The Master of Social Work program at Colorado Mesa University received official accreditation from the Board of Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education in March, according to a university announcement on Apr. 6.
This accreditation is significant for students and the local community, as it ensures that graduates are eligible for professional licensure and enhances opportunities in the human service workforce. The recognition follows a rigorous review process that measures programs against national standards for quality and effectiveness.
“Earning CSWE accreditation enables our graduates to obtain professional social work licensure, such as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker license. This accreditation bolsters opportunities for our graduates, strengthens the human service workforce and ultimately serves the community through a new generation of locally trained social work professionals,” said Interim MSW Program Director Nicole Mattocks, PhD.
For current and prospective students, this means CMU’s MSW program provides an education aligned with industry expectations. Accreditation confirms to employers that graduates have strong knowledge, skills, and ethical foundations necessary for meaningful contributions in their field. It is also essential for licensure and employment in many areas.
Mattocks said, “We could not have gotten to this point without our many agency partners and their dedicated support to our students and the program. Our 41 graduates to date embarked on this journey with a hope of holding an accredited MSW degree, and we are happy to have achieved this landmark for them and all future graduates.”
Community partnerships played a key role in supporting students’ access to advanced education through initiatives like Rocky Mountain Health Plans matching a City of Grand Junction investment of $500,000 toward student loan repayment programs. The Center for Integrated Primary Care Education—a collaboration between CMU’s MSW program and five local clinics—also received nearly $600,000 from the Colorado Health Foundation over three years to provide stipends for interns training at these clinics.
Randall Reitz, PhD, Director of Behavioral Sciences at Intermountain Health Family Medicine Residency said: “Our community has a decades-long history of innovation and expansion of integrated behavioral health services within primary medical care. Since its inception…the biggest challenge…has been the lack of a qualified and diverse workforce. The focus…is to create a pipeline for sustainable workforce development in primary care.”
Mattocks concluded: “We look forward to continuing our work in providing strong social work education that meets the behavioral health and human services workforce needs of Western Slope communities.”
With accredited status now secured, CMU’s Master of Social Work program aims to further strengthen its contribution by preparing competent professionals ready to serve diverse communities.
