St. Mary’s University of Minnesota MSW

The career outlook for St. Mary’s University of Minnesota MSW graduates looks promising. Social work jobs will grow 6% from 2024 to 2034. Mental health and substance abuse social work positions will see an even higher increase of 11% during this period.

St. Mary’s MSW program stands out among other Minnesota programs because of its flexible options. Students with Advanced Standing can earn their degree in just one year with full-time study. Traditional students need less than two years to graduate. The program holds full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education. Students learn to work with individuals, families, and communities to tackle both personal and social challenges. The curriculum aligns with Minnesota’s LGSW and LICSW licensing requirements.

This piece gives you a detailed look at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Master of Social Work program. You’ll find everything about the school, available programs, online study options, admission criteria, and tuition costs to help you plan your professional path better.

Programs offered

St. Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Master of Social Work program gives you two educational paths based on your academic background and career goals.

Traditional Track

The complete 60-credit Traditional track welcomes professionals from various educational backgrounds. Here’s what you’ll study:

• 30 credits of Generalist Courses including:
  • History and Philosophy of Social Work (MSW600)
  • Generalist Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups
  • Human Behavior in the Social Environment
  • Psychopathology
  • Social Work Research and Policy
  • Field Experience
• 21 credits of Clinical Social Work Specialization covering:
  • Clinical Methods with Individuals and Groups
  • Ethical Social Work Practice and Leadership
  • Clinical Practice with Children and Families
  • Clinical Field Experience
  • Capstone Project
• 9 credits of Electives from options such as:
  • Clinical Practice with Addictions
  • Clinical Practice with Trauma
  • S. Poverty: Viewpoints and Interventions
  • Social Work in Schools
  • Spiritual Diversity in Clinical Practice

Advanced Standing Track

Students with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work earned in the last ten years can choose the 30-credit Advanced Standing track that offers a faster path. This track has:

• 24 credits of Advanced Standing Program Courses
• 6 credits of Electives

Flexible Completion Options

You can choose from these timeframes to fit your schedule:

• Traditional Track: Five consecutive semesters (full-time) or ten consecutive semesters (part-time)
• Advanced Standing: Three consecutive semesters (full-time) or five consecutive semesters (part-time)

Students can earn an Addiction Studies Certificate within their MSW coursework. Advanced students need no additional credits while traditional students need just three more credits. You’ll take addiction studies electives and complete a dually approved MSW/ADS clinical internship.

Program Structure and Field Experience

Both tracks combine theory with hands-on practice through field experiences. Traditional track students complete two generalist field experiences (or a block placement) and two clinical field experiences. Advanced Standing students must complete 600 hours of clinical field experiences.

The program follows a cohort model built on community, respect, justice, and excellence. You’ll move through your studies with supportive peers while developing specialized clinical skills.

Your program ends with a capstone project that blends your learning and shows your readiness for professional practice. After graduation, you’ll be ready for various professional roles, especially in clinical healthcare, mental health, and forensic social work systems.

The program delivers all coursework online, using both real-time and self-paced learning formats. This gives you flexibility without compromising your education quality or involvement.

About the online program

Saint Mary’s online Master of Social Work program brings detailed clinical social work education right to your device. Students can access it from anywhere in the United States. The program helps working professionals balance their studies with personal and work commitments through its flexible yet rigorous approach.

Students use the Learning Management System at Saint Mary’s. The courses follow an organized schedule with set deadlines for assignments and assessments. The platform comes packed with digital tools. These include discussion boards, video conferencing, shared notes, screens, and instructional videos that create a lively learning space. Every MSW student gets a university-provided iPad loaded with apps to boost their online learning.

Field education is a vital part of social work training. Saint Mary’s has built a strong network of MSW field placements nationwide. The Field Education Coordinators find and check potential internship sites before applications begin. This ensures students get options that match their career goals and schedules. The university aims to find at least three suitable placement opportunities for each student.

Students often use their current jobs for field practicums. This lets them apply their work at an eligible agency toward MSW fieldwork requirements. Working professionals find this setup ideal. The program maintains educational standards while adapting to ground realities.

Full-time Traditional track students finish the program in five consecutive semesters. Part-time students complete it in ten consecutive semesters. Advanced Standing students need three consecutive semesters full-time or five consecutive semesters part-time.

The online MSW program provides strong support services:

• 24/7 technical assistance
• Direct faculty and staff contact through phone, email, or video
• Academic and career support resources
• Dedicated academic advisors for educational and career guidance
• Student services specialists for registration and scheduling help
• Field Education Coordinators who handle placement details

Online students receive the same support as on-campus students. This dedication to student success pairs with a clinically focused curriculum. Students learn to diagnose and treat clients while working with healthcare professionals, mental health practitioners, and community supporters.

Students can add an Addiction Studies Certificate by taking special electives and completing a combined MSW/ADS clinical internship. Advanced Standing students need no extra credits, while Traditional students only need three more credits.

Saint Mary’s online MSW program makes quality education accessible. Students can advance their social work careers through this respected, CSWE-accredited program that fits their unique needs.

Accreditation

St. Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Master of Social Work program has reached a major milestone. The program earned full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation. This measure shows the program meets or goes beyond the quality standards for social work education.

CSWE granted accreditation to the program in March 2022, and it continues to thrive. Students who joined the MSW program from day one can claim they graduated from an accredited program. The next CSWE review will happen in February 2030.

St. Mary’s University of Minnesota has managed to keep its institutional accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1934. This complete institutional accreditation proves the university’s credits and degrees meet higher education’s quality standards.

CSWE accreditation makes a big difference in MSW graduates’ careers. You need it to get your master’s level social work license in any state. Yes, it is essential to get an MSW with CSWE accreditation to qualify for master’s-level social work licensure, including the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential. The program’s curriculum matches CSWE standards to help students become eligible for state licensure after graduation.

CSWE is the only accrediting body for social work education that the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes in the United States. This exclusive status highlights CSWE-accredited programs’ value and credibility in the field.

The path to accreditation demands excellence. Programs must pass peer reviews that give a full picture of their quality and prove they have enough resources to achieve their goals. Students can trust both the program’s quality and its graduates’ competence.

St. Mary’s MSW program’s CSWE accreditation proves it delivers high-quality education with clear goals and accountability. Your degree from St. Mary’s will get recognition from employers and licensing boards nationwide, giving you a strong foundation for your clinical social work career.

The accreditation covers all program locations and teaching methods. Online MSW students get the same quality assurance as traditional classroom students. Whatever way you choose to earn your degree, you’ll know you’re getting education that meets excellence standards.

Admission Requirements

St. Mary’s University of Minnesota accepts MSW program applications year-round, with priority deadlines set for each semester.

The Traditional track needs an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution. You’ll need a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. The program director might grant provisional status if your GPA is lower. The good news is that you don’t need any prior social work degree or experience for this track.

Students interested in the Advanced Standing track must have earned their Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program in the last ten years. A 3.00 cumulative GPA is required for this track. Your BSW might be older than ten years, and you can still qualify. You’ll just need to complete four generalist courses first: Generalist Practice I and II and Human Behavior in the Social Environment I and II. Students who got below a B in core BSW courses will need to retake equivalent courses at St. Mary’s.

Your application package should include:

• Completed application form with nonrefundable fee (waived for alumni, readmission seekers, veterans, and active military)
• Official transcripts from all previous institutions
• A reflective professional essay (750-1000 words) about your career plans, motivation for social work, program choice rationale, and social justice views
• Two letters of recommendation from former/current supervisors or professors
• Current résumé showing your education, work history, and volunteer experience

International students need their transcripts evaluated by approved services like World Education Services. They must also prove English proficiency through TOEFL (minimum score 72), IELTS (6.0), MELAB (74%), ITEP (4.0), Pearson (51), or Duolingo (105).

St. Mary’s doesn’t require GMAT or GRE scores. Traditional track students can transfer up to 12 credits, while Advanced Standing students can transfer 6 credits. These transfers need approval from both the program director and dean. The university makes it clear that work or life experience can’t replace academic credit.

St. Mary’s stands out among MSW programs in Minnesota. Its admission requirements create a balance between academic excellence and accessibility, making clinical social work education available to qualified candidates from different backgrounds.

Tuition

Getting a Master of Social Work from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota is one of the most important yet available educational investments you can make. St. Mary’s offers competitive tuition rates and financial aid options to support your educational experience.

St. Mary’s charges $925 per credit hour for the online MSW program. The total tuition comes to approximately $55,500 for the Traditional track (60 credits), while the Advanced Standing track (30 credits) costs $27,750. These rates show St. Mary’s dedication to providing available education that matches their Lasallian value of community service.

Students need to plan for these mandatory fees:

• Application fee: $25
• Technology fee: $100 per term
• Tevera Field Software fee: $205
• MSW690 Capstone Course fee: $150

St. Mary’s offers plenty of financial assistance options for prospective MSW students. The university’s corporate partnerships give employees of participating organizations 10% tuition savings and waived application fees. Military service members get special tuition discounts. Some employers even pay MSW tuition costs for employees who want to enhance their professional skills.

Since 55.2% of master’s degree graduates have student loan debt, scholarship opportunities become crucial. Scholarships provide funds you don’t have to pay back. Student and professional social work organizations offer MSW scholarships that often include service requirements, helping you build valuable professional networks.

Look for MSW scholarships that match your specific qualifications. Websites like BigFuture, Bold.org, FastWeb, Scholarships.com, and Scholarships360.org make this search easier. Local organizations like churches, community centers, and special interest clubs also offer scholarship opportunities.

The online MSW program saves both time and money by cutting out commuting costs and letting you keep your full-time job while completing coursework on your schedule. This flexibility gives St. Mary’s online MSW program a financial edge over traditional on-campus options.

St. Mary’s stands out among MSW programs in Minnesota by making quality education available through clear pricing and various funding options.

Additional Information

St. Mary’s University of Minnesota provides extensive resources that boost your MSW experience beyond the classroom. You’ll automatically join the Alumni Association after graduation and connect with over 55,000 professionals worldwide. This network is a great way to get connections, as 94% of graduates land full-time jobs, continue their education, or take up volunteer positions.

The university equips you with specialized library resources tailored for MSW students. You’ll have access to PsycINFO and CINAHL databases with millions of citations from journals, books, and technical reports. The library team provides round-the-clock chat support and research guidance to help you succeed. New students receive Microsoft Office 365 free of charge—crucial software you’ll need to submit assignments correctly.

Graduates from St. Mary’s MSW program build careers at prominent organizations like Allina Health, Mayo Clinic, Target, UnitedHealth Group, and Wells Fargo. The program’s impact on careers speaks volumes—42% of alumni started the program to advance their careers, and 71% saw their salaries increase after graduating. The results speak for themselves, as 75% of graduates achieved their original career goals after completing the program.

The program stands out thanks to its exceptional faculty. Associate Professor Michaela Rinkel, to name just one example, brings rich clinical and teaching experience. She specializes in spirituality, sustainability in social work practice, and simulation-based training. Her leadership shows the program’s steadfast dedication to innovative education.

The university also offers digital badges—visual proof of your achievements in specific courses. These credentials showcase your specialized knowledge to future employers on digital platforms. Career Services supports your growth with educational resources and materials right up until graduation.