Start your journey
Advance your career in social work practice
Our MSW program places particular importance on preparing social work professionals to have a practical understanding of how power and privilege, and their opposites, shape the roles that all of us play in society.
We strive to create a learning environment that is diverse in all aspects, and we use this environment to help all students develop the sensitivity and skills necessary to work effectively in diverse communities.
The advanced standing option for students who have completed a CSWE-accredited BSW degree in the last seven years and earned a grade of B or higher in their foundation courses. Students can choose from full- or part-time study.
- 34 required credits
- 600 hours of practicum instruction
- On-campus courses offered Thursday - Saturday; as well as Monday and Wednesday evening.
Careers
Master of Social Work (MSW) graduates build careers as:
- case managers
- policy analysts
- clinicians
- community organizers
- and more
Tuition and funding
Tuition
The MSW Full Program requires 53 credits and 1,020 practicum hours to graduate.
Find the MSW program on the full list of 2025-2026 professional graduate program costs for the College of Education and Human Development.
For the most current cost per credit for professional graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, we well as information about fees and cost of attendance, visit OneStop Services, Twin Cities.
Financial aid
Graduate students in the UMN-Twin Cities MSW program are eligible for funding awards from the School of Social Work, College of Education and Human Development and the University of Minnesota.
School of Social Work training grants and fellowships
The School of Social Work offers training grants and fellowships to MSW students who either will or have worked with specific populations, or in specific settings. See SSW grants and Fellowships.
College of Education and Human Development scholarships and awards
As a graduate student in CEHD, you may be eligible for fellowships, grants, and scholarships from the University of Minnesota, from our college, and from your academic department. Learn about graduate funding opportunities from CEHD.
Scholarships and awards through the University
Learn about merit-based graduate funding opportunities open to all students at the University of Minnesota.
Questions about University funding opportunities? Contact the Office of Graduate Studies at 612-625-7579 or gsfellow@umn.edu
Application deadlines and instructions
Each year, the University of Minnesota School of Social Work offers a priority deadline and a final deadline for both advance standing students and general admission candidates.
January 15: Final deadline for advanced standing
- All applications will be reviewed within two weeks of the application deadline
- All decision letters will be mailed by February 15
Learn more about the MSW application, and see answers to frequently asked questions on our How to apply page.
What our alumni say
Quote from Joan Blakey, PhD, MSW, LMSW
My time in the MSW program was truly transformative. I was so excited to get into the MSW program. As I shared the news with friends and colleagues, people were astonished—this program had a low acceptance rate, and I had earned one of the few coveted spots. That validation meant something to me. Yet, almost as soon as the program began, my life unraveled. I was going through a major breakup, and the grief was so overwhelming that I seriously considered dropping out. I couldn’t focus, couldn’t do the work, and the sadness was consuming every part of me.
One of my professors, Dr. Victoria VanSlyke, changed everything. She slowed everything down—my thinking, my panic, my sense that I had to choose between my education and my heartbreak. She worked with me, one assignment at a time, helping me get through that first semester. That brief but deeply human interaction changed my entire trajectory. It showed me what social work looked like in real time, and it confirmed that I had chosen the right profession.
This school changed my life—not because it was perfect (it wasn’t), but because I felt like people genuinely cared about me. The rigor of the coursework pushed me to learn more about myself than I ever expected. I was ready. I wanted to learn. I was curious; I invested my time and energy, and the program offered challenges, opportunities, and support.
I had the chance to study abroad, participate in student organizations, and be in community with people who wanted to make the world better. The experiences I had inside and outside the classroom broadened my worldview and deepened my sense of purpose.
It was a transformative experience. If I had dropped out, I would not be the Director of the School of Social Work here at UMN. This program prepared me—and if I had to do it all over again, I would make the same choice.
Coursework
Learning environment
Our MSW program places particular importance on preparing social work professionals to have a practical understanding of how power and privilege, and their opposites, shape the roles that all of us play in society.
We strive to create a learning environment that is diverse in all aspects, and we use this environment to help all students develop the sensitivity and skills necessary to work effectively in diverse communities.
MSW specializations
Clinical mental health
Learn contextually based approaches to mental health diagnostic assessment, including treatment and practice evaluation, with a strong focus on client systems experiencing significant mental health risk.
Community practice
Improve the effectiveness and responsiveness of human service systems to mobilize groups for social change and to serve as catalysts for sustainable development and social justice.
Families and children
Work with families and children in a range of settings and organizations, as well as influence relevant organizational structures and policies.
Health, disability, and aging
Work with people affected by distinct and interconnected issues related to health, disability and aging.
Course schedule
Required credits: The Master's in Social Work (MSW) - Advance Standing program requires 34 credits.
MSW courses are scheduled all day Thursday–Saturday. Some courses are also offered on Monday–Wednesday evenings. MSW students will not be able to take courses exclusively during weekday business hours, or exclusively during evening and Saturday hours.
Students can often create a course schedule that meets their needs. All students, however, will have at least some evening courses during their time as a graduate student. Most students will have Saturday courses at some point in their graduate career.
See a sample schedule for the foundational MSW program, as well as specialization coursework.
Practicum
Partnering with social work agencies around the Twin Cities and throughout neighboring states, the practicum instruction brings your classroom learning into practice.
Practicum placement hour requirements are:
- 600 for the MSW advanced standing option
Practicum schedule
Students taking a practicum are generally expected to be in on Mondays–Wednesdays. Some practicum placements offer evening and weekend hours, but almost every practicum placement will require some time in the agency during regular Monday–Friday business hours.
Students will have two opportunities to participate and engage in this learning opportunity each school year. Many students choose to engage in a Fall-Spring internship that runs concurrent with the academic year, while others choose to engage in a Summer internship.
Practicum placements for the Fall/Spring cohort begin in March, with information sessions about the matching process, Practicum Agency Information Day, and more.
Licensure preparation
Graduates of this CSWE-accredited program are eligible for Minnesota state licensure as Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW). With additional experience and supervision, you can pursue licensure as a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).
Our faculty
Our MSW faculty bring a wide-range of expertise and scholarship to the classroom, with significant contributions to research at both the local and global levels. These lifelong scholars actively contribute to both academics and the community.
Contact us
Questions about applying? You can schedule a one-on-one appointment with Director of Admissions, Larissa Lavrov.