Master of Social Work

Why Earn Your MSW Degree at UM-Flint?

100% Online Coursework with In-Person Internship

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 for 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 reapply 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 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.

Master of Social Work Curriculum

The 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 health care settings.
• School Social Work Pathway fulfills the requirements for a recommendation of temporary approval as a school social worker in the State of Michigan

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 BSW & MSW Licensure Statement.

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Accreditation

The 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 is 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.  

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.

Admission Requirements

When applying to UM-Flint’s online Master of Social Work program, you must meet the following criteria to qualify for admission:

• No GRE required
• 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

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 review 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. Please review the International Transcript Evaluation instructions for details on how to submit your transcripts for review.
• English proficiency documentation
  • 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). Please 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.
  • Discuss how your identities and experiences have contributed to your understanding of social justice.
  • Describe the personal, professional, and academic experiences that have prepared you to be successful in an MSW program.
  • Explain why you are pursuing an MSW at this time and why the UM-Flint MSW program is a good match for you.
• Current résumé
• Advanced Standing applicants only: An evaluation from the most recent semester of your BSW internship completed at the time of 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 internship/volunteer supervisor are preferred.
  • Two academic references from professors or 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, if applicable (maximum three pages, double-spaced)
  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

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.