An Accelerated and Traditional MSW Program Compared

Abstract

A traditional two-year and accelerated sixteen-month MSW program were evaluated by comparing the performance of students on cognitive, skill, and value measures at the midpoint and end of the program. A comparison of score changes and test results at graduation failed to show a meaningful pattern of significant differences between the two groups. The authors concluded that the accelerated program was as effective as the traditional program in producing the desired educational outcomes. Implications of findings are considered in the context of other research in social work education and professional education in other fields.