Academic Programs Catalog

College of Social Science

School of Social Work

Graduate Study
Social Work - Master of Social Work

The Master of Social Work degree program includes extensive required courses and course sequences in social work. Only Plan B (without thesis) is available.

Clinical (micro) social work, also known as direct practice with individuals, couples, families, and small groups, builds upon the profession's values and ethics and strengths-based, person-in-environment perspective.

Organization and Community Leadership (macro) social work, also known as the practice area of specialization, focuses on social issues at a larger scope - programs, policies, communities, laws, or social and governmental institutions - through activities such as program and policy analysis and development, advocacy, fund raising, grant-writing, research, and program evaluation.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission to the Master of Social Work Degree Program

All students begin the Master of Social Work degree program in the fall semester to align their enrollment with the sequencing of required courses. Therefore, applicants should seek admission during the previous fall semester. Students wishing to be considered for admission must complete all application materials. Additional information can be found at www.socialwork.msu.edu. Although an undergraduate major or concentration in the social sciences or in social work may be helpful, it is not required.
To be considered for admission to the Master of Social Work degree program, a person must have:

  1. A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from a recognized institution. (Bachelor of Applied Science degrees are not accepted) 
  2. A grade–point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) during undergraduate study or in 14 or more credits of graduate study.  The grade-point average in the last 60 credits or their equivalents of undergraduate course work is primarily considered.
  3. Evidence of personal qualities considered important for the practice of social work, as demonstrated through the Applicant statement and letters of reference.
  4. Prior work reflecting a liberal arts perspective with 19 credits in humanities and social and natural sciences, such as courses in sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, philosophy, literature, and languages.

In addition to these requirements, applicants to the Statewide Blended and Weekend program options must meet additional requirements. For Statewide Blended, applicants must:

  1. Live more than 30 miles from the East Lansing campus.
  2. Live in the state of Michigan, or if out-of-state, within 50 miles of the Michigan border.
  3. Have regular access to high-speed internet service. 
  4. Complete an online assessment and orientation program on how to learn effectively in the online environment.
  5. Applicants may also be asked to participate in a personal interview.

For Weekend, applicants must:

  1. Live in the state of Michigan, or if out-of-state, within 50 miles of the Michigan border.
  2. Have regular access to high-speed internet service.
  3. Complete an online assessment and orientation program on how to learn effectively in the online environment.
  4. Applicants may also be asked to participate in a personal interview.

Requirements for the Master of Social Work Degree Program
The student must complete 57 credits in specified instruction in social work. Required course work for both the Clinical Social Work major and the Organization and Community Leadership major are taken in the following areas:  social work practice methods, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy, research methods, and field education. Additional information can be found at http://socialwork.msu.edu.

Clinical Social Work
1. All of the following courses (51 credits):
SW 810 Theories of Groups, Organizations, and Communities in Social Work 3
SW 811 Social Work Perspectives in Human Development 3
SW 820 Social Welfare Policy and Services 3
SW 822 Topics in Policy Practice and Advocacy 3
SW 829 Social Work Research Methods I 2
SW 830 Social Work Research Methods II 2
SW 832 Evaluating Social Work Programs and Practice 2
SW 840 Generalist Social Work Practice Methods I 3
SW 841 Generalist Social Work Practice Methods II 3
SW 843 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis 2
SW 845 Administrative Skills in Social Work 3
SW 850 Clinical Social Work Practice I 3
SW 851 Clinical Social Work Practice II 3
SW 894A Social Work Field Education: Graduate Generalist Practice I 4
SW 894B Social Work Field Education: Graduate Generalist Practice II 4
SW 894D Social Work Field Education: Clinical Practice I 4
SW 894E Social Work Field Education: Clinical Practice II 4
2. Complete 6 credits of general electives at the 400-level or higher as approved by the student’s academic advisor.
Organization and Community Leadership
1. All of the following courses (48 credits):
SW 810 Theories of Groups, Organizations, and Communities in Social Work 3
SW 811 Social Work Perspectives in Human Development 3
SW 820 Social Welfare Policy and Services 3
SW 822 Topics in Policy Practice and Advocacy 3
SW 829 Social Work Research Methods I 2
SW 830 Social Work Research Methods II 2
SW 832 Evaluating Social Work Programs and Practice 2
SW 840 Generalist Social Work Practice Methods I 3
SW 841 Generalist Social Work Practice Methods II 3
SW 844 Essential Theories in Organizations and Communities Social Work Practice 2
SW 865 Social Work Leadership in Organizations  3
SW 866 Social Work Leadership in Communities 3
SW 894A Social Work Field Education: Graduate Generalist Practice I 4
SW 894B Social Work Field Education: Graduate Generalist Practice II 4
SW 894G Social Work Field Education: Macro Practice I 4
SW 894I Social Work Field Education: Macro Practice II 4
2. Complete 6 credits of general electives at the 400-level or higher as approved by the student’s academic advisor.
3. Complete 3 credits of general electives from the following approved list of courses. Many courses require permission for enrollment.
ADV 816 Fundraising and Philanthropy in Nonprofit Organizations 3
CSUS 433 Grant Writing and Fund Development 3
CSUS 858 Gender, Justice and Environmental Change: Issues and Concepts 3
GEO 816 The World System of Cities 3
HDFS 860 Youth Policy and Positive Youth Development 3
HDFS 861 Community Youth Development 3
HM 804 Public Health Policy and Administration 3
HM 841 Public Health Policy 3
HM 854 Health Equity Framework for Public Health Practice 3
HM 828 Community Engagement in Public Health Practice 3
HRLR 813 Organizational Behavior for Human Resources and Labor Relations 3
HRLR 816 Organizational Development and Change 3
HRLR 818 Leadership 3
HRLR 822 Training and Development 3
PDC 403 Introduction to Domicology: Sustainable Built Environment 3
PPL 801 Quantitative Methods in Public Policy 3
PPL 802 Quantitative Methods in Public Policy II 3
PPL 806 Policy Evaluation 3
PPL 807 Public Policy 3
PPL 808 Policy Development and Administration 3
PPL 890 Policy Workshop 3
PPL 891 Issues in Public Policy 1 to 3
PSY 873 Methods and Practice of Community Engagement I 3
PSY 880 Foundations of Evaluation Practice 3
PSY 881 Evaluation Design 3
PSY 882 Evaluation Data Collection Methods 3
PSY 883 Statistics for Evaluators I 3
PSY 885 Communicating and Reporting 3
PSY 887 Statistics for Evaluators II 3
PSY 888 Evaluation Management 3
SOC 881 Analysis of Social Data I 3
SW 492 Seminar in Social Work 3
SW 890 Independent Study 1 to 4
SW 891 Special Topics in Graduate Social Work 1 to 4


Admission to the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Program

Persons who hold a recent bachelor’s degree in social work from a program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) may apply for admission to the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Program.

Students begin the program in summer session. Applicants should therefore seek admission during the previous fall semester. Students wishing to be considered for admission must complete all the application materials. Additional information can be found at www.socialwork.msu.edu.

To be considered for admission to the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program, a person must have:

  1. A bachelor’s degree in social work, granted within the last six years, from a program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
  2. A grade-point average of at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) during undergraduate study. The grade-point average in the last 60 credits or their equivalents of undergraduate course work is primarily considered. 
  3. Evidence of personal qualities considered important for the practice of social work as demonstrated through the applicant statement and letters of reference.
  4. Prior academic work reflecting a liberal arts perspective with 19 credits in humanities and social and natural sciences, such as courses in sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, philosophy, literature, and languages.
In addition, applicants to the Statewide Blended Advanced Standing program must also:
  1. Live more than 30 miles from the East Lansing campus. 
  2. Live in the state of Michigan, or if out-of-state, within 50 miles of the Michigan border.
  3. Have regular access to high-speed internet service. 
  4. Complete an online assessment and orientation program on how to learn effectively in the online environment.
  5. Applicants may also be asked to participate in a personal interview.

Requirements for the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Program

The student must complete 36 credits in specified instruction in social work. Required course work for both the Clinical Social Work major and the Organization and Community Leadership major are taken in the following areas:  social work practice methods, social welfare policy, research methods, and field education. Additional information can be found at http://socialwork.msu.edu.

Clinical Social Work-Advanced Standing
1. All of the following courses (26 credits):
SW 822 Topics in Policy Practice and Advocacy 3
SW 830 Social Work Research Methods II 2
SW 832 Evaluating Social Work Programs and Practice 2
SW 843 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis 2
SW 845 Administrative Skills in Social Work 3
SW 850 Clinical Social Work Practice I 3
SW 851 Clinical Social Work Practice II 3
SW 894D Social Work Field Education: Clinical Practice I 4
SW 894E Social Work Field Education: Clinical Practice II 4
2. Complete 10 credits of general electives at the 400-level or higher as approved by the student’s academic advisor.
Organization and Community Leadership-Advanced Standing
1. All of the following courses (23 credits):
SW 822 Topics in Policy Practice and Advocacy 3
SW 830 Social Work Research Methods II 2
SW 832 Evaluating Social Work Programs and Practice 2
SW 844 Essential Theories in Organizations and Communities Social Work Practice 2
SW 865 Social Work Leadership in Organizations  3
SW 866 Social Work Leadership in Communities 3
SW 894G Social Work Field Education: Macro Practice I 4
SW 894I Social Work Field Education: Macro Practice II 4
2. Complete 10 credits of general electives at the 400-level or higher as approved by the student’s academic advisor.
3. Complete 3 credits of general electives from the following approved list of courses. Many courses require permission for enrollment.
ADV 816 Fundraising and Philanthropy in Nonprofit Organizations 3
CSUS 433 Grant Writing and Fund Development 3
CSUS 858 Gender, Justice and Environmental Change: Issues and Concepts 3
GEO 816 The World System of Cities 3
HDFS 860 Youth Policy and Positive Youth Development 3
HDFS 861 Community Youth Development 3
HM 804 Public Health Policy and Administration 3
HM 841 Public Health Policy 3
HM 854 Health Equity Framework for Public Health Practice 3
HM 828 Community Engagement in Public Health Practice 3
HRLR 813 Organizational Behavior for Human Resources and Labor Relations 3
HRLR 816 Organizational Development and Change 3
HRLR 818 Leadership 3
HRLR 822 Training and Development 3
PDC 403 Introduction to Domicology: Sustainable Built Environment 3
PPL 801 Quantitative Methods in Public Policy 3
PPL 802 Quantitative Methods in Public Policy II 3
PPL 806 Policy Evaluation 3
PPL 807 Public Policy 3
PPL 808 Policy Development and Administration 3
PPL 890 Policy Workshop 3
PPL 891 Issues in Public Policy 1 to 3
PSY 873 Methods and Practice of Community Engagement I 3
PSY 880 Foundations of Evaluation Practice 3
PSY 881 Evaluation Design 3
PSY 882 Evaluation Data Collection Methods 3
PSY 883 Statistics for Evaluators I 3
PSY 885 Communicating and Reporting 3
PSY 887 Statistics for Evaluators II 3
PSY 888 Evaluation Management 3
SOC 881 Analysis of Social Data I 3
SW 492 Seminar in Social Work 3
SW 890 Independent Study 1 to 4
SW 891 Special Topics in Graduate Social Work 1 to 4

Residence

One year of residence consisting of two consecutive semesters and involving at least 7 credits of graduate course work each semester is required.

Part–Time Students

Both the Master of Social Work program and the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program are available on a part–time basis.

At the time of admission, students must apply for either part–time or full–time study. Students may transfer between part–time and full–time study with approval of the School.

Part–time students must progress through a plan of study as specified by the school. All students must meet their residence requirements during the year in which they are enrolled in the advanced practice and field education courses.