University of Mary MSW Program

The University of Mary sits on hills that overlook the Missouri River in Bismarck, North Dakota. This institution shows excellence in education with deep roots in faith. Founded in 1959 by the Benedictine Sisters of the Annunciation, it started as Mary College and became a university in 1986. This private, Christian, Catholic, Benedictine university has grown by a lot over the decades. It stays true to its core values and takes an all-encompassing approach to education.

The university now serves about 4,000 students at multiple locations. The main campus in Bismarck has expanded its reach to places across North Dakota, Montana, Arizona, and Rome, Italy. Students can also access reliable online programs. This growth shows the university’s goal to be more accessible while giving students personal attention.

The academic programs include more than 60 bachelor’s degrees, 18 master’s degrees, and five doctoral programs. Students can study Business Administration, Education, Nursing Practice, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy. The new Master of Social Work program runs through the prominent Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Small classes and dedicated faculty mentors help students succeed.

The university’s teaching methods work well – 93% of Mary graduates find jobs or continue their education within six months after graduating. The university’s financial health looks strong with $96 million in annual revenue and $217 million in total assets in 2023.

The University of Mary launched its Master of Social Work program to help solve the state’s shortage of social workers. The need is especially high for substance abuse and behavioral health counseling. This innovative program lets students choose between clinical practice or macro practice and leadership – making it unique in North Dakota.

Students can complete the MSW program online in different timeframes. Those with advanced backgrounds finish in five semesters, while others take nine semesters. The program just started but has already got strong interest. Students have filled 18 of the 24 available spots.

The University of Mary lives up to its motto “lumen vitae”—The Light of Life. It educates the whole person through innovative professional programs. Students learn moral courage and leadership skills that help them serve their communities and excel in their chosen fields.

Programs offered

The University of Mary’s Master of Social Work program gives students several flexible paths that work well for both seasoned professionals and newcomers to social work. This detailed 60-credit hour program prepares students for a variety of professional practice positions. Students can specialize in clinical health care, mental health, and forensic social work systems.

Students can choose from four study options based on their background and schedule:

• Full-time traditional track: Complete all 60 credits in two years
• Part-time traditional track: Finish the 60 credits over three years
• Full-time with Advanced Standing: For BSW holders, complete 30 credits in just one year (three semesters)
• Part-time with Advanced Standing: For BSW holders, finish 30 credits in two years (six semesters)

Students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program can qualify for advanced standing status and skip foundational coursework.

The program follows a cohort model that reflects University of Mary’s core values of community, respect, justice, and excellence. Students’ academic trip consists of 42 credits across 14 courses, a capstone project (3 credits), and field practica (9-15 credits based on standing).

This program stands out by offering dual specialization tracks. Students can choose between clinical social work or macro practice and leadership. The clinical track prepares students for roles as therapists, healthcare social workers, school social workers, clinical supervisors, or case managers. The macro practitioner path gives students the skills for administrative positions, policy development, planning, research, and advocacy work.

Students can access all courses online through both synchronous and asynchronous formats that fit around their work schedules. Each track includes one or two weeklong summer institutes that provide valuable in-person learning experiences.

New cohorts start each fall, with the next one beginning September 7, 2026. Graduates can expect competitive salaries—North Dakota’s current average annual pay ranges from $65,000 to $75,000 for these positions.

Healthcare organizations just need more behavioral health professionals nationwide. The University of Mary’s catholic university online MSW program offers a great way to advance your career while balancing work responsibilities.

About the online program

The University of Mary MSW program features an innovative online learning approach that works well for busy professionals. Students can access courses through both synchronous and asynchronous formats to balance their education with other commitments. Live online classes require camera and microphone participation, while self-paced elements let students complete coursework according to their schedule.

Students need just a computer with internet connection to access this catholic university online MSW program—no extra software needed. The university makes use of advanced learning management systems with mobile capabilities. Students can attend lectures, finish assignments, and join discussions from any location.

Each specialization track requires students to attend one or two weeklong summer institutes. These in-person sessions are a great way to get hands-on learning experience and network with peers while complementing online coursework.

Time to completion varies based on your educational background and preferred pace:

• Full-time traditional track students can complete the program in five consecutive semesters
• Part-time traditional students finish in ten consecutive semesters
• Advanced standing students (those with a BSW) complete the program in just three consecutive semesters when studying full-time
• Part-time advanced standing students finish in five consecutive semesters

The university provides complete online support with virtual office hours, tutoring, career counseling, and field education assistance. This reliable support network will give students tailored attention throughout their studies.

The University of Mary has 30 years of expertise in distance education, offering more than 30 master’s and doctoral programs online or in evening formats. MSW students benefit from this unmatched learning environment.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a vital standard for quality in social work education that confirms a program meets professional standards. The University of Mary MSW program holds candidacy status with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This step marks an essential part of the accreditation process. The program earned its candidacy in 2023, marking a key milestone in its development.

CSWE’s accreditation process has several distinct phases. Programs must pass a complete assessment to meet basic standards for candidacy. They typically spend 3-4 years in candidacy status while going through multiple site visits and detailed evaluations. Faculty members use CSWE feedback to make ongoing improvements during this time.

Students often wonder what candidacy status means for their future. The good news is that graduates from CSWE-accredited programs or those in candidacy can get licensed in all 50 states. Current students can feel confident that their degree will have professional recognition after graduation, even as the full accreditation continues.

The program follows CSWE’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards to the letter during candidacy. These standards ensure students get solid preparation for advanced social work practice. University leaders have invested significant resources to achieve full accreditation on time. They’ve hired faculty members who bring valuable CSWE accreditation expertise.

Some students might worry about joining a program in candidacy instead of one with full accreditation. CSWE’s retroactive accreditation policy addresses this concern. Once the program earns full accreditation, all graduates from the candidacy period become graduates of a CSWE-accredited program.

The program’s path to accreditation showcases University of Mary’s steadfast dedication to educational excellence. The university has successfully accredited programs in many fields. This strong history puts the MSW program in a great position to earn full CSWE accreditation within expected timelines.

Curriculum

Faculty members have carefully built the social work program’s curriculum to meet CSWE standards. This ensures graduates are ready for professional licensing exams. After completing the program, you can pursue licensure based on your chosen specialization.

Clinical track graduates can work toward becoming licensed clinical social workers (LCSW). This credential needs an accredited MSW degree, supervised clinical practice hours, successful completion of licensing exams, and ongoing professional development. These qualifications prepare you to work as therapists, healthcare social workers, clinical supervisors, and case managers.

Macro practice graduates should know that licensing requirements vary based on career goals. Some administrative and policy positions need standard social work licenses. Other positions follow different professional credentialing paths.

Prospective students should look up licensing requirements in their intended practice location since regulations differ by state. The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) offers complete information about state-specific licensing requirements.

Admission Requirements

The University of Mary MSW program welcomes students from all educational and professional backgrounds through its simple admission process. Students can transfer from other institutions, and professionals with relevant work experience are encouraged to apply.

You’ll need a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 from your previous academic work to qualify. This requirement will give a solid foundation for graduate-level social work courses. The university takes a full picture of each application and looks at more than just grades.

The catholic university online MSW program requires these documents:

• A completed general application form
• Application fee
• Official transcripts from all previous colleges or universities

The transcript submission process at University of Mary offers flexibility. You can send electronic transcripts or mail physical copies to the Office of Admissions at the Bismarck campus. The university accepts unofficial transcripts for initial review, but you’ll need official versions before enrollment.

Military experience could count toward your degree requirements. Service members get priority consideration. Active duty personnel, National Guard, Reserves, and Veterans can get their transcripts through the Joint Services Transcript system. Air Force personnel should reach out to the Community College of the Air Force.

The University of Mary gives individual attention to each application. This approach reflects the university’s steadfast dedication to each student’s unique potential and circumstances.

The university catalog has more program-specific requirements. You can also contact the admissions office for help with your application.

Tuition

The cost of education plays a vital role in choosing a graduate program. The University of Mary’s MSW program stands out with its competitive rate of $645 per credit. This rate makes the program much more budget-friendly than other graduate-level social work programs. Students at private colleges nationwide pay almost double the graduate tuition rate at the University of Mary.

Traditional students enrolled full-time with 9 credits per semester can expect to pay $11,970 per year. The university’s financial aid options help students manage these costs effectively. Almost every student at the University of Mary – 99% to be exact – receives some type of financial support.

Students should include additional fees in their budget planning. The program requires a one-time graduate application fee of $45, a technology/distance learning fee of $55 per credit, and a social work fee of $60. Students must also secure student liability insurance at $70 per year to participate in field practicum experiences.

The university’s commitment to education shows through its graduate scholarships tailored for working adults pursuing advanced degrees. These financial aid options, along with competitive tuition rates and a flexible online format, make this catholic university online MSW program a practical choice for professionals looking to advance their careers.

Additional Information

The University of Mary’s online MSW program provides complete support services beyond regular coursework. Students can access Smarthinking’s 24/7 online tutoring service to get academic help anytime. The Writing Center reviews graduate-level papers through email. The university partners with CHI St. Alexius Health to provide confidential ZOOM counseling for students facing personal challenges.

Dedicated Student Success and Faculty Advisors focus exclusively on helping online students succeed. Students can access Welder Library’s extensive collection of over 240,000 eBooks and 70 databases with more than 60,000 journals.

Social work graduates continue to see strong job prospects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% growth in social work employment from 2024-2034, which outpaces the national average. This field inspires confidence as 91.9% of practitioners recommend social work degrees to others.

The program’s value gets a significant boost from its expert faculty. Dr. Kenneth Flanagan serves as the MSW Program Director with rich clinical and administrative experience in healthcare and community organizations. Additional expertise comes from Heidi Nieuwsma (Chair of Social Work) and Genny Say (Director of Internship Education), who bring specialized knowledge in addiction counseling, medical social work, and complex case management.

This Catholic university’s online MSW program gives you the academic knowledge and practical resources you need to succeed professionally.