Top MSW Programs in Michigan

A career in social work could be your next big move. Michigan’s social work field shows promising growth, with a 12% faster expansion rate than other occupations. Nine MSW programs are now available in Michigan, making your journey toward becoming a qualified social worker easier than ever.

Quality education remains assured as thirteen programs have earned Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation, and two others are in pre-candidacy. Michigan’s MSW programs cater to diverse learning preferences through online and campus-based options. Students can specialize in Clinical Social Work, Organization and Community Leadership, Families and Children, Health and Aging, or Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery.

State licensure requires about 4,000 hours of supervised practice after graduation. These programs will equip you with detailed education that focuses on collaborative work with vulnerable and underserved populations.

Michigan State University MSW Program

Michigan State University has a detailed Master of Social Work program with full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The program stands out among other MSW programs in Michigan because it offers various format options and specialized concentrations that match different career goals and priorities.

Concentrations and dual degrees

The School of Social Work at MSU provides two distinct paths that match different career goals in social work:

Clinical Social Work – This concentration helps you prepare for direct practice with individuals, families, and small groups through micro-level interventions. The clinical track builds on social work’s core values and ethics while using a strengths-based approach from the person-in-environment point of view. Students who want to provide direct counseling services or therapeutic interventions will find this path ideal.

Organization and Community Leadership – This macro-level concentration teaches you to tackle social issues on a broader scale through programs, policies, communities, and governmental institutions. Students learn program and policy analysis, advocacy, fund-raising, grant-writing, research, and program evaluation. People who want to create systemic change will benefit from this concentration.

MSU also offers dual degree options that enhance your professional skills:

• MSW/JD (Juris Doctor) – This four-year full-time program combines social work with legal training. JD classes meet on MSU’s East Lansing campus, which means off-campus MSW students must commute. You need separate applications and acceptance to both the MSW program and MSU College of Law.
• MSW/MPH (Master of Public Health) – This dual enrollment option combines social work and public health. These fields naturally complement each other and address individual and community health, behavioral wellbeing, and related social justice concerns. The MPH courses run fully online, making them available whatever your MSW format. Students from any MSW concentration can enroll with any MPH concentration (Generalist, Rural Public Health, or Public Health Data Management and Analytics).

The dual MSW/MPH program lets you share credits between programs. Credit maximums vary by track: Clinical Concentration (6 credits), OCL Concentration (10 credits), and Advanced Standing (10 credits).

Program format and duration

The degree program offers excellent flexibility that suits different scheduling needs and priorities:

Regular Program (57 credits minimum) – This option suits students who don’t have an undergraduate degree in Social Work. Students who received a BSW that wasn’t from a CSWE-accredited program, earned it more than 6 years ago, or graduated with an undergraduate GPA below 3.25 can also apply. The Regular Program has two format options:

• East Lansing Campus
  • Full-time (2 years) or part-time (3 years)
  • Starts fall semester
  • Classes run mainly during daytime with some evening options
  • Has in-person New Student Orientation in August
• Statewide Blended (online option)
  • Part-time (3 years) or full-time (2 years)
  • Starts fall semester
  • Classes meet one Saturday monthly via Zoom videoconferencing
  • Students complete remaining coursework independently online
  • OCL students must take specific courses in blended format with four face-to-face Saturday classes each semester at the Henry Center in Lansing

Advanced Standing Program (36 credits minimum) – This accelerated option works for students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited university. The degree must be earned within the last 6 years with an undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher. Like the Regular Program, it offers two formats:

• East Lansing Campus
  • Full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years)
  • Begins summer semester with combined face-to-face and/or online classes
  • Fall and spring classes meet on campus (mainly daytime with some evening options)
• Statewide Blended (online option)
  • Full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years)
  • Starts summer semester with online classes
  • Monthly Saturday sessions via Zoom (part-time students start Saturday sessions in second year)
  • OCL students take specific courses in blended format

Students learn theory, policy, research, practice methods, and get intensive field experience in both programs. The Statewide Blended option offers online flexibility, but out-of-state applicants must live within 50 miles of the Michigan border.

Tuition and admission requirements

Admission Requirements

MSU has different admission criteria for Regular and Advanced Standing programs:

Regular MSW Program Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) from a recognized institution (Bachelor of Applied Science degrees not accepted)
2. Minimum 3.0 GPA (on 4.0 scale) during undergraduate study or in 14+ credits of graduate study
3. Personal and professional qualities that matter in social work practice, shown through Applicant Statement and reference letters
4. Academic background with a liberal arts focus (at least 19 semester credits in humanities and social/natural sciences)

Advanced Standing MSW Program Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program
2. Minimum 3.25 GPA (on 4.0 scale) during undergraduate studies
3. Personal and professional qualities for social work practice (shown in Applicant Statement and references)
4. BSW degree must be completed before program starts and within the last six years

Application Process

Applications open September 1 for the next academic year. Key dates include:

• Early Decision Deadline: Early December
• Regular Application Deadline: Early February

The application needs:

• Online application through the Slate Applicant Portal
• Official transcripts
• Three recommendation letters from professional, academic, and/or volunteer settings
• Academic/Applicant Statement
• Resume
• $65 application fee ($75 for international applicants)

MSW/MPH dual degree applicants must apply to both programs separately. The MPH portion requires review of its application process, requirements, and deadlines through the MPH academic office.

MSU’s Master of Social Work program delivers excellent professional training through specialized concentrations, flexible formats, and hands-on field experiences. The program ranks among Michigan’s best MSW programs and offers paths that fit your career goals and life situation.

Eastern Michigan University MSW Program

Eastern Michigan University has a unique Master of Social Work program that centers on enabling practice and social justice principles. The EMU MSW program, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1992, excels at preparing students to work with vulnerable and underserved populations.

Specializations and structure

The EMU School of Social Work offers three specialized practice areas that prepare graduates for specific career paths:

Families and Children – This specialization gives you skills to work in family-oriented settings. You’ll be ready for roles in community prevention programs, child and family interventions, protective services, foster care, adoptions, teen pregnancy programs, youth residential facilities, domestic violence programs, homeless shelters, schools, and family court settings.

Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery – This concentration teaches recovery and enabling approaches for people facing mental illness, substance abuse, and co-occurring conditions. Students learn to work in treatment environments while using client-centered recovery models.

Health and Aging – This specialization helps you become an expert in improving life quality for aging adults and their families in community settings. You can work in healthcare organizations, direct care agencies, and advocacy organizations that serve aging populations.

The MSW curriculum builds on generalist practice foundations. Students learn problem-solving processes to help systems of various sizes—from individuals and families to organizations and communities. This approach uses the person-in-environment point of view that shapes modern social work practice.

EMU has two program tracks based on your education:

• Full Program – Students with bachelor’s degrees in other fields take this 61-credit hour curriculum that covers foundation and advanced coursework.
• Advanced Standing – BSW graduates from accredited programs with a minimum 2.75 overall GPA (or 3.0 in their last 60 credits) can take this 35-credit hour option focused on advanced coursework.

Students also complete 7-13 hours of restricted electives to customize their program and build specialized knowledge in their areas of interest.

Part-time and full-time options

EMU started as a part-time program for working professionals but now offers full-time options. Students can balance their education with work and personal commitments.

Part-Time Program:

• Students usually take about 6 credits each semester
• Full program students finish in four years
• Advanced standing students graduate in two years
• Classes meet during evenings and weekends for working professionals

Full-Time Program:

• Students take 10-15 credits each semester
• Full program students graduate in two years
• Advanced standing students finish in one year
• Evening and weekend classes are available

New students start their coursework in fall semester after admission. They join as a cohort and follow a structured Plan of Study that ensures consistent curriculum.

Students must finish their MSW degree within six years. This timeline keeps education current and coursework relevant.

Practicum and fieldwork

At EMU, students get hands-on experience in professional settings. MSW students complete up to 900 hours of supervised fieldwork in public and non-profit agencies that serve vulnerable populations.

Practicum requirements vary by program track:

Full Program Students:

• Complete foundation field placement (SWRK 595 and SWRK 596) with 400 supervised fieldwork hours
• Finish advanced field placement (SWRK 695 and SWRK 696) with 500 supervised fieldwork hours in their specialization
• Total 900 practicum hours across both placements

Advanced Standing Students:

• Complete advanced field placement with 500 supervised fieldwork hours in their specialization

Each placement includes classroom sessions where students discuss experiences and apply theory to practice. This approach connects academic learning with professional work.

The School of Social Work partners with more than 400 agencies in southeastern Michigan to provide diverse placement options. These sites create meaningful learning experiences that match program goals and student careers.

The university’s field placement office arranges all field placements. If you work in social services, you can ask to use your workplace as a field site. The field placement director and coordinator make final placement decisions.

Most field placements need daytime hours during the work week, even though classes meet evenings and Saturdays. Working students should plan ahead.

National accreditation standards don’t allow academic credit for past or current work experience. Each placement must create new learning opportunities that match MSW educational goals.

U.S. News & World Report ranks EMU’s Master of Social Work program among outstanding American social work schools. The program awarded 63 MSW degrees in 2021, showing its impact on Michigan’s social work profession. The School also offers post-Master’s certificates in Non-Profit Management, Gerontology, School Social Work, and Dementia.

EMU’s specialized concentrations, flexible schedules, and detailed field education create a resilient path to advanced social work practice that promotes enabling, cooperation, and social justice.

Northern Michigan University MSW Program

Northern Michigan University started its Master of Social Work program to help human services professionals advance their careers in social work. The program, based in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, brings a fresh approach to social work education with specialized concentrations and flexible learning options.

Concentrations and flexibility

The NMU MSW program has two specialized paths that fit different career goals:

Clinical Concentration – This path gets you ready for direct practice work through courses in:

• Advanced Clinical Methods with Individuals
• Advanced Clinical Methods with Families and Groups
• Psychopathology
• Clinical Methods

Advanced Generalist Concentration – This path gives you skills for both micro and macro practice through coursework in:

• Clinical Methods with Families and Groups
• Clinical Assessment and Intervention with Individuals
• Policy and Program Planning
• Community Organizing

The program aims to create advanced social work practitioners. It builds on the department’s dedication to higher learning that promotes service, social justice, human rights, dignity, worth, and well-being of individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities.

NMU offers two distinct MSW paths based on your education:

Regular Standing students learn a complete curriculum. This includes foundation courses like Direct Methods with Individuals, Direct Practice Methods with Couples, Families and Groups, Leadership in Communities and Organizations, Social Work Research Methods, Policy Practice, and Human Rights.

Advanced Standing students skip introductory coursework. They start with advanced foundation courses in Clinical Methods, Indirect Practice Methods, Research Methods, and Human Rights.

Both paths let you choose from many electives. These include courses in trauma methods, substance use disorders, death and dying, clinical methods with children, and options from psychology, public administration, and Native American studies.

Online and campus options

NMU’s program stands out with its flexible format and two clear choices:

Traditional Campus (in-person) – You can:

• Learn on the beautiful Marquette campus in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
• Work directly with faculty and peers in classroom settings
• Use campus resources and facilities firsthand

Global Campus (online) – You can:

• Finish the program from almost anywhere
• Keep your current work and personal commitments
• Balance your graduate education with life’s demands

The online MSW program through NMU Global Campus helps working professionals in rural, remote areas of the Midwest who can’t easily commute to campus. Students from the Upper Peninsula (outside Marquette County), northern lower Michigan, and northern Wisconsin get first preference for Global Campus spots, though others can apply too.

Both options share the same curriculum, course sequences, professors, and graduating cohort. The online program takes an integrated approach to prepare graduates for success in social work, focusing on service to others, social justice, and human rights.

Global Campus students experience a mix of:

• Independent online coursework
• Virtual classroom sessions via Zoom
• Field placement chances in their local area

This blend of academic quality and modern delivery makes NMU’s program one of the most available online MSW options in Michigan for rural students.

Tuition and practicum hours

NMU offers one of Michigan’s most affordable paths to an MSW. The current graduate tuition rates make both the 50-credit Regular Standing and 36-credit Advanced Standing programs great educational values.

NMU’s MSW education, like all CSWE-accredited masters in social work Michigan programs, focuses on field education. Each program type has specific requirements:

Regular Standing Students:

• Complete 900 total hours of field placement over four semesters
• First year needs 400 hours in generalist field placement
• Second year needs 500 hours in concentration field placement

Advanced Standing Students:

• Complete 500 hours of concentration field placement over two semesters

Students also take 15 hours of seminar instruction each field placement semester. This helps them connect classroom learning with field experience. The approach builds both practical skills and theoretical knowledge.

NMU’s field placement works like this:

1. The Field Coordinator helps guide the placement process
2. Students find and apply for placements in their area
3. Placements match their concentration focus and career goals

This system creates meaningful learning experiences while working with students’ location needs, especially important for online students in rural areas.

After finishing NMU’s MSW program, you can seek licensure anywhere in the United States. The curriculum meets all educational requirements for professional social work practice, preparing graduates for careers that match their chosen concentration.

MSW graduates face bright job prospects. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 13% growth in social work positions from 2019 to 2029, much faster than average. This strong job market, plus NMU’s affordable tuition and flexible learning options, makes its MSW program a smart choice among Michigan’s best MSW programs.

Ferris State University MSW Program

The Ferris State University Master of Social Work program shines with its clinical focus and student-friendly options. Students today need flexibility, and this program delivers. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has fully accredited this program that launches graduates into rewarding careers at schools, hospitals, behavioral health agencies, and substance abuse treatment centers.

Program overview

Clinical social work practice is the backbone of Ferris State’s MSW program. Students learn to treat behavioral, mental, and emotional issues as counselors, therapists, and clinical supervisors. Trauma-informed practice runs through every part of the curriculum. This gives students the newest advances in clinical methods.

Students can choose between two paths based on their education:

Standard Program: Students with bachelor’s degrees in other fields need 58 credits. The foundation year teaches everything in Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Social Work Practice, Social Work Policy, and Research. Students complete foundation courses (31 credits) and 480 hours of field education before moving to the advanced year.

Advanced Standing Program: BSW holders from CSWE-accredited programs can jump straight into the 27-credit advanced-year coursework.

The advanced year takes students deeper into clinical theory and practice while they explore policy contexts. Students work with faculty mentors on program development or research initiatives through an exciting capstone project.

Students interested in school settings can take a specialized track. They need one “Intro to School Social Work” course, another clinical class, and a school internship. This qualifies them as approved Michigan Department of Education School Social Workers.

The program accepts about half of all applicants. Recent numbers show 41 students applied, 28 got in, and 20 joined the program. Students must apply by March. They need a candidate statement, three recommendation letters, resume, and official transcripts.

Online learning and Zoom sessions

Ferris leads Michigan MSW programs with strong online options. Students can choose from three flexible formats:

• Synchronous Virtual – Weekly scheduled Zoom meetings at set times
• Virtual Hybrid – Scheduled Zoom sessions mixed with independent work
• Fully Asynchronous – Work at your own pace with set deadlines

Working professionals find this program available and manageable. Online students learn from expert faculty in small classes. They follow the same curriculum as on-campus students. Experienced clinical and research practitioners teach these classes and encourage meaningful connections despite the distance.

Online students must complete face-to-face field placements. Students interested in online therapy might find placements with agencies that offer telehealth services.

Online students should email the program coordinator. They must confirm they understand that switching to face-to-face learning depends on campus program space.

Practicum and tuition

Ferris MSW education focuses on field education. Each track has different requirements:

Standard Program Students:

• Need 900 hours of field instruction across both years
• Usually work at two different social work agencies

Advanced Standing Students:

• Need 640 hours of field instruction
• Can count their BSW field experience toward total hours

Face-to-face field placements are required for all students. These happen at behavioral health agencies, child welfare organizations, schools, hospitals, and substance abuse treatment centers.

Ferris State’s master’s in social work program costs:

Social work positions will grow by 7% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This growth rate is much faster than other jobs. A Ferris MSW opens doors to better pay and leadership roles in clinical settings. Graduates become mental health therapists, substance abuse counselors, behavioral health specialists, medical social workers, school social workers, marital counselors, and child and family clinicians.

University of Michigan MSW Program

The University of Michigan’s School of Social Work offers a top-ranked Master of Social Work program that combines practical application with cutting-edge research. This leading MSW program in Michigan gives students multiple enrollment options that fit their schedules.

Specializations and hybrid format

U-M stands out with eight specialized curricular pathways. The online program focuses on Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse, which helps graduates become licensed clinical social workers. The Children, Youth, and Families pathway (formerly Welfare of Children & Families) became available in Fall 2024.

Students can choose from these study formats:

• Online (synchronous and asynchronous learning)
• On-campus (traditional classroom experience)
• Full-time or part-time schedules

U-M sets up field placements close to students’ communities within the United States for online learners. This makes it one of the most available online MSW programs in Michigan that working professionals can balance with their careers.

Advanced standing and MasterTrack

The Advanced Standing program welcomes students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Students can complete their degree with 45 credits instead of the standard 60 credits, which saves time and money.

Students without a BSW can start with the MasterTrack certificate (Social Work Essentials replaces this in November 2024). They need a 70% grade or higher to continue. Success in this certificate leads to the 45-credit MSW program. Students typically finish the certificate in 4 months.

Tuition and career outcomes

Field instruction is part of the program requirements. Regular students complete 900 clock hours (14 credits) while advanced standing students need 672 hours (12 credits). Students must complete all fieldwork in the United States.

The program’s value shows in its results—96% of U-M MSW graduates find jobs when they look for employment. Students must finish all degree requirements within four years of starting their first term.

Choosing the Right Michigan MSW Program for Your Career Goals

Michigan’s MSW programs offer exceptional diversity, and each program creates unique pathways to advance your social work career. This piece explores five prominent institutions with specialized tracks, delivery formats, and admission requirements that match different educational backgrounds and career dreams.

The program selection process needs you to think over several key factors. Your career goals should point you toward the right program – clinical practice with individuals and families, community organization, policy development, or specialized work with specific populations. The program’s flexibility becomes vital by a lot if you need to balance education with work or family commitments.

Field experience serves as the basis of these programs, whatever their delivery format. Requirements range from 500 to 900 supervised hours based on your educational background. This hands-on training helps you develop practical skills while learning theory.

Money matters definitely play a vital role too. Northern Michigan University takes pride in keeping costs low, while other schools provide various financial aid options to help with educational costs. Notwithstanding that, social work positions are projected to grow 12% faster than average occupations in Michigan – pointing to a solid return on your educational investment.

Accreditation is a vital factor when evaluating programs. Eight of Michigan’s nine MSW programs have CSWE accreditation, which ensures they meet quality standards and prepare graduates for licensure examinations.

You might prefer the clinical focus at Ferris State, community leadership at Michigan State, or integrated health pathway at University of Michigan. Your choice ended up depending on which program arranges with your professional vision and personal situation.

The path to becoming a qualified social worker in Michigan is now more available than ever. Detailed education and supervised practice will help you develop skills to make meaningful differences in vulnerable communities while achieving a rewarding career in this growing field.