Online Master of Social Work
Help Individuals and Your Community Flourish
The University of Michigan-Flint’s online Master of Social Work program offers a flexible learning environment where you can cultivate your passion for helping people in your community and enact positive change.
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Specially designed for working professionals, our MSW program coursework utilizes a 100% online format, offering a combination of real-time synchronous and asynchronous courses. Our program also delivers community-based learning and extensive internship opportunities to develop your practical expertise. With full-time and part-time options available for regular standing and advanced standing status, our MSW program offers flexible options to fit your busy life.
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Why Earn Your MSW Degree at UM-Flint?
100% Online Coursework with In-Person Internship
At UM-Flint, we understand that flexibility is essential to helping you reach your goals. Our MSW program provides flexible online coursework to build a solid theoretical foundation and immersive in-person internship experiences to refine your skills as a social work practitioner.
Our MSW program offers an online learning format (synchronous and asynchronous classes). You can attend our synchronous courses via Zoom in the evenings and complete your asynchronous courses on your own time, allowing you to earn your degree without pausing your career.
Along with the online coursework, you complete an in-person internship at a social service agency in your area of residence. Your internship will connect coursework with real-world learning experiences in a professional social work setting.
Optional in-person, on-campus touchpoints will provide opportunities to engage in meaningful interactions with faculty and peers.
Earn your MSW on Your Schedule: Part-Time, Full-Time, and Advanced Standing Options
UM-Flint offers part-time and full-time* Regular-Standing MSW programs for non-BSW students who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than social work and BSW graduates who do not meet the Advanced Standing eligibility. Applicants who are not admitted to the Advanced Standing program are eligible to re-apply for Regular Standing.
Part-time and full-time* advanced-standing MSW programs are available for students who have earned a bachelor’s in social work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited institution within the last eight years, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
*-The number of credit hours used to determine full- and part-time status as defined by the University of Michigan-Flint policy may differ from the MSW program.
| Program Option | Full-Time/Part-time |
| Regular standing (non-BSW or BSW earned more than eight years ago) • 60 credits with 900 hours of internship | Part-time (3 years/7 semesters) Full-time (2 years/5 semesters) |
| Advanced Standing (BSW earned within the last eight years at the time of admission w/3.0 GPA or higher) • 36 credits with 500 hours of internship | Part-time (2 years/5 semesters) Full-time (1 year/3 semesters) |
Emphasis on Community-Based Learning
Your work as a social worker revolves around individuals, families and communities. UM-Flint’s MSW program strives to inspire your dedication to the profession through community-based learning. Our curriculum delivers a well-rounded graduate education that empowers you to engage with communities outside the classroom, participate in interprofessional learning opportunities, and increase self-awareness to become reflective change agents within evolving societal environments.
During your community-based internship, you will develop and refine social work skills in supervised practice settings while fostering meaningful relationships with peers, veteran practitioners, and community members.
Research Opportunities
MSW students can engage in research opportunities through the Center on Aging and the Center on Trauma and Adversity, guided by social work faculty. Graduate Student Research Assistantships offer students the chance to earn a monthly stipend while assisting faculty with innovative and impactful research.
Online Master of Social Work Curriculum
UM-Flint MSW program curriculum consists of a minimum of 60 graduate credits for Regular Standing and 36 graduate credits for Advanced Standing. The program begins with 27 credits of foundational coursework that combine interdisciplinary theory, research, policy, and generalist social work practice methods.
After establishing the foundational coursework for generalist practice, you dive into the program’s specialized curriculum. These 30 credits of coursework focus on mental health and behavioral health practice and equip you with advanced social work theory, research, and policy and mental and behavioral health treatment and intervention strategies.
You can further specialize your MSW by pursuing one of the following optional pathways:
- Social Work in Health Care Settings Focus Area prepares you to provide holistic, psychosocial support to patients and clients in a variety of healthcare settings.
- School Social Work Pathway fulfills the requirements for a recommendation of temporary approval as a school social worker in the State of Michigan
View the full MSW program curriculum.
If you’re interested in obtaining a social work license at the BSW or MSW level, we encourage you to confirm your eligibility to satisfy all educational requirements with the State Social Work Board in the specific state or U.S. district/territory where you wish to become licensed. You can find more information in UM-Flint BSW & MSW Licensure Statement.
Accreditation
UM-Flint MSW program is currently in candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education Board of Accreditation. We have been approved for Candidacy status as of July 2025 and expect to complete the accreditation process in 2027. Assuming all steps in the process are successful, students admitted beginning in fall 2024 will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program once Initial Accreditation granted in 2027.
You can review our program’s candidacy status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation.
Academic Advising
Do you need guidance on obtaining a Master of Social Work degree? UM-Flint’s expert academic advisors want to help you succeed! Whether you want insight on developing your degree plan or academic support, our advisors have the knowledge and resources to share.
For more information about the MSW program at UM-Flint, email umflint-msw@umich.edu.
Career Outlook for Social Workers
With an increased focus on the importance of mental and behavioral health, the demand for master’s level social workers with expertise in mental health practice also grows.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that social workers’ employment will increase by 7% in the next decade—more than double the national average. This means that almost 64,000 social worker positions may open each year, indicating a healthy job market for social workers. Similarly, the BLS anticipates a rising need for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health therapists, calculating an 18% growth rate.
Admission Requirements (No GRE)
When applying to UM-Flint’s online Master of Social Work program, you must meet the following criteria to qualify for admission:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Only for Regular Standing: students with GPAs below 3.0 but higher than 2.7 may be considered if a Statement of Petition with supplemental information is submitted.
- Demonstrate desire and dedication to the social work profession and commitment to upholding the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.
State Authorization for Online Students
In recent years, the federal government has emphasized the need for universities and colleges to comply with the distance education laws of each state. If you are an out-of-state student intending to enroll in this program, please visit the State Authorization page to verify the status of UM-Flint with your state.
Applying to the MSW Program at UM-Flint
At UM-Flint, we aim to keep our application process streamlined but comprehensive, ensuring you can excel in the program. When applying, please submit the materials listed below:
- Online application for graduate admission.
- $55 application fee (non-refundable).
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Please read our full transcript policy for more information.
- For any degree completed at a non-U.S. institution, transcripts must be submitted for an internal credential review. Read International Transcript Evaluation for instructions on how to submit your transcripts for review.
- If English is not your native language, and you are not from an exempt country, you must demonstrate English proficiency.
- Statement of Purpose (minimum three full-length pages, maximum five pages, double-spaced) to address the following:
- Discuss a social problem that is important to you and motivates your decision to pursue an MSW degree.
- Discuss your commitment to the values and ethics of the social work profession. (Please review the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics here.)
- Discuss how your identities and experiences have contributed to your understanding of social justice.
- What personal, professional, and academic experiences have prepared you to be successful in an MSW program?
- Describe why you are pursuing an MSW at this time and why UM-Flint MSW program is a good match for you.
- A current résumé.
- Advanced Standing applicants only: An evaluation from the most recent semester of your BSW internship you have completed at the time of your application.
- A minimum of two letters of recommendation.
- One academic reference from a professor/instructor or faculty advisor and one professional reference from an employer or an internship/volunteer supervisor are preferred.
- Two academic references from professors/instructors are acceptable.
- Applicants who received an undergraduate degree more than seven years ago may provide two professional references that speak to their potential for success in graduate studies in social work.
- Please note that we do not accept references from family members, peers, or colleagues.
- Statement of Petition.
- This only applies to Regular Standing students applying who have experienced any of the following academic challenges. Explain the issue(s) and how you have addressed it. Describe your plans and readiness to move into graduate-level study.
- Undergraduate GPA below 3.0 but higher than 2.7;
- Low or failing grades (for example, D, F, U);
- Been on academic probation;
- Dismissed from or denied readmission to any college
- This only applies to Regular Standing students applying who have experienced any of the following academic challenges. Explain the issue(s) and how you have addressed it. Describe your plans and readiness to move into graduate-level study.
Hailey O.
Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science from Western Michigan University
What are some of the best qualities of your program? Best qualities of the MSW program: The professors are caring and knowledgeable, and the program’s newness means it offers the opportunity for students to be on the ground floor of something new and exciting. The program also offers engaging ways to connect with both the community and the social work field at large through the practicum requirement.
Please email all additional application materials to FlintGradOffice@umich.edu or deliver them to the Office of Graduate Programs, located at 251 Thompson Library.
This program is fully online; admitted students will not be eligible to receive a student (F-1) visa to pursue this degree. Non-U.S. citizens residing outside of the United States may not complete this program online from their home country. If you currently hold a non-immigrant visa and are residing in the United States, please contact the Center for Global Engagement at globalflint@umich.edu for guidance regarding your eligibility.
Application Deadlines
Fall 2027 Application Deadlines
- Advanced Standing: January 15, 2027
- Regular Standing
- Early Deadline: January 15, 2027 (early deadline for guaranteed consideration for scholarships, grants and assistantships)
- Final Deadline: April 1, 2027
All application requirements, including two completed recommendation letters, must be received by the deadline in order for an application to be reviewed. Applications with any missing requirements will not be considered. Applicants can expect a decision approximately four weeks after the deadline for which they applied has passed.
Accepted applicants will be required to pay a $200 non-refundable enrollment deposit within two weeks of the decision date to reserve a seat in the cohort. This deposit will be applied toward tuition for the program’s first semester.
Applicants who have not yet completed their bachelor’s degree at the time of application but will obtain it prior to enrolling in the program are eligible for conditional admission. These applicants must provide the expected degree conferral date on their application to be considered for admission.
Estimated Tuition and Cost
Embark on your graduate education without financial stress. At UM-Flint, we ensure you receive competitive tuition rates and helpful financial aid resources to support you as you finance your MSW degree.
Explore UM-Flint’s tuition and financial aid resources to start planning for your graduate degree.
Make a Lasting, Communitywide Impact as a Social Worker
Earn your Master of Social Work online from the University of Michigan-Flint and embark on your journey to make a positive impact in your community. Our program’s community-based approach, specialized curriculum focused on mental health and behavioral health practice, and emphasis on practical application equip you with a diverse skill set, enabling you to become a proficient and compassionate social worker.
Ready to begin your journey toward a UM-Flint MSW degree? Take the first step toward your future by starting your UM-Flint application today! Or, if you still have questions, request information to learn more.