MSW Programs in Montana

MSW programs in Montana give students a chance to learn in one of America’s most sparsely populated states. The state has just 6.8 people per square mile compared to the national average of 87.4, yet it provides quality social work education that matches its unique demographics.

Students looking to get their graduate degree will find only two universities with accredited MSW programs in the state. The University of Montana’s MSW program needs 60 semester credits and includes 900 hours of field education. The University of Montana’s online MSW options are also available to students in every corner of this big state.

These educational paths come with a surprisingly low financial cost. Students can complete their degree with minimal debt since average tuition costs are $6,460 and typical scholarship awards reach $3,687. Montana’s affordable education and its unique social work environment make it an excellent choice to build your career. The state’s American Indian population stands at 6.5%, almost six times the national average.

University of Montana MSW Program

The University of Montana runs one of the most respected Master of Social Work (MSW) programs in the region. U.S. News & World Report ranked it among the “Best Schools for Social Work”. Students benefit from its complete program that combines practice models with social justice, anti-racism, rural and Indigenous communities, and trauma-informed practice.

Program overview

Students at the University of Montana MSW program learn through an integrated practice approach. This method links personal challenges with broader social issues like poverty, discrimination, and social injustice. Graduates can work with people from all backgrounds and make positive changes at many levels—from one-on-one counseling to organizing community events.

The program creates trauma-informed, anti-racist social workers who stand up for social, racial, environmental, and economic justice. Students learn to be team players, community leaders, and researchers who tackle pressing social challenges.

Students can pick from these program formats:

• A traditional 60-credit campus-based program that takes two years (full-time) or three years (part-time)
• An online self-paced 60-credit program that spans three years part-time
• An Advanced Standing option for BSW holders, completed in one year

The program has full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This ensures graduates meet educational requirements for licensure, particularly for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam.

Online options

Students who need flexibility can choose the fully online MSW program. This option lets them keep their full-time jobs while studying. The online program includes:

• Self-paced coursework you can finish on your schedule
• A part-time structure over three academic years
• Similar CSWE accreditation as the campus-based program
• No need to visit campus (though practicum hours still apply)

Applications for the online program have multiple entry points throughout the year. Deadlines fall on the 5th day of the month before each term starts:

• Fall Term (mid/late August start): July 5th deadline
• Spring Term (mid-January start): December 5th deadline
• Summer Term (May start): April 5th deadline

The online MSW program matches the campus version’s academic standards. Students learn to work with diverse groups and address complex social issues through a social justice perspective.

Curriculum and practicum

Both campus-based and online MSW programs follow a complete 60-credit curriculum. Students become competent, ethical practitioners through:

• 51 credits in core social work courses
• 9 credits in electives

The coursework follows a logical sequence covering human behavior, social environments, research methods, social policy, and advanced practice techniques. Major courses include:

• Human Behavior and The Social Environment
• Advanced Research and Program Evaluation
• Advanced Integrated Practice
• Methods of Social Policy Analysis
• The Practice of Organizational Leadership

Field education stands as the cornerstone of social work education. Students complete 900 practicum hours over two academic years—450 hours in the generalist year and another 450 in the specialization year. This means about 15-20 hours weekly during fall and spring semesters.

During their practicum, students:

• Put classroom knowledge into practice
• Build self-awareness and professional identity
• Sharpen oral and written communication skills
• Learn from agency field instructors
• Evaluate and implement agency policies

Students usually switch practicum sites between first and second years. This gives them varied experiences across different social work settings and populations.

Carroll College MSW Program

Carroll College offers a valuable option for Montana’s future social workers through its clinically-focused Master of Social Work program. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has given full accreditation to this program that equips students to tackle pressing mental health needs through a specialized curriculum.

Program overview

The MSW program started in 2021 and got its full CSWE accreditation in 2023. This status applies to everyone who graduated before that date. Students learn to provide specialized social work services to individuals, families, groups, and communities that face complex behavioral health challenges.

The program builds on four key pillars:

• Trauma-informed/resilience-focused care
• Integrated behavioral healthcare
• Evidence-based practice
• Professional leadership

Students can choose between two tracks based on their education. The traditional track needs 60 credit hours and suits students with undergraduate degrees in other fields. Full-time students finish this track in about 21 months. The advanced standing track needs 30 credit hours and welcomes students who have a BSW or BSSW from a CSWE-accredited program. They can complete it in just nine months.

Students graduate ready to help individuals and communities dealing with mental health challenges, substance use, physical illness, trauma, and other complex social issues.

Online learning format

The MSW program uses a flexible blended learning model that’s different from typical campus-based programs. Students can take part in live sessions and self-paced learning while keeping their schedule flexible.

The program features five weekend intensives each academic year. Students can join these sessions virtually or in-person. Fall semester has three intensives at the start, middle, and end. Spring semester includes two intensives in the middle and end. These sessions run from Friday afternoon through Sunday noon.

Most coursework can be done remotely, making the clinically-focused curriculum available to students of all locations. This setup lets students balance their personal and professional lives while pursuing advanced education.

Curriculum and practicum

The curriculum has generalist and specialized components. Traditional students complete both parts (60 credits total). Students with a BSW background only need the 30-credit specialized curriculum.

The generalist curriculum teaches fundamental social work knowledge through courses like:

• Human Behavior and the Social Environment
• Generalist Practice (Individuals/Families and Groups/Organizations/Communities)
• Policy and Advocacy
• Research for Social Work Practice

The specialized curriculum focuses on clinical skills with courses such as:

• Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis
• Substance Use and Co-occurring Disorders
• Leadership and Management
• Mindfulness Practices

Field education plays a crucial role in the program. Carroll’s director of field education works one-on-one with each student to find and secure suitable practicum sites.

Students get support from an agency-based field instructor and a faculty field liaison who create a learning contract that matches their career goals. The program has strategic collaborations with provider organizations to create intensive social work fellowship experiences. These often turn into full-time jobs after graduation.

Admission requirements

Students need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution to join Carroll’s MSW program. A minimum 3.0 GPA in the last two years of undergraduate education guarantees unconditional admission. Students with lower GPAs might get conditional admission if they explain their circumstances.

The application needs:

• Official transcripts (unofficial ones work at first)
• A professional essay (500 words max for each response) about MSW motivation, career goals, personal values matching social work ethics, and preferred learning conditions
• Three professional/academic references
• A resume showing education and relevant experience

Students must complete 18 semester credits in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences before starting. These basic courses can come from anthropology, biology, general studies, history, liberal studies, psychology, or sociology.

Advanced standing track applicants need a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned within the past seven years.

Tuition and affordability

Carroll College has clear costs for the 2025-2026 academic year. The traditional 60-credit track costs about $49,360 total, while the advanced standing 30-credit track runs around $25,060.

These costs include:

• Program tuition ($750 per credit)
• Master fees ($700 per semester for 8+ credits, $350 for 7 credits or less)
• Program fees ($150 per semester)
• Clinical course fees ($150 for certain courses)
• Liability insurance ($50 per practicum course)
• Graduation fee ($160 one-time)

Carroll offers payment plans for students who can’t pay full tuition upfront. Fall payments spread over six months from June through November. Spring payments run December through May. Each semester’s payment plan costs $50 to set up, with a $10 fee for late payments.

Students can get various types of financial support, including scholarships, employment-based field practicums, paid practicums, and tuition assistance. Most first-time graduate students can get federal graduate financial aid that often covers all program costs.

Advanced Standing MSW Programs in Montana

BSW graduates can speed up their graduate education through advanced standing MSW programs. These simplified programs are available to Montana students through several institutions.

What is an advanced standing MSW program

Advanced standing MSW programs value the social work knowledge you’ve already gained from your BSW degree. These accelerated programs let you skip the first-year generalist curriculum of a traditional MSW program. You can complete your master’s degree in approximately half the time compared to standard programs.

The key benefits are:

• Shorter program duration (typically 9-12 months)
• Lower credit hour requirements
• Specialized or clinical coursework focus
• Significant cost savings

These programs recognize that BSW graduates already know fundamental social work concepts and have completed their original field education. This allows them to move directly to specialized practice content.

Eligibility for advanced standing MSW in Montana

You need to meet specific criteria to qualify for advanced standing programs. Most programs require:

• A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program
• Graduation within the last 5-7 years (varies by school)
• A minimum GPA (usually 3.0-3.5)
• Additional application materials (references, essays)

Competition for admission to advanced standing programs remains high. Meeting basic requirements doesn’t guarantee acceptance. Programs often look at your work experience and grades in core social work courses.

Advanced standing MSW at Carroll College

Carroll College’s advanced standing track lets you complete your MSW in nine months. Students take 30 credits of specialized curriculum and complete 500 field practicum hours.

Carroll’s advanced standing requirements include:

• A BSW/BSSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned in the last seven years
• Strong academic performance

The program focuses on clinical social work training with trauma-informed, resilience-based approaches. Carroll’s program has produced many clinical social workers since getting CSWE accreditation in 2021. These graduates help address Montana’s behavioral health challenges.

Online advanced standing MSW options for Montana residents

Montana residents can choose from many online advanced standing programs beyond local options. The University of Montana offers a 37-credit, 12-month advanced standing program online with live classes. The program features:

• A 9-credit summer bridge program
• Fall and spring semester specialization courses
• 600 practicum hours across two semesters

Applications open September 15 and close February 15. Classes usually run Thursday evenings and Fridays.

Montana residents can also access online advanced standing programs from other institutions. These programs create more ways to earn your MSW without moving.

Online MSW Programs for Montana Residents

Montana residents can now pursue graduate social work education through valuable online MSW programs without moving away from home. These flexible options help students overcome distance barriers, especially when communities are hours apart.

Benefits of online MSW programs in Montana

Online MSW programs give Montana residents several advantages, particularly those living in rural areas. Students can complete their coursework around job and family commitments through asynchronous learning. Many students keep their full-time jobs while studying. The programs are available statewide and eliminate long commutes across Montana’s big landscapes.

University of Montana MSW online track

University of Montana’s online MSW program lets students complete their degree part-time over three years. The 60-credit program is highly flexible with eight-week terms and multiple start dates throughout the year. Students can begin in fall, spring, or summer, with applications due by the 5th of the month before each term. The program costs $41,500 total whatever your residency status.

Carroll College online MSW program

Carroll College uses a mixed approach that blends synchronized and self-paced learning. Students attend five weekend intensives each year either online or on campus. These deep-dive sessions run from Friday afternoon through Sunday noon and are a great way to get clinical skills while building connections with peers. The program costs $750 per credit, which adds up to about $49,360 for the traditional track.

Field placement options for online MSW students

Field education plays a vital role for online students. University of Montana students must complete 900 practicum hours with their field education team’s support. The university provides an interactive Google map that shows available practicum locations. Carroll College takes charge of finding and setting up field placements instead of asking students to find their own sites.

Accreditation and licensure considerations for online MSW

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredits both online programs. This ensures graduates meet educational requirements to take the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam. CSWE accreditation guarantees curriculum quality and practice standards needed for licensure in Montana and across the country.

Start Your Montana MSW Today

Montana creates a special environment for social work education despite having few people. MSW programs in the state offer several benefits to future social workers. The University of Montana and Carroll College each take their own approach to social work education. They all maintain CSWE accreditation that you’ll need for professional licensure.

MSW programs in Montana help you build skills that work well with rural communities and Indigenous populations. You’ll learn to tackle unique social challenges across the state’s big geography. The programs won’t break the bank either – tuition averages $6,460, and you might get scholarships around $3,687. These rates beat many out-of-state options.

The state’s MSW programs give you plenty of choices. You can pick traditional campus classes, mixed formats with weekend intensives, or study completely online at your own pace. These options help fit your schedule and life situation. BSW graduates can save time and money through advanced standing options. They might finish their MSW in just 9-12 months.

Field education is an important aspect of these programs. You’ll get plenty of help finding meaningful practicum placements that often lead to jobs after graduation.

Montana’s MSW programs do more than just give you a degree. They turn you into culturally aware, trauma-informed practitioners ready to help communities all over the state. With clinical skills, policy knowledge, and steadfast dedication to social justice, graduates can make real changes in Montana’s social services. They build rewarding careers in a state that needs skilled social workers