Field Instructor will:

• Meet with you for at least one hour of supervision per week
• Help you develop your learning plan and identify appropriate assignments
• Evaluate your progress at midterm and end of each semester
• Serve as a professional role model and educator

You’ll also be assigned a UT Field Liaison who serves as a bridge between the university and your agency, conducting at least one site visit per semester and providing additional consultation and support.

International applicants are those persons who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States, and they must submit additional documentation. In addition to meeting the criteria for admission, they must submit (1) official academic records for all university-level studies completed abroad and at U.S. institutions, (2) evidence of English language proficiency, and (3) documented evidence of financial resources sufficient to support them for 12 months of study. Academic documents must be accompanied by a certified translation if they are not in English. Admission files will not be evaluated without the original language document and the English translation.

Please refer to the Admission Guide for International Graduate Students for additional information.

Conditional admission will be an option in the near future. Please check the College of Social Work website for updates.

No. International students must be enrolled in at least 9 hours each semester to maintain their visa status, so admission to the Extended Study (which is part-time) program is not an option. Please refer to the Admission Guide for International Graduate Students for additional information and requirements for international applicants.

All admission decisions are made by an admissions committee composed of faculty at each campus. The committee reviews applications and then recommends or denies admission for that campus.

The admissions committee reviews a number of factors to determine which applicants are most likely to succeed in graduate social work education. These factors include GPA, content and clarity of the personal statement, information contained in the reference evaluation forms, and volunteer and work history.

Interviews are not typically required as a part of the admissions process. However, some applicants may be requested to schedule an interview regarding their application to the MSSW program. You will be contacted if the admission committee would like to interview you.

You will be notified by email as soon as an admission decision has been made.

Once your application is complete, your file will be forwarded to the admissions committee for review. You can typically expect a decision letter within a few weeks, though the wait may be longer during peak application season.

Applicants who have been denied admission may not be considered for admission to another campus for the same year. This includes the Online program. They must wait until the following year to reapply to the program.

If you are a previous MSSW applicant or previous MSSW student at the University of Tennessee who did not complete the degree program please contact the Office of MSSW Admissions for information about reapplying to the program.

Your first stop should be the Office of Financial Aid website. There, you’ll find information on the various types of aid, the requirements, and how to apply.

All admitted students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA and search for external funding.

The College of Social Work administers a limited number of scholarships and graduate assistantships (see next question for more information). Academic achievement and/or financial need are considered in the selection of recipients, and the criteria depend on the individual award. Further information is provided to students upon admission to the program.

You should also view the funding information on the Graduate School website.

Please note that part-time students are not eligible for department scholarships, graduate assistantships, or Graduate School Fellowships. You must be enrolled in at least nine (9) credit hours each semester to be eligible.

Two to three graduate assistantships in the College of Social Work are available on each campus yearly. Students work ten hours a week during the academic year and receive a monthly salary plus a waiver of tuition. Information regarding assistantships accompanies the College of Social Work scholarship information, and application is made in the same manner as for the scholarships. Awards are made based on previous academic performance, student skills, and financial need.

Students on the Knoxville campus may also apply for GA positions in some other academic departments and administrative offices. While there is no central point of contact for information on GA positions around the university, openings for GA positions will be posted on the Graduate School website.

Initial residency classification is determined from information included on the Graduate Application for Admission, and notice of classification (in-state or out-of-state) is sent at the time the applicant is notified of admission. Questions about residency classification should be directed to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please refer to the Residency Classification Guide for more information.

Please visit the Student Services OneStop site for all questions regarding tuition and fees.

Upon graduation from the CSWE-accredited MSSW program at UT, you are immediately eligible to apply for Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) licensure in Tennessee. The LMSW is the gateway to two advanced license levels:

• LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker): For Clinical Practice graduates who want to provide therapy, counseling, diagnosis, and treatment — including in private practice.
• LAPSW (Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker): For Organizational Leadership graduates who want to practice independently in non-clinical roles such as program administration, policy development, and advanced case management.

The MSSW from UT qualifies you for licensure in all 50 states, since it holds the same CSWE accreditation as an MSW.

What is the difference between LMSW, LCSW, and LAPSW in Tennessee?

Tennessee offers three master’s-level social work licenses, each with different scopes of practice:

The Clinical Practice (CP) concentration at UT prepares you for the LCSW pathway. The Organizational Leadership (OL) concentration prepares you for the LAPSW pathway. Both pathways begin with the LMSW.

Sources: Tennessee Board of Social Workers; Psychology.org; CredentialTrax

Yes. The MSSW from the University of Tennessee is a CSWE-accredited master’s degree in social work and fully qualifies you to pursue LCSW licensure in Tennessee. After graduating:

1. Pass the ASWB Masters exam and obtain your LMSW license.
2. Accumulate 3,000 hours of direct clinical practice as an LMSW (minimum 2-year timeline). All 3,000 hours must involve direct client-therapist contact — assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
3. Complete 100 hours of supervision from an LCSW or LAPSW who has been continuously licensed for at least 3 years (minimum 60 hours individual, maximum 40 hours group).
4. Pass the ASWB Clinical exam.
5. Submit your application to the Tennessee Board of Social Workers with verification of hours, supervision logs, exam scores, and transcripts.

Important: All 3,000 clinical hours must be completed within 8 years of your application date — this is a hard deadline set by the Tennessee Board of Social Workers.

Sources: Tennessee Board of Social Workers; CredentialTrax; Psychology.org

Yes. Because the UT MSSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the degree is recognized for licensure eligibility in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. CSWE accreditation is the universal standard that state licensing boards use to verify educational qualifications.

Tennessee is also part of the Social Work Licensure Compact, which is designed to allow licensed social workers to practice across state lines more easily. As of 2025, the Compact is not yet fully operational, but it is expected to streamline interstate licensure in the near future.

If you plan to practice outside Tennessee, check with that state’s licensing board for any additional requirements (e.g., jurisprudence exams, additional supervised hours, or state-specific continuing education).

Social worker salaries in Tennessee vary by specialty, location, and experience level. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024):

Metropolitan areas like Nashville and Knoxville tend to offer higher salaries. Salaries increase significantly with advanced licensure (LCSW or LAPSW) and years of experience. Licensed Clinical Social Workers in private practice may earn considerably more than these averages.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024

An MSSW from the University of Tennessee prepares you for a wide variety of careers. Depending on your concentration, graduates are able to work as:

Clinical Practice (CP) graduates:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (therapist) in private practice
• Healthcare social worker in hospitals and medical centers
• Mental health counselor at community mental health agencies
• School social worker (K–12)
• Substance abuse and addiction counselor
• Child welfare specialist
• Crisis intervention specialist
• Hospice and palliative care social worker
• many more

Organizational Leadership (OL) graduates:

• Nonprofit executive director or program director
• Policy analyst and legislative advocate
• Community organizer and development specialist
• Government agency administrator
• Grant writer and fundraising manager
• Human services program evaluator
• many more

Social workers are employed across nearly every sector — including hospitals, schools, courts, nonprofits, government agencies, military installations, athletic organizations, and private practice.

What licensure can I earn with an MSSW from UT?

Upon graduation from the CSWE-accredited MSSW program at UT, you are immediately eligible to apply for Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) licensure in Tennessee. The LMSW is the gateway to two advanced license levels:

• LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker): For Clinical Practice graduates who want to provide therapy, counseling, diagnosis, and treatment — including in private practice.
• LAPSW (Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker): For Organizational Leadership graduates who want to practice independently in non-clinical roles such as program administration, policy development, and advanced case management.

The MSSW from UT qualifies you for licensure in all 50 states, since it holds the same CSWE accreditation as an MSW.