School of Social Work

About the Program

The MSW Program at EMU was designed to meet the unique needs of working people who are committed to the profession, but who are employed full-time, generally in human services. The program has been accredited since 1992.

Our program:

• Prepares social workers to find empowering solutions to social problems and to meet the needs of the most impoverished, oppressed and underserved people.
• Is designed to accommodate working students needing a part-time program.
• Is accredited by the CSWE.

EMU offers both a "full program," for students with a bachelor's degree in a field other than social work, and an "advanced standing" program, for students who hold a BSW degree from an accredited program. The full program requires students to successfully complete 63 credit hours to earn an MSW degree. Students admitted with advanced standing complete 35 hours of advanced level coursework.

Students who earned a BSW with at least a 2.75 GPA overall—or at least 3.0 GPA in their last 60 undergraduate credits—qualify for advanced standing.

Part-time, evening, weekends

MSW program course work is offered only on evenings and Saturdays. The typical EMU MSW student is employed full-time in a social work-related job, and pursues a degree on a part-time, year-round basis.

Most "full program" students have a plan of study leading to a degree in four years. Most "advanced standing" students have a plan of study leading to a degree in two years. In both cases, students take about six credits a semester.

In the field

As part of their studies, all full program students complete one eight-month (400 hours) agency–based internship as part of their foundation for advanced practice. All students complete one eight-month (500 hours) agency-based internship at the advanced level. Though courses meet in evenings and on Saturdays, most field placement require daytime hours during the regular work week. Work site placements are made available to students who can make appropriate arrangements to carry out a field placement at the place of work.

The School of Social Work has cultivated a rich network of relationships across the Southeast Michigan region with a wide range of field agencies, affording EMU social work students a range of opportunities for field experience.