Master of Science in Social Work Program (MSW)

The complex needs of our most vulnerable individuals, families and communities requires an increasing level of specialized knowledge and practice skills. To advocate for limited community resources and to manage multi-layered human service agencies, a master's degree in social work is becoming increasingly important and expected for social work professionals seeking leadership and advanced practitioner roles with human services.

The MSW Program at EMU currently serves over 300 students who are primarily experienced social workers, BSW graduates, human service administrators, or persons embarking on a career change. Classes are offered weekday evenings and Saturdays to accommodate part-time, working students from the greater southeast Michigan region, northern Ohio, Ontario, and central Michigan. Students select a specialization in Child and Family Services, Mental Illness and Chemical Dependency (MICD) or Aging.

The MSW Program's specialized classes and field placements promote empowerment and interventions at multiple levels - with individuals, families, agencies, communities, and/or social policies. Learning culturally competent approaches to working with people of color, people with disabilities, and violence against women, encourages students to challenge social injustice, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and ageism.

Graduates of the MSW Program are typically promoted to higher levels of responsibility at their current workplace, or readily obtain master's level positions in community agencies, state or county human services, and advocacy organizations.