social workers in college class

Social Work (M.S.W.)

Earn your master's degree in social work from a top-ranked accredited M.S.W. program.

Social work is your calling. Be the change needed to help improve lives, stand up to injustices and prevent social problems.

Program Snapshot
Program type:
Master's Degree
Format:
On-campus or online
Est. time to complete:
1-2 years (on-campus or online concentration) or 3 years (online foundation)
Credit hours:
36 (on-campus or online concentration) or 60 (online foundation)

Affordable Online Master's Degree in Social Work

The University of North Dakota's (UND's) online master's degree in social work is especially tailored for students who work full-time. The Online (Distance) Concentration is available for students who have completed a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree from a CSWE-accredited program. Those without a B.S.W. but with a bachelor's degree in a related field can purse the Online (Distance) Foundation.

Online student tuition is charged per credit regardless of residency. This means you will pay the North Dakota in-state tuition rate regardless of your state of residency.

Earn a M.S.W. in 3 Semesters

Complete your master's degree in social work in as few as three semesters by attending class full-time and on campus. Or, complete the on-campus concentration part-time. Students must have completed a B.S.W. from a CSWE-accredited program. 

Accredited by CSWE

The M.S.W. program was established in 1989 and fully accredited in 1993. UND social work programs are continuously reaffirmed for accreditation. UND continues to update its curriculum to adhere to revised standards established by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Top Online Master's in Social Work in the Nation

UND is increasingly regarded as one of the top academic and research institutions in the nation for social work. This M.S.W. online program is ranked as a Top 10 “Most Affordable College for Online Social Work Degrees” by onlineu.org. 

#7 - Top Best CSWE Accredited Online M.S.W. Degree Program

#8 - TOP 60 online social work degrees

#11 - Best Online Masters of Social Work Degree Program

#14 - Best Online Masters of Social Work Program

#16 - top 28 online master's in social work

International Social Work

Social Work Master's Program

  • Study through an online program ranked No. 1 in the nation by Best College Reviews and No. 3 in the nation by Nonprofit Colleges Online.

  • 93% retention rate among M.S.W. online students.

  • Complete a field internship under the supervision of an experienced field instructor.

  • Get involved with our national award-winning Student Social Work Association or Phi Alpha, the social work honor society.

  • The Advanced Generalist emphasis prepares you for all practice settings, including clinical social work. You will be prepared to provide advanced social services and develop the skills needed for advanced positions.

Careers in Social Work

16%

Growth rate for social workers through 2026*

47K

Median annual salary for social workers*

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

A Master of Social Work degree from the University of North Dakota offers you flexibility in social work employment as a licensed professional, and gives you additional expertise and training for career advancement. MSW students from UND have gone on to hold the following positions, among others:

  • Adult community mental health practitioner at Northwestern Mental Health Center in Crookston, Minn.
  • Case manager at McLaren Greater Lansing in Lansing, Mich.
  • Chemical dependency and mental health counselor at Great Lakes Recovery Center in Marquette, Mich.
  • Mental health practitioner at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota in Detroit Lakes, Minn.
  • Social work program director at Central Alabama Aging Consortium in Montgomery, Ala.
  • Supervisor at PATH North Dakota in Fargo, N.D.

When You Earn a master's degree in Social Work

A master's degree in Social Work gives you the strategic skills you need, including:

  • Case Management
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Psychotherapy
  • Event Planning

UND Social Work Alumni

Social Work alumni have gone on to a variety of successful careers with:

  • Altru Health System
  • Essentia Health
  • Development Homes, Inc.
  • Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota

Graduate Social Work Courses

SWK 530. Advanced Generalist Practice with Individuals. 2 Credits.

Advanced Generalist Practice with Individuals helps students refine and deepen their conceptual and technical knowledge of social work practice with individuals. The course equips students with advanced generalist skills to guide engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation with individual clients. Course assignments promote ethical and evidence-based practice relevant to diverse populations. Prerequisite: Admission to the Advanced Generalist Concentration. F,SS.

SWK 533. Advanced Generalist Practice with Families. 2 Credits.

Advanced Generalist Practice with Families teaches students advanced generalist skills in working with families to engage, assess, intervene and evaluate client systems. This class builds upon family therapy theories and their practical applications. Activities and assignments build skills necessary to work with families in therapeutic settings. Prerequisite: Admission to the Advanced Generalist Concentration. F,S.

SWK 534. Advanced Generalist Practice with Treatment Groups. 2 Credits.

Advanced Generalist Practice with Treatment Groups uses an interpersonal perspective as a theoretical foundation for understanding group dynamics. Students build upon foundational knowledge and skills, and develop and demonstrate advanced techniques for engaging individuals in the group process, assessing appropriateness for group membership, developing interventions, and evaluating the treatment group process. Prerequisite: Admission to the Advanced Generalist Concentration. F,S.

SWK 515. Generalist Practice Field Education I. 3 Credits.

Generalist field internship placement in a human service organization. Students apply foundation coursework, emphasizing core competencies and demonstration of practice behaviors. Prerequisite: Admission to field program. Corequisite: SWK 516. S/U grading. F.

SWK 501. Human Behavior in the Social Environment I. 2 Credits.

Generalist Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (HBSE I) provides students with foundational knowledge relevant to human life span development, and an introduction to social work systems perspectives. Students critique and apply various frameworks to case scenarios that exemplify client differences in biological, psychological, social, spiritual, and cultural domains. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program. Prerequisite or Corequisite: SWK 507.

SWK 506. Social Policy. 2 Credits.

Provides a basic understanding of the history and current patterns of social welfare services in the United States. Students apply a policy analysis framework to identify key issues, understand policy development, and assess the role of social policies and political processes on the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Students also learn to identify opportunities for actively engaging in the policy arena. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program.

Explore More Options

Connect with the social work faculty you'll work with at UND or discover additional education opportunities.

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