Master of Social Work

Master of Social Work

Earn Your Online Master’s Degree in Social Work

Master of Social Work | Program Details

Northern Michigan University’s Master of Social Work program is an exciting opportunity for human services professionals to earn a graduate degree that will take their knowledge and careers to the next level. As a student you will be well prepared as an advanced practitioner through a commitment to higher learning and excellence in your professional social work career.

The program is built for your life so you can earn your degree with maximum flexibility without sacrificing quality. You’ll be aligned with a program that promotes service, social justice, human rights, dignity, worth, and well-being of individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities through specialized clinical and macro practice.

Flexible Curriculum

Affordable

Two Concentrations

Field Placement

Learn More About NMU’s Master of Social Work

What Will You Learn in NMU’s Online Master of Social Work?

As a student in NMU’s Master of Social Work program you’ll be prepared for an advanced career and have the ability to choose between two areas of study: Clinical or Advanced Generalist Concentration.

Learning areas include:

  • Advanced Foundation Courses in Clinical Methods, Indirect Practice Methods, Research Methods and Human Rights.

  • Clinical Concentration Topics Such as Clinical Methods with Individual or Family and Groups, Psychopathology and Evaluation Methods.

  • Advanced Generalist Topics Such as Clinical Methods with Individuals or Families and Groups, Policy and Program Planning, and Community Organizing.

Elective courses for both advanced standing and regular standing students offer a variety of topics that help students focus their education on their career goals. You’ll also take part in field placement courses.

How much does an online master’s degree in social work cost at NMU?

The full program costs vary depending on student status. Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, and scholarships based on eligibility. A financial aid representative can help you make decisions about how to pay for college.

Contact: Financial Aid Office: fao@nmu.edu or 906-227-2327

Social Work Career Opportunities with a Master’s Degree

Graduates of Northern’s Master of Social Work program are qualified to pursue advanced, rewarding careers within a growing job market. Social work graduates have the opportunity to perform work they are passionate about in a wide variety of settings.

Social Worker

$0
median pay

Social Workers in Michigan

$63,044 – $76,752

average salary

Social and Community
Service Manager

$0
median pay

Source: bls.gov & salary.com

Online Master of Social Work Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to a graduate level program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution or an equivalent foreign institution and satisfy the admission requirements listed below. The admission policies presented here are the minimum requirements.

Admission to graduate level coursework does not equate admission to candidacy for a graduate degree. For full degree requirements, please review the MSW Program in the Graduate Bulletin.

Students who have previously achieved a BSW from an accredited program and meet specified GPA requirements should apply for Advanced Standing. Students who have completed an undergraduate degree other than a BSW should apply for Regular Standing.

Master of Social Work Curriculum

The NMU MSW Program offers several curriculum options based on admission standing and chosen concentration. For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Social Work department page.

Regular Standing Option = 50 credits

Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in a field other than social work should apply for regular standing.

Advanced Standing Option = 36 credits

Students who have completed a BSW from a CSWE accredited program should apply for advanced standing.

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 36 – 50 credits

Foundation Courses 10 credits
SW 519 Advanced Standing Clinical Methods 3 credits
SW 529 Advanced Standing Indirect Practice Methods 3 credits
SW 549 Advanced Standing Research Methods 2 credits
SW 569 Advanced Standing Human Rights 2 credits
Concentration Courses (choose one) 12 credits
Clinical Concentration
SW 611 Advanced Clinical Methods with Individuals 3 credits
SW 612  Advanced Clinical Methods with Families and Groups 3 credits
SW 613  Psychopathology 3 credits
SW 641  Clinical Evaluation Methods 3 credits
Advanced Generalist Concentration
SW 611 Advanced Clinical Methods with Individuals 3 credits
SW 612 Advanced Clinical Methods with Families and Groups 3 credits
SW 621 Policy and Program Planning 3 credits
SW 622 Community Organizing 3 credits
Field Placement Courses 8 credits
SW 681 Concentration Field Placement I 4 credits
SW 682 Concentration Field Placement II 4 credits
Electives* 6 credits

Foundation Courses 18 credits
SW 511 Direct Methods with Individuals 3 credits
SW 512 Direct Practice Methods with Couples, Families and Groups 3 credits
SW 521 Leadership in Communities and Organizations 3 credits
SW 541 Social Work Research Methods 3 credits
SW 551 Policy Practice 3 credits
SW 561 Human Rights 3 credits
Concentration Courses (choose one) 12 credits
Clinical Concentration
SW 611 Advanced Clinical Methods with Individuals 3 credits
SW 612  Advanced Clinical Methods with Families and Groups 3 credits
SW 613  Psychopathology 3 credits
SW 641  Clinical Evaluation Methods 3 credits
Advanced Generalist Concentration
SW 611  Advanced Clinical Methods with Individuals 3 credits
SW 612 Advanced Clinical Methods with Families and Groups 3 credits
SW 621 Policy and Program Planning 3 credits
SW 622 Community Organizing 3 credits
Field Placement Courses 14 credits
SW 581 Field Placement I 3 credits
SW 582 Field Placement II 3 credits
SW 681 Concentration Field Placement I 4 credits
SW 682 Concentration Field Placement II 4 credits
Electives* 6 credits

AIS 535 Using Scholarly Library Resources in Support of Graduate Research 2 credits
ED 551 Child Development and Learning: Birth through Kindergarten 4 credits
ED 554 Inclusive Learning Environments: Birth to Kindergarten 4 credits
ED 562 Introduction to Learning Disabilities 3 credits
ED 566 Classroom Management: Methods for Students with Learning Disabilities 3 credits
NAS 404 Research and Engagement in Native American Studies 4 credits
NAS 484 Inclusion in the Classroom 4 credits
NAS 485 Native American Education 4 credits
NAS 488 Native American Community Engagement 4 credits
PA 516 Organizational Theory 4 credits
PA 521 Grant Writing for Public Administrators 2 credits
PA 526 HRM in Public and Nonprofit Management 4 credits
PA 562 Program Evaluation for Public and Nonprofit Agencies 2 credits
PSY 445 Positive Psychology 4 credits
PSY 453 Affective Neuroscience 4 credits
PSY 457 Psychopharmacology 4 credits
PSY 504 Behavioral Neuroscience 4 credits
PSY 541 Advanced Developmental Psychology 4 credits
PSY 561 Cognition: Advanced Theory and Methods 4 credits
SW 523 Death, Dying and Grief 4 credits
SW 531 Clinical Trauma Methods 3 credits
SW 536 Prevention of Substance Use Disorders 3 credits
SW 537 Evaluation and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders 3 credits
SW 595 Special Topics in Social Work 1-4 credits
SW 598 Directed Study 1-4 credits
 All 600 level SW prefix courses

Graduate courses in other disciplines may be accepted as meeting elective requirements as approved by the MSW Program Director or designee.

The Master of Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

Get the support you need. Connect with an enrollment counselor.