Most social work students are interested in obtaining the Master of Social Work degree (MSW). Northern Michigan University does not offer the MSW, but we do cooperate with Michigan State University, which regularly offers a distance education MSW on our campus. Please see the Michigan State University School of Social Work for details.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is probably the best starting point for locating information on graduate education in social work. The Council's Web site has links to all accredited MSW Programs in North America.
Other Options:
The MSW is not the only path to a graduate level career in the human service field. You might want to consider one of these other options.
Making the decision to enter the labor market as a social worker after graduation or going on for further education is a personal choice. No choice is the wrong one; each individual’s life circumstances vary and influence this decision.
Benefits of Employment Prior to Graduate School:
Benefits of Entering Graduate School:
Preparation for Graduate School: Every graduate program has specific requirements for admission. One might require a certain test such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), while another may not. Universally, MSW programs will ask the student to provide a narrative statement regarding their interest in pursuing a career as a professional social worker or pose a series of questions to be answered by the prospective student. Generally, three letters of reference need to be obtained from individuals familiar with the student in differing contexts such as a college professor and an employer. Grades are important for acceptance purposes and maintaining at least a 3.0 in undergraduate is highly desirable. Some schools may offer an advanced standing program. Admission to advanced standing programs is competitive and most school require a 3.25 grade point average.
Planning for graduate school needs to begin early. Some schools only accept students once a year, while others admit on a more flexible basis. Either way, applying to grad school is time consuming and includes some expense. Schools vary in terms of the concentration areas offered. The student will save time and money by first investigating a number of schools, then identifying several schools that have the specialization areas that are of interest such as: administration, community planning and development, specific practice area of interest, research and the like. Think big when making application to graduate school; do not rule out a particular school because of its reputation and requirements. Schools like University of Michigan or the University of California at Berkeley, well known for their rigorous academic programs, are likely to have significant financial aid packages as well as scholarships. Like anything else, the more thorough one is in the initial phases of scouting out graduate programs that seem to have a good fit, the more satisfied the student will be with the final outcome.
Each school will have its own financial aid programs. Many offer teaching and/or research assistantships that defray the cost of education. Due to the changing demographic factors impacting who today's college students are likely to be, many MSW programs are offered on a part-time basis, via long-distance education or as Web-based courses
