social worker students in masters course

Master's in Social Work

M.S.W.

Earn your master's 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. Study at North Dakota's only M.S.W. program.

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

Why earn an M.S.W. degree?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Jan. 15* | May 15 (Advanced Generalist, On-Campus)
Spring:
June 15 (Generalist)
Summer:
Oct. 15 (Advanced Generalist, Online)

* Priority deadline.

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

UND offers a on-campus and online master's in Social Work.

M.S.W. Degree On-Campus

Complete your master's 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. On-campus Social Work master's students must have completed a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) from a CSWE-accredited program.

M.S.W. Degree Online

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 B.S.W. degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
  • The Online (Distance) Foundation is for those without a B.S.W. but with a bachelor's degree in a related field.

UND offers the only master's of Social Work online degree program in North Dakota.

Accredited Master's in Social Work

UND's master's in Social Work 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).

M.S.W. Degree Online or On-Campus

  • 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.

  • We provide financial support to qualified students who commit to working in an approved child welfare agency in North Dakota upon graduation.

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

  • UND is home to the Children and Family Services Training Center, providing research and training with a strong rural focus. The Center certifies all new child welfare workers and all North Dakota foster parents.

  • Internships are available in various agencies and include training to provide vital services in rural communities.

  • Participate in the web-based Leadership Academy for Supervisors (LAS) for experienced child welfare supervisors. Most participants live and work in rural areas with limited access to training.

What can I do with a M.S.W. degree?

9%

Growth rate for social workers through 2031

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

60K

Average UND graduate starting salary

UND Career Services

A master's degree in social work offers you flexibility in social work employment as a licensed professional. The master's in social work program gives you additional expertise and training for career advancement. M.S.W. students 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.

Some graduates use their master's in social work as a stepping stone to:

  • Become a therapist
  • Pursue a law degree
  • Perform social work research

M.S.W. Degree 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.

How is the online master's in social work offered?

Live Online M.S.W. Classes

Synchronous classes are held in real-time. If you’re the kind of learner who likes active discussion and immediate feedback through live interaction, you’ll enjoy this online course format.

Every class is different, but generally, you’ll log into a virtual classroom at scheduled times to:

  • Listen to a lecture.
  • Ask questions.
  • Participate in class discussions.
  • Conduct group activities.
  • Participate in video-sharing.
  • Have chat conversations.
  • Use interactive whiteboards.
  • Take live polls.

You should prepare for your classes by finishing any assigned readings, compiling questions for your instructor, and thinking about how to contribute to the next live class.

Campus Visit

While the majority of your courses are offered online, you’ll come to campus to complete portions of the program. Here, you’ll extend and apply the knowledge you’ve learned online through hands-on activities. Our students find tremendous value in having the opportunity to personally interact with their instructors and fellow students.

Local Social Work Field Placement

You'll participate in a 500-hour field placement to better serve your own community, and may be completed in your local community. Background checks are required prior to entry into field placements.

Best Online M.S.W. Programs

#8 College Choice
#9 Grad School Hub
#14 College Values Online
#17 College Rank
#17 Social Work Degree Center
#17 Best Universities
#19 Affordable Schools
#19 EDsmart
#19 Intelligent
#20 Great College Deals

UND is ranked by many as a Top 20 best online M.S.W. program in the nation. We are well regarded for our educational quality, affordability, flexibility, and career outcomes.

Ranking sites vary in their methodology, but are generally based on the following criterion:

  • Financial data such as net cost, loan default rate, and return on investment
  • Academic rigor including curriculum standards, accreditation status, and faculty reputation
  • Student gratification, retention rate, and support services
  • Employment rate and graduate salary

Online Master's in Social Work

9#

best online university in the nation

EDsmart

2#

best online graduate programs

EDsmart

UND is one of the most affordable online colleges in the region. For this program, we offer the same online M.S.W. tuition rates regardless of your legal residency. Compare and you’ll see UND is lower cost than similar four-year doctoral universities.

Top-Tier Online Master's in Social Work

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on-campus student.

  • Same degree. All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes. You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction. You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor. As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring. We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching. Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access. Dig into virtual research from the Chester Fritz Library. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support. UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.

Best Online Colleges

Reportedly high alumni salaries and job placement rates, coupled with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other non-profit universities in the upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Paysacle.com)

Leaders in Social Work

Develop your social work leadership skills to make an impact on communities globally.

Explore More Options

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

Isaac Karikari, Ph.D., L.M.S.W.
M.S.W. Program Director 
P 701.777.4869
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