Skip to main content
University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
    • Admitted Students
    • Current Students
    • Families of Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Email
    • Blackboard
    • Campus Connection
    • Employee Self-Service (HRMS)
    • Starfish
    • Degree Map
    • Zoom
  • Directory
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Student Life
  • Research
  • Athletics
  • Majors & Programs
  • About
University of North Dakota
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Student Life
  • Research
  • Athletics
  • Majors & Programs
  • About
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
social worker students in masters course
  • Home
  • Program Finder
  • Social Work (M.S.W.)
print Print Page

M.S.W. Degree

Master of Social Work

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:
1-2 years (on-campus or online concentration) or 3 years (online foundation)
Credit hours:
36 (on-campus or online concentration) or 60 (online foundation)
  • Requirements
  • Tuition & Aid
  • Why UND Online?
  • How to Apply
  •  

Request Information

Why earn a master of social work?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Jan. 15 (On-Campus Concentration)
Spring:
June 15 (Online Foundation)
Summer:
Oct. 15 (Online Concentration)

M.S.W. Degree On-Campus

Complete your Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) in as few as three semesters by attending class full-time and on campus. Or, complete the on-campus concentration part-time. On-campus graduate social work students must have completed a B.S.W. from a CSWE-accredited program.

M.S.W. Degree Online

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 pursue the Online (Distance) Foundation.

Accredited Master of Social Work Programs

The 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).

Master of Social Work 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.

Best Master of Social Work Online

#3 The Best Schools
#5 OnlineU.org
#7 Intelligent
#8 College Choice
#9 Grad School Hub
#13 Grad Degree
#14 College Values Online
#17 College Rank
#17 Social Work Degree Center
#19 Affordable Schools
#19 EDsmart

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

Leaders in Social Work

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

Request Information

Explore More Options

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

  • Department of Social Work
  • Explore Similar Programs
Isaac Karikari, Ph.D., L.M.S.W.
M.S.W. Program Director 
P 701.777.4869
isaac.karikari@UND.edu
    We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.

    By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies, Privacy Information.

    Ready to Enroll?

    • Request Information
    • Schedule a Visit
    • Apply Now
    • UND.info@UND.edu
    • 701.777.3000
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Contact UND
    • Campus Map
    • Events Calendar
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Explore Programs
    • Employment
    • Make a Gift
    University of North Dakota

    © 2023 University of North Dakota - Grand Forks, ND - Member of ND University System

    • Accessibility & Website Feedback
    • Terms of Use & Privacy
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Student Disclosure Information
    • Title IX
    ©
    UND.info@UND.edu
    701.777.3000 | 1.800.CALL.UND
    UND.edu/programs