MSW Programs in Arkansas | Master of Social Work Degree
Arkansas has three CSWE-accredited MSW programs, offered by the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville), UA Little Rock (UALR), and Arkansas State University. All three offer some form of online study, though availability varies by track and concentration, and Advanced Standing tracks for BSW graduates. Social workers in Arkansas earn a median annual salary of $42,960 for child, family, and school social workers, according to BLS data. Figures vary by specialty and role.
If you’re planning a career in clinical social work, child welfare, or community practice in Arkansas, an MSW is the degree that opens the most doors. An MSW from a CSWE-accredited program is required to pursue clinical licensure (LCSW) in Arkansas, and increasingly expected for leadership and specialized roles across agencies and health systems. The good news is that Arkansas gives you real options: three CSWE-accredited programs, multiple concentrations, and both on-campus and fully online formats.
CSWE-Accredited MSW Programs in Arkansas
Only three universities in Arkansas offer a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE accreditation matters because it’s the standard most state licensing boards require for licensure eligibility. If you complete an MSW from a non-CSWE program, you may not qualify to sit for the licensing exam in Arkansas.
The three programs are the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), and Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. All three offer both traditional and Advanced Standing tracks, and all three offer some form of online study, though the extent varies by track and concentration.
| School | Location | Format | Concentrations | Advanced Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville | Campus + Online (Advanced Standing only) | Multi-System Life Course (MSLC) | Yes, 39 credits, 1 year |
| UA Little Rock | Little Rock | Campus + Online | Advanced Direct Practice (clinical); Social and Organizational Impact (macro) | Yes, 37 credits |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro | Online | Rural-Based Clinical Social Work; optional Addictions Studies certificate | Yes |
Traditional vs. Advanced Standing: Which Track Fits You?
The first decision most prospective MSW students in Arkansas face is which admission track to pursue. It comes down to your undergraduate background.
The traditional track is for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in a field other than social work. It typically takes two years full-time and requires around 60-63 credit hours, including a field practicum. Most programs also offer a part-time option for students who are working.
Advanced Standing is designed for graduates who hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, generally earned within the past several years. These tracks skip the foundation year and move directly into advanced coursework. The result is a degree typically completed in about 12 to 18 months, depending on the program and your enrollment pace. At UA Fayetteville, for example, the online Advanced Standing program is 39 credit hours and requires no campus visits. Field placements are arranged near where you live.
If you have a BSW, Advanced Standing is almost always the faster and more cost-effective path. If you’re coming from psychology, sociology, or another related field, the traditional two-year track is your route.
Concentrations: Clinical vs. Macro Practice
Once you’re in a program, you’ll typically choose a concentration that shapes your second-year coursework and field placement. The two main tracks across Arkansas programs are clinical and macro practice.
Clinical concentrations, like the Advanced Direct Practice (ADP) track at UALR or Arkansas State’s rural clinical concentration, prepare you for direct work with individuals and families. This is the path to pursue if you’re aiming for licensure as an LCSW and want to work in therapy, mental health services, or medical social work.
Macro- or community-focused concentrations, such as UALR’s Social and Organizational Impact (SOI) track, emphasize program development, policy, and organizational leadership. This track fits people drawn to administrative roles, community organizing, or social services management.
Your choice of concentration should trace directly back to the license you want and the type of work you’re planning to do. If that isn’t clear yet, a generalist-oriented program gives you more flexibility after you graduate.
Admissions Requirements
Admission requirements are similar across the three Arkansas programs, though specifics vary. In general, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a minimum undergraduate GPA (typically 3.0 for the last 60 credit hours), professional references, a statement of purpose, and official transcripts. Some programs ask for a resume documenting relevant work or volunteer experience in human services.
For Advanced Standing applicants, a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program is required, along with a field instructor reference and documentation of your undergraduate social work education. At UA Fayetteville, international applicants must apply to the Graduate School simultaneously. Domestic applicants wait until after receiving acceptance from the School of Social Work.
If your undergraduate GPA falls below the minimum, conditional admission is sometimes available. Programs will typically grant unconditional status after you complete the first set of graduate coursework with satisfactory grades. Don’t rule yourself out before checking with the program directly.
Licensure and Career Outcomes
Completing an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program makes you eligible to apply for licensure in Arkansas. The state offers three licensure levels: the Licensed Social Worker (LSW), the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and the Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW). Clinical practice and independent therapy require licensure as an LCSW, which involves postgraduate supervised hours in addition to the degree.
You can find the specific requirements for each license level on our Arkansas Social Work Licensure page, which covers supervision hours, exam requirements, and renewal expectations.
In terms of earnings, social workers in Arkansas earn a median annual salary of $42,960 for child, family, and school social worker roles, according to the most recent available Bureau of Labor Statistics data (as of May 2024). Salaries vary by specialty. The job outlook is also positive: BLS projections show 11.9% growth for mental health and substance abuse social workers in Arkansas between 2022 and 2032, with an average of 90 job openings per year in that category, including both new positions and replacement openings. Healthcare and child and family social work add more opportunities on top of that.
Pre-MSW and BSW Programs in Arkansas
If you’re earlier in your education and haven’t yet completed a bachelor’s degree, Arkansas has a broad network of colleges offering pre-MSW coursework and BSW programs. Graduating from a CSWE-accredited BSW program opens the door to Advanced Standing admission at the graduate level. The colleges below offer social work or human services programs that can help you build that foundation.
| School | City | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Northeastern College | Blytheville | anc.edu |
| Arkansas State University-Beebe | Beebe | asub.edu |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro | astate.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville | atu.edu |
| Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas | De Queen | cccua.edu |
| East Arkansas Community College | Forrest City | eacc.edu |
| Harding University | Searcy | harding.edu |
| Henderson State University | Arkadelphia | hsu.edu |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs | jbu.edu |
| Mid-South Community College | West Memphis | asumidsouth.edu |
| National Park Community College | Hot Springs | np.edu |
| North Arkansas College | Harrison | northark.edu |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia | obu.edu |
| Ouachita Technical College | Malvern | coto.edu |
| Ozarka College | Melbourne | ozarka.edu |
| Pulaski Technical College | North Little Rock | uaptc.edu |
| University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Community College | Mena | uarichmountain.edu |
| South Arkansas Community College | El Dorado | southark.edu |
| Southeast Arkansas College | Pine Bluff | seark.edu |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia | saumag.edu |
| Southern Arkansas University Tech | Camden | sautech.edu |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville | Batesville | uaccb.edu |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Hope | Hope | uacch.edu |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton | uaccm.edu |
| University of Arkansas Main Campus | Fayetteville | uark.edu |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock | ualr.edu |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello | Monticello | uamont.edu |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Pine Bluff | — |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith | uafs.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway | uca.edu |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville | ozarks.edu |
| Williams Baptist College | Walnut Ridge | williamsbu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Arkansas?
Three universities in Arkansas hold CSWE accreditation for their MSW programs: the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, UALR, and Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. CSWE accreditation is the benchmark that most state licensing boards use to determine whether a degree qualifies a graduate for licensure. All three programs offer online options and Advanced Standing tracks for BSW holders.
What is an Advanced Standing MSW program?
Advanced Standing is an accelerated MSW track for students who already hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program. Because these students have already completed foundation-level social work coursework, they can skip the first year of the traditional MSW and complete the degree in roughly 12 to 18 months, depending on the program. It’s a faster and less expensive path if you have a qualifying BSW.
Do I need an MSW to become a licensed social worker in Arkansas?
It depends on which license you’re pursuing. Arkansas offers the LSW, LMSW, and LCSW. The LMSW and LCSW require a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. If you’re aiming for clinical practice or independent licensure, the MSW is non-negotiable. You can review the specific requirements for each level on our Arkansas Social Work Licensure page.
Can I complete an MSW program in Arkansas entirely online?
Yes. Arkansas State University’s MSW is 100% online. UA Fayetteville offers an online Advanced Standing track. UALR offers online options for its Advanced Direct Practice concentration. All online programs still require field practicum hours, but these are typically arranged near where you live rather than requiring travel to campus.
What jobs can I get with an MSW in Arkansas?
An MSW qualifies you for a broad range of roles in clinical, community, and administrative settings. Common positions include licensed clinical social worker, school social worker, child welfare case manager, healthcare social worker, mental health clinician, and social services program manager. The degree is especially valuable for roles that require licensure or clinical supervision responsibilities.
Key Takeaways
- Three accredited options: Arkansas has three CSWE-accredited MSW programs at UA Fayetteville, UALR, and Arkansas State University. All three offer online formats.
- Advanced Standing saves time: If you hold a CSWE-accredited BSW, you can complete an MSW in about 12 to 18 months through an Advanced Standing track instead of the typical two years.
- Concentration choice matters: Clinical concentrations lead to LCSW eligibility and direct practice. Macro concentrations prepare you for program leadership and community-level work. Know your target before you apply.
- CSWE accreditation is non-negotiable: Only degrees from CSWE-accredited programs satisfy Arkansas licensure requirements. Verify accreditation status before enrolling in any MSW program.
- Earning potential is real: Social workers in Arkansas earn a median of $42,960 for child, family, and school roles, according to the most recent BLS data. Salaries vary by specialty, with mental health and substance abuse social workers projected to see 11.9% job growth through 2032.
Ready to take the next step? Review Arkansas licensing requirements and explore programs matched to your career goals.
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Social Workers, Social and Human Services Assistants, Social and Community Service Managers, and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2026.
