13 Best MSW Programs in Michigan (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Graduates of MSW programs in Michigan will be entering a profession that offers a comfortable salary, job security, and a chance to connect meaningfully with others. Demand for licensed social workers in the Wolverine State is projected to increase by 12 percent in the next 10 years, and their average salary is $59,390 a year. You’ll find social workers in Michigan in community agencies, hospitals, government agencies, schools—practically any place where clients need help connecting with resources. Is helping change lives for the better a turn-on for you? Then this could be your career path. Begin exploring the possibilities by reading this list of the 13 best MSW programs in Michigan for 2025.
WHAT ARE THE BEST MSW PROGRAMS IN MICHIGAN (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 13 Best campus-based and online MSW Programs in Michigan.
1) University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
MSW Programs Offered: Part-Time MSW (Evening/Weekend MSW (On-Campus) & Day MSW (On-Campus)), Advanced Standing MSW (Day Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Evening/Weekend Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), & Full-Time Day Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)), and Online MSW (Full-Time MSW (Online), Part-Time MSW (Online), & Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (Online))
Evening/Weekend MSW Concentrations Offered: Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse
Day MSW Concentrations Offered: Community Change; Global Social Work Practice; Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse; Management & Leadership; Policy & Political Social Work; Program Evaluation & Applied Research; Social Work Practice with Older Adults & Families from a Lifespan Perspective; and Welfare of Children & Families
Day Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Community Change; Global Social Work Practice; Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse; Management & Leadership; Policy & Political Social Work; Program Evaluation & Applied Research; Social Work Practice with Older Adults & Families from a Lifespan Perspective; and Welfare of Children & Families
Evening/Weekend Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse
Full-Time Day Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Community Change; Global Social Work Practice; Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse; Management & Leadership; Policy & Political Social Work; Program Evaluation & Applied Research; Social Work Practice with Older Adults & Families from a Lifespan Perspective; and Welfare of Children & Families
Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse
UMich’s MSW program is exceptionally flexible. It can be customized to fit the demands of practically any student lifestyle, and it offers social workers in training their choice of eight specialization pathways: Community Change; Global Social Work Practice; Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse; Management & Leadership; Policy & Political Social Work; Program Evaluation & Applied Research; Social Work Practice with Older Adults & Families from a Lifespan Perspective; and Welfare of Children & Families.
You can enroll in a campus-based traditional MSW or Advanced Standing MSW program that meets on weekdays or in one that meets on weekends and evenings. You can also take the Advanced Standing MSW curriculum online. Additionally, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers a MasterTrack option for students with three or more years of professional human services experience.
University of Michigan MSW Program Details: The traditional MSW track consists of 60 credits and 912 hours of fieldwork, while the Advanced Standing MSW track requires 45 credits and 684 hours of fieldwork. MasterTrack students must complete 45 credits and 912 hours of fieldwork.
Students enrolled in either traditional or Advanced Standing MSW campus-based tracks that meet during the week can choose from any of UMich’s eight concentrations. Students enrolled in the part-time evening/weekend campus track or the online Advanced Standing MSW track can only choose the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse specialization pathway. UMich’s campus-based MSW programs begin in the fall semester.
Like other accredited MSW programs in Michigan, UMich’s traditional MSW curriculum is divided into MSW core coursework, pathway requirements, and fieldwork. MSW core coursework includes classes like “Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work,” “Essentials of Social Welfare Policy,” and “Practicing Policy with Current Events.” The Advanced Standing MSW track consists primarily of the pathway courses and fieldwork hours required of full-time second-year traditional MSW students.
UMich offers a number of completion tracks. Full-time traditional MSW students can complete the degree in two years, while full-time Advanced Standing MSW students can complete it in a single year. The evening and weekends campus option is a part-time track designed for working professionals that can be completed in either two years (traditional MSW students) or three years (Advanced Standing MSW students.)
You can enroll in the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor’s online Advanced Standing MSW program in the fall, spring, or summer. The program is designed to take part-time students three years to complete. MasterTrack students can choose to begin their program online and complete it at the Ann Arbor campus. Once you’ve completed MasterTrack certification, you can enroll full-time and complete the program in three semesters or enroll part-time and complete the program in seven semesters. MasterTrack students may enroll in any of UMich’s eight curricular specialization pathways.
UMich’s School of Social Work maintains relationships with more than 500 social and human services organizations. Though many of these are in southeast Michigan, many are in other parts of the U.S., and UMich’s Office of Field Education works with online students to find field placements close to their homes.
University of Michigan MSW Admission Requirements: Admission into the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor’s MSW program is highly competitive. For admission into the campus-based traditional MSW track, you’ll need a U.S. bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a solid liberal arts tradition. Applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW track must have a BSW with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. You must submit a resume, a Supplementary Statement, and at least one professional reference with your application.
MasterTrack students must complete the MasterTrack certificate before they can be admitted into the MSW program.
Key Highlights For University of Michigan MSW Students
• In 2021, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor awarded 384 Master’s of Social Work degrees.• UMich’s MSW program tops U.S. News & World Report’s list of the most eminent social work program in the U.S.
• This MSW school in Michigan offers three joint degrees: a dual MSW/Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) in conjunction with the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, a dual MSW/Master’s of Science in Information (MSI) in conjunction with the School of Information, and a dual MSW/Juris Doctor (JD) in conjunction with Michigan Law. Additionally, MSW students can create their own joint degree programs, such as a joint Master’s in social work and public health, a joint Master’s in social work and public policy, or a joint Master’s in social work and urban planning.
• The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers a number of post-Master’s and continuing education certificates in areas like Community Action and Research, Trauma-Informed Practice, and Social Work in School Settings.
• UMich offers several specialized academic pathways (some with significant financial assistance), such as the Child Welfare Scholarship Program, the Geriatric Scholarship Program, and Integrated Health with Medically Underserved Populations.
2) Wayne State University - Detroit
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Innovation in Community, Policy, & Leadership (ICPL) and Interpersonal Practice (IP)
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Innovation in Community, Policy, & Leadership (ICPL) and Interpersonal Practice (IP)
The university offers a traditional MSW track and an Advanced Standing MSW track with two specialty areas: Innovation in Community, Policy, & Leadership (ICPL) and Interpersonal Practice (IP.) Both MSW tracks are taught at the university’s campus in downtown Detroit. Additionally, this MSW in Michigan can be taken online, although you will be restricted to the IP concentration.
Wayne State University’s curriculum is also divided into seven practice-specific focal areas, although it isn’t necessary to have a focal area to graduate. These focal areas include Integrated Health, Behavioral Health, and Substance Use; Trauma, Stress, and Violence; Social Work in Criminal Legal Settings; Social Work with Older Adults; Children and Families; Research and Evaluation; and Community Change, Social Entrepreneurship, and Social Justice.
Wayne State University MSW Program Details: The traditional MSW requires 60 credits and either 900 or 1,126 hours of fieldwork. The Advanced Standing MSW consists of 36 credits and either 450 or 676 hours of fieldwork. (The difference depends upon whether second-year traditional MSW students or Advanced Standing MSW students elect to do 16 or 24 hours of fieldwork a week.)
Like other accredited MSW programs in Michigan, Wayne State’s traditional MSW curriculum consists of core courses, specialization courses, and fieldwork. Core courses “Methods of Social Work Practice,” “Lifespan Development in the Social Context,” and “Human Rights, Social Justice and Diversity in an Urban Context.” The Advanced MSW Standing program only includes specialization courses and fieldwork.
Full-time traditional MSW students can complete the program in two years. Part-time traditional MSW students can complete the program in either three or four years. Full-time Advanced Standing MSW students can complete the program in one year, while part-time students can complete it in two.
Wayne State University’s Online MSW program relies upon the same experienced instructors who teach in its classrooms. Materials are presented via a distance-learning platform that utilizes asynchronous technology.
The Office of Field Education maintains relationships with numerous human and social services organizations throughout the Detroit Metro Area and is responsible for all field placements. Online students, however, will be assigned field placements in the communities where they live.
Wayne State University MSW Admission Requirements: Admission into the Advanced Standing MSW program is restricted to students with a baccalaureate social work degree from an accredited program. Applicants to the traditional MSW program need only have a baccalaureate degree. Admissions close once program capacity has been reached. Both these MSW programs in Michigan require you to submit a statement of purpose, a resume, and three professional references with your application.
Key Highlights For Wayne State University MSW Students
• Three hundred twenty-two students earned MSW degrees from Wayne State University in 2021.• According to U.S. News & World Report, Wayne State’s graduate Social Work program ranks close to the top among American social work programs.
• This MSW program in Michigan offers two joint degree options: a dual MSW/Master’s of Public Health (MPH) in conjunction with the Wayne University School of Medicine’s Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences and a dual MSW/Infant Mental Health degree in conjunction with the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute.
• Wayne State’s School of Social Work offers four multidisciplinary post-Master’s certificate training programs in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Studies, Developmental Disabilities, Gerontology, and Research and Evaluation.
3) Eastern Michigan University - Ypsilanti
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Services, Mental Health & Substance Use Recovery Services, and Health & Aging Services
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Services, Mental Health & Substance Use Recovery Services, and Health & Aging Services
Students can enroll in either a traditional or an Advanced Standing MSW program at the university's campus in Ypsilanti. This MSW school in Michigan offers three concentration specialties: Child & Family Services, Mental Health & Substance Use Recovery Services, and Health & Aging Services.
Eastern Michigan University MSW Program Details: The traditional MSW degree requires students to complete 63 credits and 900 hours of fieldwork. Students admitted into the Advanced Standing MSW program must complete 35 credits and 500 hours of fieldwork. Both MSW tracks are explicitly designed for working professionals, so all classes are scheduled for evenings and weekends.
Like other MSW schools in Michigan, Eastern Michigan University’s curriculum is split into foundational MSW classes, concentration classes, and fieldwork. Foundational MSW classes are waived for Advanced Standing MSW students; they begin straightway by taking concentration classes. Foundational MSW classes include “Social Policies and the Social Work Profession,” “Ethics and the Social Work Profession,” and “Social Work Policy Analysis and Change.”
Since the program is customized for working professionals, it is only offered part-time. Traditional MSW students should be able to graduate in four years, while Advanced Standing MSW students should be able to graduate in two years. All students must be able to complete the Master’s of Social Work degree requirements within six years.
Field placements are made in non-profit organizations (and a handful of for-profit organizations) and public agencies committed to working with underserved client populations and communities throughout eastern Michigan. EMU’s field coordinators are responsible for making all fieldwork placements.
Eastern Michigan University MSW Admission Requirements: You’ll need an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 to apply to this MSW in Michigan. You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university for admission into the traditional MSW program and a bachelor’s degree in social work for entry into the Advanced Standing MSW program. You’ll also have to hand in three professional references and submit a personal statement with your application.
Key Highlights For Eastern Michigan University MSW Students
• Eastern Michigan University awarded 63 Master’s of Social Work degrees in 2021.• U.S. News & World Report recognizes EMU on its list of outstanding American social work schools.
• EMU’s School of Social Work offers post-Master’s certificates in Non-Profit Management, Gerontology, School Social Work, and Dementia.
4) Michigan State University - East Lansing & Flint
MSW Programs Offered: Regular MSW (East Lansing MSW (On-Campus), Flint MSW (On-Campus), Statewide MSW (Blended), & Weekend MSW (Blended)) and Advanced Standing MSW (East Lansing MSW (On-Campus), Flint MSW (On-Campus), & Statewide MSW (Blended))
Regular MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Organization & Community Leadership
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Organization & Community Leadership
Michigan State University MSW Program Details: Students pursuing a traditional MSW degree at one of the Michigan State campuses must complete 57 credits and 960 hours of fieldwork. Face-to-face classes are primarily scheduled during business hours, though a few occur in the evenings. Full-time students can complete the program in two years. There is also a part-time program that allows students to complete the program in three years.
Like other master’s in social work programs in Michigan, MSU splits its MSW program into core MSW classes, concentration classes, and fieldwork. Core MSW classes include “Social Welfare Policies & Services,” “Perspectives in Human Development,” and “Clinical Assessment & Diagnosis.”
Advanced Standing MSW degree candidates must complete 36 credits and 500 hours of fieldwork. They begin classes in the equivalent of the second year of traditional MSW studies. Full-time students can complete this track in a single year; part-time students can complete it in two years.
The blended statewide curriculum requires a mandatory face-to-face orientation at Michigan State’s campus in East Lansing. After that, students meet face-to-face one Saturday per week using teleconferencing software and access the remainder of their educational materials online. The blended weekend curriculum requires face-to-face classes once a month at the James B. Henry Center in Lansing, but the rest of the didactic coursework is delivered online using asynchronous technology.
Students typically participate in fieldwork placements 16 hours a week. The Field Education Office maintains partnerships with more than 850 social service programs throughout Michigan, to which they assign fieldwork placements.
Michigan State University MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants to the traditional MSW program need a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited university or college with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW program must have a BSW and a GPA of 3.25 or higher. You’ll need to submit letters of recommendation. Michigan residents applying to the blended programs must live within 30 miles of the East Lansing campus, and out-of-state applicants must live within 50 miles of the Michigan border.
Key Highlights For Michigan State University MSW Students
• Nineteen students graduated from Michigan State University in 2021 with MSW degrees.• U.S. News & World Report lists Michigan State University high on its compendium of the very best schools of social work.
• As an MSW student at Michigan State, you’ll have the opportunity to earn certificates, including Child Welfare, Clinical Social Work With Families, Combat Veterans, Evidence-Based Trauma Treatment, Health and Aging Services, Human Services Management, School Social Work, and Chance At Childhood (in conjunction with the MSU College of Law.)
5) Grand Valley State University - Grand Rapids
MSW Programs Offered: Regular Standing MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Advanced Standing Part-Time Weekend MSW (Hybrid)
Grand Valley State University MSW Program Details: You can enroll in the 60-credit traditional MSW program full-time and graduate in five semesters (two years) or enroll part-time and graduate in eight semesters (three years.) The Advanced Standing MSW consists of 38 credits, which you can complete full-time in three semesters (one year) or part-time in six semesters (two years.)
Like other social work master’s programs in Michigan, Grand Valley State University’s traditional MSW curriculum consists of foundational MSW coursework, advanced courses, and fieldwork. GVSU doesn’t have a concentration as such, so advanced coursework delves deeper into macro and micro generalist social work. Foundational MSW coursework includes classes like “Cultural Competency,” “Human Behavior and the Social Environment,” and “Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Planning.” Advanced Standing MSW students don’t have to take first-year foundational coursework.
This MSW school in Michigan also offers a streamlined Advanced Standing MSW track for working professionals. The Advanced Standing Part-Time Weekend MSW is mainly taught online but requires two face-to-face sessions on Saturdays throughout each seven-week course. Students take a single course at a time and graduate in two years. They can choose start dates in January, May, or August.
The School of Social Work’s MSW field office is responsible for making fieldwork placements. However, remote students are encouraged to identify agencies and organizations within their own communities with which they might want to work. GVSU has relationships with numerous social service providers throughout the Metropolitan Grand Rapids Area and other parts of western Michigan.
Grand Valley State University MSW Admission Requirements: While admission into the traditional MSW program is available to any student with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, the Advanced Standing MSW program is only open to graduates from an accredited BSW program. You’ll need to submit a resume, three professional references, and a five-page personal statement with your application.
Key Highlights For Grand Valley State University MSW Students
• One hundred fifteen students received MSW degrees from Grand Valley State University in 2021.• GVSU host several international programs that give MSW students opportunities to become involved in the social work process of El Salvador, Ghana, and Ireland.
• Grand Valley State University offers a service learning opportunity that enables students to immerse themselves in the culture, history, traditions, and inner workings of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
• GVSU offers a dual MSW/Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) degree.
• This is one of the MSW programs in Michigan that enables MSW students to earn a School Social Work certification.
6) Western Michigan University - Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor, & Grand Rapids
MSW Programs Offered: Standard MSW (Hybrid), Advanced Standing MSW (Hybrid), and Accelerated MSW (Hybrid)
Standard MSW Concentrations Offered: Policy, Planning & Administration, and Clinical Social Work
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Policy, Planning & Administration, and Clinical Social Work
Accelerated MSW Concentrations Offered: Policy, Planning & Administration, and Clinical Social Work
Both these MSW programs in Michigan offer two specialties: Policy, Planning, & Administration and Clinical Social Work. Teaching methods integrate online coursework with classroom experiences.
Western Michigan University MSW Program Details: The 63-credit traditional MSW track admits students once a year in the fall semester. Like all accredited MSW programs in Michigan, it includes foundational MSW coursework, concentration-focused classes, and fieldwork. Full-time students can complete the track in two years, while part-time students can expect to complete it in three. During their foundational year, traditional MSW students will take classes like “Foundations of Social Welfare Policy,” “Social Change and Community Analysis,” and “Human Behavior and the Social Environment.”
Like other Advanced Standing MSW programs in Michigan, Western Michigan University’s Advanced Standing track is almost identical to the second year of traditional MSW studies. Students are admitted into this track once a year in the summer semester. Full-time students can graduate from this track in 10 months, but part-time students will have two years to complete it.
Students select their fieldwork sites in collaboration with WMU’s field office. Western Michigan University will allow you to complete a fieldwork assignment at your place of employment.
Western Michigan University MSW Admission Requirements: Only applicants with a baccalaureate from an accredited institution of higher learning and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher will be admitted into WMU’s traditional MSW track. Applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW track must have a BSW and a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. You’ll also need to submit three letters of recommendation (including one from a licensed social worker) and a resume with your application. Your application will ask you to answer a series of essay questions.
Key Highlights For Western Michigan University MSW Students
• Western Michigan University handed out 47 Master’s in Social Work degrees in 2021.• WMU’s graduate social work program earns a spot on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the nation’s most excellent social work programs.
• In addition to its two concentrations, WMU offers specializations in School Social Work, Trauma, and Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
• Western Michigan University’s School of Social Work maintains partnerships with HU Applied Sciences in Utrecht, Netherlands, University Autonomo de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico, and Rajagiri College of Social Sciences in Kerala, India, which will allow you to study there for a semester or a year while pursuing your MSW degree.
7) Saginaw Valley State University - University Center
MSW Programs Offered: Regular MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
Saginaw Valley State University MSW Program Details: The 59-credit traditional MSW begins classes in the summer semester (July), while the 40-credit Advanced Standing MSW starts in the spring (May.) Both tracks offer full-time and part-time completion tracks: You can complete the traditional track in either two or three years and the Advanced Standing track in either one or two years.
All Saginaw Valley State University’s MSW programs in Michigan are divided into foundation courses, advanced courses, and fieldwork, and Saginaw Valley State University is no exception. Foundation courses included in the traditional MSW first-year curriculum include “Supervision, Leadership & Diagnosis,” “Foundations of Advanced Generalist Social Work,” and “Social Work Research I & II.” All MSW students must also take at least two elective courses.
Advanced Standing MSW students take bridge courses like “Clinical Diagnosis” and “Supervision & Leadership” before proceeding into the second-year curriculum. All students must complete a project that integrates what they’ve learned in classes with the experience they’ve acquired in community practicums.
Traditional MSW students must complete 980 hours of fieldwork, while Advanced Standing MSW students must complete 500. Placements are made to social and human services agencies and organizations throughout the Tri-City Metropolitan Area of Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City, as well as other parts of the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Saginaw Valley State University MSW Admission Requirements: SVSU’s traditional MSW track is open to any applicant who’s earned a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from an accredited institution of higher learning, but the university’s Advanced Standing MSW track is only open to applicants with a Bachelor’s in Social Work degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. For both tracks, you’ll need to submit three professional references and a professional reflection statement with your application.
Key Highlights For Saginaw Valley State University MSW Students
• In 2021, Saginaw Valley State University awarded 54 Master’s of Social Work degrees.• SVSU’s College of Health and Human Services offers certificates in Child Welfare and Juvenile Delinquency.
• Saginaw Valley State University supports the Center for Community Engagement & Experiential Learning, a community outreach organization that works with service agencies throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region.
8) Spring Arbor University - Spring Arbor
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Online MSW (Online)
Spring Arbor University MSW Program Details: Spring Arbor University’s traditional and Advanced Standing MSW programs are designed for graduate students who want to enjoy a conventional campus-based educational experience. The traditional MSW program consists of 60 credits and meets the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) minimum requirement of 900 hours of fieldwork. The Advanced Standing MSW program is 30 credits and meets the CSWE requirement of 500 hours of fieldwork.
SAU’s MSW curriculum embodies a holistic approach to the discipline, organized around values, ethics, and problem-solving. Like all MSW programs in Michigan, it’s split into core MSW components, specialized practice courses, and fieldwork. Core components include classes like “Social Welfare Policy and Services,” “Ethics and Christianity,” and “Social and Cultural Diversity.” Some core classes are offered online.
The Advanced Standing MSW curriculum is equivalent to the second year of the traditional MSW program.
Spring Arbor University offers an asynchronous online option during which you’ll study at your own pace and a synchronous virtual classroom option during which you’ll interact with your instructors and classmates using video-conferencing technology. Additionally, you can choose to meet in a classroom setting one night a week and access the remainder of your coursework online.
Online students will be able to participate in fieldwork experiences in the area where they live. Spring Arbor University maintains relationships with service-based agencies and organizations throughout southcentral Michigan.
Spring Arbor University MSW Admission Requirements: Prospective Advanced Standing MSW students must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited undergraduate social work program. Other applicants to SAU’s MSW program need only have a baccalaureate degree. When you submit your application, you must include a resume, three professional references, and a personal statement.
Key Highlights For Spring Arbor University MSW Students
• One hundred and twenty-six individuals earned MSW degrees from Spring Arbor University in 2021.• SAU offers the graduate social work courses you will need in order to be certified as a school social worker.
• Chapel attendance is required for all MSW students enrolled in campus-based programs.
9) Ferris State University - Big Rapids
MSW Programs Offered: Traditional MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
Ferris State University MSW Program Details: The 62-credit traditional MSW program will take two years to complete when pursued full-time. Its curriculum is divided into foundational coursework, advanced coursework, and fieldwork. Foundational courses include “Diversity & Social Justice,” “Policy Analysis & Advocacy,” and “Human Behavior in the Social Environment.
The Advanced Standing MSW program leaps directly into the second year of the traditional MSW curriculum, so full-time students can complete the program in a single year. Ferris State also offers part-time tracks: four years for traditional MSW students and two years for Advanced Standing MSW students.
Ferris State University is one of the few MSW programs in Michigan that culminates with a capstone experience in which students work with a faculty mentor on research or program development that’s based on their own fieldwork experiences.
Traditional MSW students complete 1,160 hours of fieldwork, while Advanced Standing MSW students complete 640. Field sites in central Michigan include schools, hospitals, behavioral health agencies, child welfare agencies, substance abuse agencies, and other human services organizations.
Ferris State University MSW Admission Requirements: For admission into the Advanced Standing MSW program, you must have a Bachelor’s in Social Work degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.2 in your major. The traditional MSW program requires a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Like many other MSW programs in Michigan, admission into both these Ferris State University’s graduate social work degree programs also requires three professional references, a resume, and a statement of purpose.
Key Highlights For Ferris State University MSW Students
• Ferris State University conferred 29 MSW degrees in 2021.• FSU’s MSW program is designed to prepare students for clinical social work from the perspective of trauma-infused practice.
• Ferris State University is the only university that offers the State of Michigan Child Welfare certificate as part of its curriculum.
10) Andrews University - Berrien Springs
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Online MSW (Online)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Marriage & Family, Mental Health, School Social Work, International Social Work, Social Work & Child Welfare, Human Services Management, and Christian Ministry
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Marriage & Family, Mental Health, School Social Work, International Social Work, Social Work & Child Welfare, Human Services Management, and Christian Ministry
Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Trauma, Clinical/Counseling, and Human Services Management
Andrews University MSW Program Details: This is one of the MSW programs in Michigan with three start dates per year in the fall, spring, and summer sessions. The 56-credit traditional MSW requires 900 fieldwork hours and typically can be completed by full-time students in two years. The 33-credit Advanced Standing MSW involves 500 hours of fieldwork and typically can be completed by full-time students in a single year.
Like other accredited MSW programs in Michigan, Andrews University’s MSW curriculum consists of core MSW requirements, advanced practice courses supplemented by areas of concentration, and fieldwork. Core MSW requirements include classes like “Foundations of Practice I & II,” “Human Behavior & the Social Environment I & II,” and “Christian Perspectives on Professional Ethics.” The university’s Advanced Standing MSW track waives the core requirements except for “Christian Perspectives on Professional Ethics.”
Andrews offers one of the few entirely online MSW programs in Michigan as another degree option. The curriculum is primarily taught utilizing asynchronous technology, but live classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 pm to 9 pm via video-conferencing technology.
The Director of Field Placement makes fieldwork assignments, but students are responsible for completing individualized field learning plans. Every effort will be made to find distance-learning students fieldwork assignments close to where they live. Students prepare portfolios reflecting what they’ve learned in didactic classes and fieldwork assignments throughout their time at Andrews and defend these portfolios before faculty before they will be granted their MSW degree.
Andrews University MSW Admission Requirements: You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.75 for admission into the traditional MSW track and a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for entry into the Advanced Standing track. You’ll also need to submit a resume, two recommendation letters, and a statement of purpose with your application.
Key Highlights For Andrews University MSW Students
• Andrews University is affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventists, and its curriculum integrates social work practice with the Christian faith.• In 2021, Andrews University granted 21 MSW degrees.
• Andrews University offers five joint MSW degrees: dual MSW/MBA degrees in conjunction with the School of Business Administration, dual MSW/Master’s of Arts in Discipleship in Lifespan Education (MA) degrees, dual MSW/Master’s in Community & International Development (MSCID) degrees in conjunction with the Community & International Development Program in the College of Arts & Sciences, dual MSW/Master’s of Divinity (MDiv) degrees, and dual MSW/MPH degrees in conjunction with the School of Population Health, Nutrition and Wellness.
• Andrews University’s MSW programs are mentioned favorably by U.S. News & World Report.
11) Madonna University - Livonia
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work (Aging, Mental Health, and Children & Youth) and Macro Social Work (Community Leadership)
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work (Aging, Mental Health, and Children & Youth) and Macro Social Work (Community Leadership)
Madonna University MSW Program Details: Madonna University’s MSW program was designed to accommodate working students. Many courses are offered online, while others are provided as a hybrid option. Campus classes are scheduled to start either at 4 pm or 7 pm. The traditional MSW track requires 60 credits and 900 hours of fieldwork, while the Advanced Standing MSW track involves 30 credits and 500 hours of fieldwork. You can choose any MSW concentration regardless of the track you’re enrolled in.
As a traditional MSW student, you’ll take core MSW coursework, classes related to your concentration, and fieldwork. Core MSW courses include: “Human Behavior/Social Environment I & II,” “Social Welfare Policy,” and “Diversity and Oppression.” Advanced Standing MSW students are only responsible for concentration-related classes and fieldwork.
Your fieldwork site will be a human services agency or organization in metro Detroit or the surrounding communities, such as courts, hospitals, nursing homes, or shelters. Field placements start at the same time classes do. Faculty associated with Madonna University’s Social Work Department is responsible for making all fieldwork assignments.
This may be one of the best MSW programs in Michigan for students with a social work background who want to minimize the time they spend in school. As an Advanced Standing MSW candidate, you can finish your degree in as few as two semesters.
Students pursuing the traditional MSW track should be able to earn their degree in four semesters.
Madonna University MSW Admission Requirements: For admission into the Madonna University’s MSW in Michigan, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants to Madonna University’s Advanced Standing MSW track must have a BSW. You’ll have to hand in two professional references, a resume, and a reflective personal essay with your application. All applicants must attend an MSW information session during which they’ll be interviewed.
Key Highlights For Madonna University MSW Students
• Madonna University awarded 52 MSW degrees in 2021.• Madonna University offers a post-Master’s certificate in School Social Work.
• Student/teacher ratios at this university are low; the typical class size is fewer than 15 students.
12) Northern Michigan University - Marquette
MSW Programs Offered: Regular Standing MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Online MSW (Online)
Regular Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical and Policy, Planning & Administration (PPA)
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical and Policy, Planning & Administration (PPA)
Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical and Policy, Planning & Administration (PPA)
Northern Michigan University MSW Program Details: Northern Michigan University offers two options for earning your Master’s in Social Work degree: a traditional campus (in-person) option and a global campus (online) option. Both options allow you to pursue either the 50-credit traditional MSW program or the 36-credit Advanced Standing MSW program.
Like other accredited MSW programs in Michigan, UNM’s curriculum is split into foundational coursework, concentration coursework, and fieldwork. Foundational coursework includes classes like “Direct Methods with Individuals,” “Direct Practice Methods with Couples, Families and Groups,” and “Leadership in Communities and Organizations.” Students pursuing the Advanced Standing MSW track don’t have to take foundational MSW courses.
The traditional MSW track was designed to be completed in four semesters (two years); the Advanced Standing MSW track was set up to be completed in three semesters (a year and a half.)
Northern Michigan University’s global online platform uses synchronous video-conferencing technology to optimize involvement with your instructors and classmates. Traditional MSW students must complete 900 hours of fieldwork, while Advanced Standing MSW students are required to complete 500 hours of fieldwork.
If you’re pursuing your MSW degree at the university’s campus in Marquette, the MSW program’s Field coordinator will select your field placement, but online students are expected to identify appropriate field placement sites in the geographic areas where they live.
Northern Michigan University MSW Admission Requirements: You’ll need a four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for entry into the traditional MSW track. For admission into the Advanced Standing MSW track, you’ll need a BSW degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. NMU is one of the social work master’s programs in Michigan that also requires a personal statement and three professional references for admission.
Applicants living in the Upper Peninsula, northern Michigan, or northern Wisconsin are given preference for Northern Michigan University’s online programs.
Key Highlights For Northern Michigan University MSW Students
• In 2021, Northern Michigan University bestowed 25 Master’s of Social Work degrees.• Northern Michigan University admits students into its MSW courses who aren’t interested in earning a degree but are seeking a teaching certification or professional development.
• NMU’s Social Work Department offers certification for substance abuse counselors.
13) Oakland University - Rochester
MSW Programs Offered: Traditional MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Integrated Health, Community & Organizational Leadership, and School Social Work
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Integrated Health, Community & Organizational Leadership, and School Social Work
Oakland University MSW Program Details: Like many other MSW programs in Michigan, Oakland University’s traditional MSW and Advanced Standing MSW tracks are both taught on campus. The traditional MSW track requires 64 credits and 900 hours of fieldwork; the Advanced Standing MSW track consists of 34 credits and 450 hours of fieldwork.
The MSW curriculum features core MSW courses, electives related to specialty concentrations, and fieldwork. As a traditional MSW student, you’ll take core classes like “Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II,” “Social Welfare Policies,” and “Fundamentals of Social Work Research.” Advanced Standing MSW students must take seven foundational MSW courses that are not part of the traditional undergraduate social work curriculum.
Full-time students will complete the traditional MSW curriculum in two years and the Advanced Standing MSW curriculum in one year. Part-time enrollment is an option, but students must develop their own individualized class schedule for that.
Oakland University’s field office staff assigns students to fieldwork sites, but students must develop an individualized learning plan jointly with their field instructor and field site. Oakland University maintains relationships with human and social service agencies throughout the Greater Metropolitan Detroit Area.
Oakland University MSW Admission Requirements: Students with BSW degrees from accredited colleges or universities may apply for entry to Oakland University’s Advanced Standing MSW track. You must apply to the traditional MSW track if your bachelor’s degree is in a different discipline. If you’re seeking entry into the Advanced Standing MSW track, you’ll need a minimum GPA of 3.25; otherwise, you can apply with a minimum GPA of 3.0. As with several other MSW programs in Michigan, prospective students must submit two professional references, a personal statement, and a resume.
Key Highlights For Oakland University MSW Students
• Oakland University’s MSW degree is a comparatively new program that launched in the summer of 2022.• Students who graduate from Oakland University’s MSW degree program before the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation process is complete will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program once accreditation is attained.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Are The Total Number Of Accredited MSW Programs In Michigan?
As per the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), currently, there are 13 accredited Master Of Social Work programs in Michigan.| Total MSW Programs in Michigan |
| 13 |
How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Hour In Michigan?
The average salary of an MSW graduate per hour In Michigan is $28.55.How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Year In Michigan?
The average salary of an MSW graduate per year In Michigan is $59,390.
Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.
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