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News
Mar 10 2026
Goshen College and Bluffton University are pleased to announce that their joint Master of Social Work program has been granted accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national accrediting body for social work education. The milestone marks the culmination of a years-long effort to bring a rigorous, values-driven graduate social work program to the Anabaptist-Mennonite higher education tradition.
“We are grateful to the presidents, academic deans and many faculty and staff at Bluffton University and Goshen College for their roles in our program being granted initial accreditation,” said Jeanette Harder, program director and professor of social work at Goshen College. “We are excited that our current and graduated students can now say they are enrolled in an accredited program, and they can surge forward toward licensure and illustrious social work careers, bringing mental health and justice to the people and communities they serve.”
The MSW program traces its origins to 2017, when Goshen College President Rebecca Stoltzfus named the creation of an MSW degree program as a strategic priority for her administration. She soon partnered with the president of Bluffton University to launch the collaborative initiative, which was supported by a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. and is embedded in the strategic plans of both institutions.
It received state approval from Indiana and Ohio and approval from the Higher Learning Commission in fall 2022. Candidacy for CSWE accreditation followed immediately, placing the program on the standard multi-year accreditation pathway. Today’s announcement of initial accreditation represents the successful completion of that process.
The program’s accreditation comes at a moment of urgent national need. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness, yet over half of adults and youth with a mental illness do not receive treatment. The U.S. faces a projected shortage of 195,000 social workers by 2030 (National Association of Social Workers). Among young people, more than 2.5 million youth experience severe depression, and over 60% of those with major depression receive no mental health treatment at all (Mental Health America).
The MSW program directly addresses this gap by preparing graduates for specialized practice in mental health: working with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
“Our MSW program mimics social work practice in its curriculum, grading and field education,” Harder said. “Students learn to integrate spirituality into social work practice through bringing health, justice and hope to the mind, body and spirit of people they serve.”
Since welcoming its inaugural cohort of 22 students, the program has grown steadily — reaching 52 students in its second year and 70 in its third. Students represent approximately 10 states and bring a wide range of backgrounds, identities and professional interests. Nineteen students have already completed the degree and entered the workforce as MSW graduates.
Importantly, students enrolled during or after the academic year in which the program was granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates of a CSWE-accredited program, now that initial accreditation has been achieved.
MSW students attending class.
The program offers an advanced standing option for students who hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, allowing qualified applicants to complete only the specialized practice coursework and earn their MSW degree in 30 credit hours across 1-2 years. Students who hold an undergraduate degree other than a BSW complete the program in 2-4 years, taking 57 credit hours.
That option is one aspect of the program’s flexibility. Students can move through the program at their own pace, taking between one and three courses each semester, allowing them to earn their MSW while working another full-time job. Additionally, classes are held in the evenings via Zoom, allowing students to interact with one another despite their busy lives and collaborate while building their learning communities.
Both Bluffton and Goshen will hold receptions during their commencement weekends, celebrating the program’s accreditation. Prospective students interested in applying to the MSW program are encouraged to visit its program page. Applications for the 2026-27 school year are now open.
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