Advance your career in social work
Our program places particular importance on preparing social work professionals—case managers, policy analysts, clinicians, and community organizers—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.
Our program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Read our annual assessment summary:
Learn the skills to be a leader in social work practice
The Master of Social Work program prepares students for advanced social work practice and leadership in the following areas:
- Clinical mental health
- Community practice
- Families and children
- Health, disability and aging
Graduate 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 MSW program offers a full-program option for students who have not completed a bachelor's in social work (BSW) or an advanced standing consideration 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 in both program options can choose from full- or part-time study.
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53 required credits
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1020 hours of practicum instruction
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On-campus courses offered Thursday - Saturday; as well as Monday and Wednesday evening.
Our advanced standing MSW track is 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.
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34 required credits
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600 hours of practicum instruction
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On-campus classes Thursday - Saturday; as well as Monday and Tuesday evening
Coursework
- 53 credits for the MSW full program
- 34 credits for MSW advanced standing
See a sample schedule for the foundational MSW program, as well as specialization coursework.
Course Schedule
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.
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:
- 1020 for the MSW full program option
- 600 for the MSW advance 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.
Tuition and Funding
Tuition
The MSW Full Program requires 53 credits and 1,020 practicum hours to graduate.
The MSW Full Program requires 34 credits and 600 practicum hours to graduate.
For the most current cost per credit for undergraduate 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
The College of Education and Human Development offers grants, scholarships, and fellowships to both incoming and current graduate students. 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.
Getting Licensed
Obtaining a license to practice
Graduates of the UMN MSW program can apply for a provisional license to practice in Minnesota once their degree is conferred. This license requires additional supervised practice and supervision hours.
To become a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), you must have an MSW degree, pass the LGSW exam, complete 360 hours in five clinical content areas, and complete 4,000 hours of post-MSW supervised clinical supervision.
What you'll need for your license application
Our clinical content chart documents how UMN MSW coursework meets the requirements for the Minnesota social work license. This is intended only as a guide, and requirements are also often met through continuing education and workshops. You can compare this chart to the Minnesota Board of Social Work requirements.
To request a copy of your clinical clock hours or other licensure documentation, please complete the Social Work Licensure Documentation Request form.
Please note that depending on what year you graduated, this request may take several weeks to fulfill.
Dual Degrees
Our dual degree programs allow MSW students to earn a master's degree in two areas of study in a shortened timeframe. We offer dual degrees in public health, public policy, and urban and regional planning, which build a foundation that complements professional practice.
MSW/MPH
The Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health (MSW/MPH) Dual Degree prepares students to work at the intersection of community health and social care.
MSW/MPP
The dual MSW and Masters in Public Policy (MSW/MPP) degree trains students to work at the intersection of community health and social care, and address public policies from a public health perspective.
MSW/MURP
The dual MSW and Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MSW/MURP) prepares graduates to build cities that foster the health of the community.
Quote from Malaika Hankins, MSW '20
Before coming to the School of Social Work, I was working at a nonprofit with children and families back in North Carolina. I loved the work and was excited to develop skills that would better allow me to work with the young people, families, and communities that I care about. When I was considering programs, I was excited to find that the U of MN’s program had a dual degree program that would allow me to also earn a Master’s in Public Policy. Our program has opportunities for students to consider their own values and how that connects to the type of social workers they want to be.
MSW Specializations
Clinical Mental Health
Learn contextually based approaches to mental health diagnostic assessment, 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.
An MSW with a Curriculum Grounded in Social Justice
Our program rests on the principle that a just society is one that provides for the basic human needs of all citizens and that all persons should have equal opportunities to share in society’s social, political, and economic goods.
Our graduate students come from Minnesota, across the nation, and from around the world, giving the learning and research experience depth and breadth in lived experiences and perspectives.
Our student body and environment helps all students develop the sensitivity and skills necessary to work in diverse communities.
The central mission of the Master of Social Work program is the preparation of students for advanced social work practice and leadership in the following areas: Clinical Mental Health; Community Practice; Families and Children; Health, Disability and Aging.
The Master of Social Work program reflects the public education and research mission of the University of Minnesota, the educational purpose of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and the professional values of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
The program is grounded in the School’s history of advanced scholarship and knowledge building, as well as its tradition of leadership for and commitment to working for social justice.
The curriculum is grounded in a person-in-environment construct, as well as the history, values, ethics, research and knowledge base of the profession. In addition, the curriculum rests on the principle that a just society is one that provides for the basic human needs of all citizens and that all persons should have equal opportunities to share in society’s social, political, and economic goods.
In developing the curriculum, the program places particular importance on preparing social work professionals (in such roles as case managers, policy analysts, clinicians, and community organizers) to have a practical understanding of how power and privilege, and their opposites, shape the roles that all of us play in society.
Also, as a reflection of this commitment, we strive to create a learning environment that is diverse in all aspects. Further, we use this environment to help all students develop the sensitivity and skills necessary to work effectively in diverse communities.
The following goals for the MSW program are derived from its mission:
- The MSW program will prepare graduate students for entry into advanced social work practice and leadership for the profession.
- The MSW program will prepare professionals who are able to evaluate social work practice and programs critically and empirically, and who are able to apply evidence-based best-practice knowledge and skills effectively with diverse populations in a range of practice settings.
- The MSW program will support and promote the public good by expanding access to graduate social work education throughout the state, with emphasis on practice in the arena of public-sector social services and policy.
- The MSW Program will create opportunities for graduate social work education for members of groups that have historically been denied access to professional graduate education for reasons related to bias, oppression and economic disparity.
School of Social Work
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.
School of Social Work faculty in full academic regalia line up to hand out diplomas on stage on Graduation Day.
Photo Courtesy of Jairus Davis, CEHD