Top CSWE-Accredited Bachelor of Social Work Programs in Montana

Planning to get a bachelor of social work in Montana? The timing is perfect. Social work graduates in Montana make an impressive $64,360 per year. The field will grow by 7% through 2033, which means about 67,300 job openings each year.

Montana has two CSWE-accredited BSW programs, each offering unique benefits to help you succeed. The University of Montana’s social work program is the state’s largest and most detailed option, and it’s been around since 1970. Both schools maintain full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education. This ensures your degree meets national standards and prepares you to become a Licensed Bachelor Social Worker in Montana.

These programs follow the CSWE’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards that give you detailed preparation for generalist practice. Your BSW opens doors to more than 15 career paths including healthcare, mental health, school social work, and clinical practice. Entry-level jobs need a BSW, but specialized and clinical roles require an MSW and state licensure. The median salaries range from $50,000 to $77,000.

University of Montana BSW Program

The University of Montana runs Montana’s oldest and largest social work education program. Since 1970, their Bachelor of Social Work program has prepared students through a generalist practice model. Students learn to tackle social issues using different theoretical frameworks.

Curriculum and field education

Students need 120 credits to graduate from the University of Montana’s BSW program. The social work portion makes up 41 credits. The program blends classroom learning with practical experience to build essential social work skills.

Your first two years start with foundation classes:

• SW 100S: Introduction to Social Welfare
• SW 200: Introduction to Social Work Practice

Seven extra courses in psychology, sociology, biology, economics, and government complement these basics. After finishing the foundation courses, you move on to advanced skill-building through core courses:

• SW 300: Human Behavior in the Social Environment
• SW 350: Social Work Intervention with Individuals and Families
• SW 310: Social Policy and Community Change
• SW 360: Interventions with Groups
• SW 400: Research Methods
• SW 410: Social Work Ethics
• SW 464: Cultural Humility in Social Work Practice
• SW 487: Advanced Practice I
• SW 488: Advanced Practice II

Field education stands as the centerpiece of your BSW experience. Your final year includes 450 hours of supervised field work – about 15 hours each week across two semesters. This hands-on training connects classroom theories with real-life applications. You’ll develop self-awareness, practice social work skills, and make ethical decisions that match social work values.

Students work in various community agencies to gain exposure to different social work roles and client groups. The Field Education team helps you find the right placement through orientation sessions and practicum fairs.

Admission requirements

The BSW program has specific requirements to ensure students can handle upper-division courses and field education. You must:

1. Complete four of the seven required extra-departmental courses
2. Earn a combined 3.0 GPA in SW 100 and SW 200
3. Keep an overall GPA of 2.75
4. Submit your application online through the program’s website

After admission, you can start upper-division social work courses. Senior year practicum needs additional qualifications:

1. A 2.75 overall GPA, including transfer credits
2. A 3.0 GPA in SW 100, SW 200, SW 300, SW 350, and SW 360
3. All social work and extra-departmental courses completed without incompletes
4. Proof of personal and professional readiness

New cohorts begin each fall semester. Spring admissions aren’t available. Applications open in February and close in mid-May for fall enrollment. Students should get pre-advising before applying.

Tuition and financial aid

Tuition and fees for the BSW program are estimated at $9,188 per year for Montana residents and $34,312 per year for non-residents. The Field Education fee supports various practicum-related activities, including the field liaison model that enhances connections between classroom and practicum experiences, outside supervision for students, agency field instructor training, and administrative support.

For students in the 2+2 distance program, additional fees apply to core social work courses. These fees are reviewed biannually and subject to change, with current information available through the Business Services Student Tuition and Fees website.

To help manage these costs, numerous financial aid options exist. The first step is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The priority deadline at the University of Montana is December 1, 2025, though applications received after this date may still be considered, albeit with limited grant availability.

Moreover, the School of Social Work offers several scholarships specifically for social work students, supplementing university-wide financial aid opportunities. After being accepted into a degree program and having your FAFSA processed, you’ll receive notification of your financial aid award offer.

Full-time undergraduate students (taking 12 or more credits per semester) who are Montana residents pay $9,188 annually, whereas part-time students taking 6 credits per semester pay approximately $5,348. Out-of-state students face higher costs: $34,312 annually for full-time study or $17,956 for six credits per semester.

The estimated total Cost of Attendance (COA), which includes tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and other expenses, amounts to $30,970 annually for Montana residents and $57,090 for out-of-state students.

Learning format and flexibility

The University of Montana offers two primary learning formats for BSW students: the traditional in-person campus program and the innovative 2+2 distance learning program, both providing paths to the same CSWE-accredited degree.

The 2+2 BSW Distance Learning Program is specifically designed for students who have completed or are finishing their Associate’s Degree from a partnering college or another institution. This format allows you to remain in your community while earning your bachelor’s degree. The core curriculum matches the on-campus program, including the 450-hour practicum requirement, but delivers all coursework online.

In the distance format, course content is asynchronous (self-directed) and shares core curriculum, assignments, and competencies with campus courses. The 16-week courses are divided into smaller learning modules requiring approximately 8-10 hours of engagement weekly per course. Though primarily asynchronous, students are expected to participate in scheduled online face-to-face meetings with instructors and peers, such as orientation sessions and practicum overviews.

The program typically takes two years to complete when following the standard sequence, though it can be extended if needed. Students wishing to complete their practicum in a third year can work with academic advisors to develop a customized extended plan.

Technology requirements for success in the distance program include familiarity with Canvas, Panopto, Zoom, university email, UM Box, and Microsoft Office 365, with resources available to help students master these tools.

For both program formats, the curriculum follows a structured sequence that builds competency progressively. The suggested four-year pathway for campus students includes general education requirements in the first year, foundation courses in the second year, core social work courses in the third year, and advanced coursework and practicum in the fourth year.

Career outcomes

Graduates of the University of Montana’s BSW program enter a promising job market. Social work is a fast-growing field with employment projected to grow 13% over the next decade—more than twice the average for all occupations. This growth translates to strong job security for social work degree holders.

The estimated annual earnings for graduates of UM’s bachelor’s in social work program reach $54,140. This compares favorably with the national median pay for social workers, which stands at $51,760 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Within Montana specifically, salaries vary by specialization:

• Child, family, and school social workers: $41,550
• Healthcare social workers: $51,900
• Mental health and substance abuse social workers: $38,820

Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to apply for BSW Candidacy. The program integrates licensure principles within its core curriculum and provides presentations prior to graduation in partnership with the National Association of Social Workers and the Montana Board of Behavioral Health.

The positions frequently filled by program graduates include dually licensed Addictions Counselors (LBSW/LAC), integrated healthcare workers, tribal court advocates, child and family services professionals (both BIA and State), community organizers, program managers, and policy workers.

Furthermore, many graduates choose to advance their education through UM’s Master of Social Work options, which include a two-year campus program, a three-year online program, or a one-year blended Advanced Standing MSW program.

Student support services

The University of Montana provides comprehensive support services to help BSW students succeed academically and professionally. The School of Social Work is committed to ensuring all students feel supported throughout their educational journey.

Academic advising forms a cornerstone of student support. Professional Academic Advisors help develop general education and social work pathways for student success, creating four-year plans for majors and identifying complementary minors or special programs. They also assist with registration issues, provide PIN numbers, and audit graduation applications.

Beyond formal academic advising, the program assigns each student a Faculty Mentor aligned with their interests to provide support with academic and career goals. Students are encouraged to meet with their Faculty Mentor once per semester to discuss development and opportunities.

For students in the 2+2 distance program, additional resources are available through the UMOnline Student Services page, along with a printable resource guide specifically designed for distance learners.

The university also hosts TRIO-Student Support Services, which provides personalized, long-term support for first-generation college students, low-income students, and students with disabilities. TRIO participants are three times more likely to complete college than low-income peers not in the program, with services including one-on-one academic and career advising, free textbook and technology loans, FAFSA guidance, tutoring, graduation fee waivers, and community-building events.

Throughout your BSW journey, you’ll benefit from the program’s generalist practice approach, which prepares you to address social problems from a broad ecological and strengths-based perspective. This comprehensive preparation enables you to move between fields of practice, incorporate best practices, apply critical thinking skills, and utilize a framework for social justice.

The faculty and staff’s commitment to nurturing students’ professional growth and development, guided by competencies established by the Council on Social Work Education, ensures you’ll graduate ready to make a meaningful impact in the field of social work.

Salish Kootenai College BSW Program

Salish Kootenai College offers Montana’s only tribal college-based Bachelor of Social Work program. The Council on Social Work Education first gave its approval in February 2008. The program earned full CSWE accreditation in June 2012 for eight years. This gives students a great chance to focus on indigenous communities.

Curriculum and field education

The SKC Bachelor of Social Work program prepares students to work with people from all backgrounds. The program aims to create community leaders who can bring positive change through fair social policies and programs. They work to restore social and economic justice. This curriculum stands out because it values indigenous knowledge and believes in equality, worth, and dignity for everyone.

Students must complete 181 credits [link_2] to meet the Council on Social Work Education’s standards. The program builds on strong liberal arts basics that focus on:

• Cultural understanding and competence
• Critical thinking and professional judgment
• Ethical principles guiding professional practice
• Human rights and social justice advancement
• Research-informed practice and practice-informed research
• Engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills

The program follows a careful plan. Students take basic courses in their first two years. They move on to core professional courses in their final two years. Third-year classes include Social Work Practice I (Individuals), Social Work Values and Ethics, and Technical Writing for Social Work. The fourth year combines advanced coursework with hands-on experience.

Field education is the life-blood of professional training at SKC. Students work through three quarters of internship (I, II, and III). This adds up to 15 credits of supervised field work in tribal or non-tribal social service agencies. Students must finish the Internship Seminar course before starting their field placement.

Students and field supervisors work together to create a learning agreement. This agreement guides the student’s experience and helps measure their growth. Supervisors rate students on a 10-point scale. A score of 7 or higher shows they’ve mastered the needed skills.

Admission requirements

Getting into SKC’s BSW program takes more than just college admission. Students must meet these requirements before they can apply:

1. Have at least a 2.5 GPA
2. Show strong writing and language skills

Students who don’t write well enough might have to join a Writing Improvement Plan. They’ll work with the Social Work Writing Advisor, and faculty members will track their progress.

The program checks criminal history and Child Protection Services records before letting students in. Some convictions will keep students out:

• Felonies for child abuse, crimes against children, spousal abuse, or violent crimes
• Felony convictions for physical assault, battery, or drug-related offenses in the last five years
• Proven child abuse/neglect in the last five years
• Convictions for abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly or disabled people

BSW students must follow the NASW Code of Ethics and act like professional social workers. Breaking these rules can get them removed from the program. The Internship Field Director runs background checks before placing students in field settings.

Tuition and financial aid

SKC’s tuition changes based on student status. Tribal members pay less than other students. Here’s what full-time students (12-18 credits per quarter) will pay in 2025-2026:

Quarterly fees include a non-refundable $70 registration fee, $66 for campus activities and student ID, $50 for technology, $10 for dental health, plus extra fees for facilities and student government. SKC costs much less than many other schools with BSW programs.

Students can get help paying for school in several ways:

1. Grants – Free money for students from low-income families who show need through FAFSA
2. Work-Study – Part-time jobs to help pay for school
3. Loans – Borrowed money you’ll pay back with interest
4. Scholarships – Free money from various sources
5. Tribal Aid – Money from tribal groups for enrolled members

SKC offers special deals for tribal students. New tribal students who finished high school within three years can get free tuition for up to one year. If they keep a 3.0 GPA after their first year, they might get a second year free.

Learning format and flexibility

SKC keeps classes small. With just six students for every teacher, everyone gets personal attention throughout the BSW program.

The school runs on quarters – fall, winter, and spring make up the school year. This setup lets students finish courses faster than semester systems. Students spend two years on general education, then two years learning social work.

Most BSW classes happen on campus, face-to-face. Many courses also show up online through Moodle, SKC’s learning system. Students can take some classes fully online, some mixed between online and in-person, or use online resources to help with regular classes. This helps when students miss class for family needs or cultural events.

Students can study part-time if they need to. They can spread their internship over three quarters instead of doing it all at once.

Career outcomes

SKC’s BSW graduates enter a growing field. Social work jobs are increasing faster than most other jobs as more people need healthcare and social services. Social workers made about $47,980 a year in 2017, with some areas paying more.

The program gets students ready to work in:

• Child welfare services
• Addiction counseling and treatment
• Mental health services
• Work with diverse groups, especially Native American communities
• Community organization and leadership

A BSW from SKC qualifies graduates for entry-level social work jobs. Clinical social work needs a master’s degree, two years of supervised work, and state approval. Many graduates go on to get master’s degrees to earn more and do more types of work.

Graduates stand out because they understand Native American communities so well. This knowledge, plus their general social work skills, helps them serve tribal communities while staying flexible enough to work anywhere.

Student support services

SKC helps students succeed with lots of support services. The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program leads these efforts.

TRIO SSS helps students overcome money, social, and school challenges. Students can join if they:

• Meet income rules set by the U.S. Department of Education
• Have parents without bachelor’s degrees
• Have a documented disability registered with SKC’s Disability Services

The program helps 230 students each year with:

• Academic coaching and advising
• Money management help
• Career guidance
• Help with registration and financial aid
• Transfer help to four-year schools
• Workshops
• Campus visits
• Resource connections
• Computer lab access
• One-on-one or group tutoring
• Math and English help
• Textbook loans
• Health and wellness resources

TRIO SSS students might also get Grant Aid to help pay for school.

The Department of Academic Success adds more support with Student Success Coaches. These coaches help with college life, grades, personal issues, mental health, money, housing, daycare, time management, and jobs. They connect students with counseling, tutoring, and other help.

Social Work faculty watch student progress closely and offer guidance. They helped create the Writing Lab and encourage students to use it. Strong writing skills matter a lot in this program.

These support services help BSW students overcome challenges, build professional skills, and reach their goals in school and work.

BSW Road to Licensure in Montana

Getting your Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) credential in Montana takes several steps after you complete your bachelor of social work from one of Montana’s CSWE-accredited programs. Let’s break down this journey from graduation to professional practice.

Montana has set clear standards to enter the profession. You’ll need a baccalaureate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program or one that’s in CSWE candidacy status. That’s why programs at the University of Montana or Salish Kootenai College are the foundations of your career path.

The next step is to complete 2,000 hours of post-graduate supervised work experience over at least 18 months. Your work during this supervision must meet the guidelines in Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 37-22-307 and Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) 24.219.504.

After finishing your supervised hours, you’ll take the Association of Social Work Boards’ (ASWB) bachelor’s licensing examination. The exam tests your grasp of social work principles, ethics, and practice methods at the bachelor’s level. You must take it within four years of applying for it to count toward your license.

The state also requires a detailed background check. You’ll submit fingerprints to the Montana Department of Justice. This step will give a solid safety measure since social workers often help vulnerable populations.

Here’s what you’ll need to submit to the Montana Board of Behavioral Health:

• Official license verification from states where you hold or held a professional license
• Certified education transcripts sent straight from your school
• Completed fingerprint and background check results
• Noncriminal Justice Applicant’s Rights form
• Proof you passed the ASWB exam (sent directly from ASWB)
• Documentation showing completion of your 2,000 supervised hours

The application costs $200.00. You can pay this fee when you submit your materials through the state’s eBiz portal or with a paper application from the Board’s website.

Montana offers a different path for social workers licensed in other states. If you have a current, active license in good standing from a state with similar requirements, you might qualify. This is a big deal as it means that Montana’s standards must match your current state’s requirements. Still, you’ll need to show you’ve completed supervised post-degree work and passed the right ASWB exam.

Montana added new licensing paths in 2023. House Bill 499 created the “Legacy Clause” in May 2023. This clause, which ended December 31, 2024, helped social work degree holders with 4,000 hours of experience get their Montana LBSW without supervision hours or exams. Though this chance has passed, it shows how Montana helps experienced professionals.

The Montana Board of Behavioral Health oversees this whole process. They have detailed resources to help you through each licensing step. You can submit everything online, which makes things easier for new graduates.

Right now, anyone who practices social work in Montana needs a license at the BSW, MSW, or Clinical level. If you haven’t got your supervised hours yet, start with a candidate-level license so you can practice under supervision until you meet full requirements.

Your license needs regular upkeep through education. Active license holders must complete twenty clock hours yearly, and you can carry over up to 20 hours to next year. The rules are different for inactive licenses – you’ll need 10 hours of continuing education for each inactive year, up to five years.

Both the University of Montana and Salish Kootenai College shape their programs to get you ready for licensing. Their coursework and field experiences match what the state wants to see from new social workers.

Next Steps

Montana offers two CSWE-accredited BSW programs that lead to rewarding social work careers. The University of Montana and Salish Kootenai College deliver complete curricula that line up with national standards. Both schools give students field education options and strong student support services. Students can start working right after graduation or continue their education.

Social work graduates in Montana have excellent job prospects. The field pays well with average salaries reaching $64,360 annually. Job opportunities should accelerate by 7% through 2033, making your BSW a smart investment. The field also lets you specialize in healthcare, mental health, school social work or clinical practice based on what interests you most.

Both programs prepare students well for Montana licensure. Students learn all competencies the Montana Board of Behavioral Health requires. This makes the path from student to Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker clear and direct. The 2,000 hours of supervised experience and ASWB examination become manageable steps in your career progression.

The University of Montana’s program is decades old with adaptable learning options and strong practicum partnerships. Salish Kootenai College focuses on indigenous communities and maintains an impressive 6:1 student-faculty ratio. You’ll be ready to help Montana communities whatever program you choose.

Your BSW is just the start of a flexible career path. These CSWE-accredited programs are the foundations for success in Montana’s growing social work field. You can work immediately, pursue advanced licensure, or continue your education.