Master of Social Work at Minnesota State University Moorhead
Minnesota State University Moorhead’s School of Social Work has educated social work professionals for almost 50 years. The school earned its accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 1973. This makes it one of the first undergraduate programs to receive such recognition. The institution’s steadfast dedication to high educational standards shows through this long-standing accreditation.
The MSW program at MSUM has earned notable recognition. These rankings highlight the program’s distinctive specializations and online learning options.
Minnesota State University Moorhead’s faculty members bring extensive real-life experience to their teaching. Their social work backgrounds span:
- Child and public welfare
- Medical, psychiatric, and gerontological social work
- Mental health treatment
- Domestic violence intervention
- Chemical dependency services
- Family treatment and probation
- Policy analysis and social work research
Students learn from professionals who understand social work practice’s many facets. The faculty takes a global approach through international study trips that focus on social work and social welfare. These trips help students learn about cross-cultural perspectives.
MSUM’s Master of Social Work program shows the university’s continued growth in social work education. The first MSW cohort started their studies in 2023 with 16 students. The university created this program to meet regional workforce needs by offering specialized training unavailable elsewhere in Minnesota’s university system.
The university stays true to its teaching excellence. A student shared this experience: “It is evident that MSUM has not deviated from its roots of being a teaching college. It’s apparent that the faculty is there for you. Not for their research, not for their tenure, but for you”. This student-focused approach gives each person individual attention and guidance throughout their academic experience.
The School of Social Work belongs to the Child Welfare Consortium. This partnership sets aside funds for students who plan careers in child welfare. Students with specific career goals can get financial support while addressing crucial social needs.
Programs offered
The Master of Social Work program at Minnesota State University Moorhead gives you advanced practice skills and specialized knowledge that match the region’s workforce needs for MSW professionals. This detailed program helps graduates stand out with two distinct specialization paths.
MSUM’s MSW program features two unique specializations not found anywhere else in the Minnesota State system:
- Multicultural Clinical – Regional stakeholders and faculty designed this specialization to help you become an advanced mental health professional in our diverse world. The curriculum matches Minnesota Board of Social Work educational requirements for clinical licensure. You’ll have a clear path to advance your career.
- Social Change & Leadership – Regional social workers and human service organizations helped develop this track. You’ll build your leadership potential and high-level agency administration skills along with advanced macro practice competencies.
The program adapts to your educational background:
- Students without a bachelor’s degree in social work start with foundation curriculum before moving to their chosen specialization.
- BSW holders from accredited institutions qualify for advanced standing status. They can start specialization coursework right away and graduate faster.
MSUM offers its MSW program in an innovative “online plus” format. Late afternoon and evening classes use distance technology that works around your schedule. Face-to-face components add value to your learning experience. This flexible approach lets you balance education with work and personal life.
The Multicultural Clinical specialization prepares you for advanced mental health practice with diverse populations. The Social Change and Leadership track helps you develop organizational leadership, administration, and system-level intervention skills – perfect for creating broader social change.
MSUM’s MSW graduates build successful careers in specialty fields of all types including:
- Child and family services
- Geriatrics
- Mental health and substance abuse
- Education
- Healthcare
- Social work policy development
The program launched in 2022 and has already applied for CSWE accreditation with current Candidacy status. This shows MSUM’s commitment to meeting professional standards. Such dedication to excellence has helped make it the top public university MSW program in Minnesota.
MSUM’s Master of Social Work program provides specialized education to boost your clinical capabilities or develop leadership skills for organizational change. You’ll be ready to reach your professional goals.
About the online program
MSUM’s Master of Social Work program uses an innovative “online plus” format that adapts to your location. This unique approach blends remote education convenience with interactive elements to give students an exceptional academic experience.
Students can complete the MSW program based on their educational background. The traditional pathway lets you finish the full program in a minimum of 21 months. Students with qualifying BSW degrees can take the advanced standing option and complete it in just 12 months. You can start your career sooner without compromising on quality education.
The program’s structure works around your professional life with classes scheduled in late afternoon and evening hours. You can participate fully in the distance technology system whatever your location. This setup works especially when you have full-time work, family duties, and community commitments.
The “online plus” label describes how the program mixes different teaching methods. Most learning happens online, but face-to-face or on-campus elements boost your learning. Students get the best of both educational approaches.
Classes include both synchronous and asynchronous components. Live sessions let you interact with professors and classmates in real-time, which creates meaningful discussions with immediate feedback. You can complete other coursework on your schedule, giving you maximum flexibility.
The online format brings practical advantages beyond convenience. Students save on commuting and housing costs while keeping their current jobs. Your studies will build concepts, techniques, and assignments progressively, creating a complete educational experience.
Field seminars are a vital part of the online program that helps you get essential practical skills. These opportunities merge knowledge, skills, values, critical thinking, and applied ethics in real-life social work settings.
The cohort model promotes strong bonds between students despite the distance. You’ll network and support each other throughout the program. Faculty stays available to advise and mentor, so you’ll never feel alone in the online format.
MSUM’s online MSW program keeps high academic standards while offering the flexibility today’s students need through this well-designed distance education approach.
Accreditation
Rigorous accreditation processes ensure your social work education degree meets professional standards that are decades old. The Master of Social Work program at Minnesota State University Moorhead has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This difference confirms the program’s quality and adherence to national standards.
CSWE accreditation is the most important credential for social work professionals. The CSWE remains the only recognized accrediting agency for social work education in the United States. A CSWE-accredited program graduation often becomes a prerequisite to qualify for licensure in most states. Your MSW from MSUM will be accessible to more people, including employers and licensing boards across the country.
MSUM’s dedication to quality social work education spans decades. The university’s undergraduate social work program has managed to keep continuous CSWE accreditation since 1973. That year marked CSWE’s first venture into accrediting undergraduate programs. This relationship with CSWE shows the institution’s steadfast dedication to high educational standards in social work.
Minnesota State University Moorhead’s accreditation extends beyond program-specific credentials. The Higher Learning Commission has accredited MSUM at doctoral, specialist, and master’s degree levels. This institutional accreditation adds another layer of quality assurance to your MSUM education.
The CSWE accreditation process requires a full picture. It includes peer review, planning, research, data collection, approvals, and CSWE standard compliance. Programs must document their educational standards, mission, and accountability measures extensively.
CSWE accreditation offers several benefits to your education:
- The program meets high educational standards with clear objectives
- You’ll meet state licensure requirements after graduation
- The curriculum arranges with professional social work practice expectations
Accreditation should be your main priority when choosing a social work program. It protects you as a consumer and serves the public good through quality education. Non-accredited programs and “degree mills” might limit your career opportunities since institutions, employers, or licensing boards may not recognize them.
MSUM’s CSWE accreditation showcases its commitment to educating respectful, responsible, and competent social workers who serve diverse communities.
Admission Requirements
Getting into Minnesota State University Moorhead’s MSW program requires meeting several important qualifications through a selective process. Students must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. The program requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or at least 3.25 for the last 30 semester credits.
The program has two different entry paths based on your educational background:
- Advanced Standing: Students with a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited university can take this accelerated option. This path helps you build on your BSW program skills and finish your degree faster.
- Foundational Standing: Students with bachelor’s degrees in other fields must complete a 24-credit foundational curriculum before moving to their chosen specialization.
The application package must include:
- A completed GradCAS application
- Current resume showing education, work, and volunteer experiences
- Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended (official transcripts required upon admission)
- Three letters of recommendation from professional and academic sources
The program’s recommendation requirements include one reference from your immediate professional supervisor and another from a faculty member who can speak about your academic readiness for graduate social work education.
Your professional statement is a vital part of your application. This document should show your understanding of social work, highlight your qualifications for the field, describe your professional goals, and reflect your cultural experiences’ influence on your view of the profession.
MSUM prefers applicants who have 2,000 or more hours of human service or professional experience. In spite of that, candidates who don’t meet all requirements can apply for provisional admission. They need to complete the Appeal for Minimum Admission Requirement question and explain their special circumstances.
The admission process looks at academic credentials, professional experience, and how well candidates fit with the social work profession. This comprehensive approach helps select students who can succeed in this demanding field.
Tuition
Getting a Master of Social Work degree is one of the most important educational investments you’ll make. Minnesota State University Moorhead breaks down its tuition costs to help you plan your education better.
MSUM’s Master of Social Work program costs $703.04 per credit. This rate is different from the standard graduate course fee of $552.39 because of the program’s specialized nature. Your total cost will depend on the number of credits in your chosen path.
Students in the Traditional MSW Program need about 59 credits, bringing the total tuition and fees to $43,680. The Advanced Standing Program suits students with BSW degrees. It needs just 34-38 credits and costs around $28,080. These rates make MSUM a competitive choice among regional institutions.
Each graduate course includes student fees of $65.95 per credit and a Students United fee of $0.80 per credit. You’ll need to add these charges to calculate your total educational cost.
MSUM’s program costs are nowhere near what you’d pay at many other schools in the region. Yes, it is much cheaper than private colleges, for-profit institutions, and many public universities.
MSUM gives you several ways to manage your education costs:
- Graduate assistantships are a great way to get experience working with faculty
- Graduate student scholarships are available through online application
- The Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid offers various financial aid packages
MSUM makes its high-quality MSW program economical through reasonable tuition rates and financial help. The university combines excellent education with affordable costs, making it an attractive choice for future social work professionals who want advanced credentials.
Additional Information
Students at Minnesota State University Moorhead’s MSW program get exceptional opportunities outside the classroom. The program takes a global point of view through study abroad trips that focus on social work and social welfare. Students have visited Ireland, Peru, Taiwan, Costa Rica, Argentina, Southeast Asia, Spain, Denmark, and Norway.
The job market looks promising for career-focused students. Social workers should see a 9% job growth through 2031 with median pay around $50,400. They can also work as community outreach coordinators (12% growth, $74,000) and counselors (10% growth, $60,500). Graduates qualify for advanced roles such as licensed clinical social worker ($74,040/year), psychotherapist ($75,527/year), or clinical forensic specialist ($105,080/year).
Students can grow professionally by:
- Networking with peers through the Dragon Society of Social Work
- Taking part in the Social Work Learning Community
- Getting practical experience through a required 480-hour internship
MSUM’s membership in the Child Welfare Consortium provides dedicated funding for students pursuing careers in child welfare. This partnership shows the program’s steadfast dedication to critical social needs while offering additional financial support.