Winona State University MSW

Winona State University’s Master of Social Work program is a leading educational path for aspiring clinical social workers. The program has full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through 2030, which shows its steadfast dedication to educational excellence and professional standards.

The program’s Trauma-Informed Clinical Social Work concentration gives you all educational requirements needed to become a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Minnesota and most other states. This credential is the highest level of social work licensure available and opens doors to diverse career opportunities in mental health, healthcare, and child welfare settings.

The program has shown remarkable growth over the last several years. More than 60 Master of Social Work students graduated in Spring 2023—the program’s largest graduating cohort yet. This growing community of professionals highlights the program’s rising reputation and success.

WSU’s MSW program’s most valuable feature is its extensive hands-on experience. Students can complete up to 1,000 hours of field experience with established agency partners throughout the nation. These ground applications are the foundations of social work education and let you apply theoretical knowledge in real-life settings under licensed professionals’ mentorship.

The curriculum works well for adult learners. Students can participate in learning activities at convenient times since most courses are fully online in asynchronous format. The courses run in concentrated seven-week blocks, which helps you focus on just one or two courses at a time.

WSU’s MSW Program meets licensure requirements in 49 U.S. states and territories, making it an excellent choice whatever your practice location. Standard licensure titles among states include LMSW, LSW, LCSW, LICSW, LGSW, and ASW.

The program thrives through collaborative efforts with expert community practitioners and agencies. This partnership helps bridge common gaps between social work education and practice. Faculty members provide supportive mentoring relationships to ensure your interests and strengths are recognized and improved throughout your educational experience.

Curriculum

Winona State University’s Master of Social Work program features a strong curriculum that prepares students to excel in clinical social work practice. Students move through their courses as a group, which creates a supportive learning environment and helps them grow both academically and professionally.

Students can choose between two paths based on their education background. The Traditional MSW Program (60 credits) welcomes students with bachelor’s degrees from any discipline, while the Advanced Standing MSW Program (30 credits) suits students who have earned their BSW from a CSWE-accredited program.

Your chosen path determines your curriculum timeline. Traditional students complete foundation and concentration courses in five semesters (21 months). Advanced Standing students focus on concentration courses and finish in three semesters (10 months).

The foundation curriculum teaches essential generalist practice knowledge through these courses:

• Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups
• Human Behavior in the Social Environment
• Social Welfare Policy
• Research Methods
• Social Work Values and Ethics

The concentration curriculum builds advanced clinical skills with special focus on trauma-informed practice. Students take important courses like Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis, Evidence-Based Interventions, and Advanced Policy Analysis.

Field education is the core of the program that connects theory with ground application. Traditional students complete two field placements for 900 hours total. Advanced Standing students complete one placement of 500 hours.

Working professionals can balance their commitments through mostly asynchronous online courses in seven-week blocks. This setup helps students maintain their work-life balance while earning their degree. Small cohort sizes ensure students receive individual attention and build meaningful connections with peers.

Our faculty brings exceptional clinical practice experience to the classroom and gives ground insights alongside academic theory. They stay active in social work by conducting research and service activities that help address community needs.

Graduates earn qualifications for LICSW licensure and gain specialized expertise in trauma-informed approaches. These skills are highly valued in mental health clinics, hospitals, schools, and community agencies of all sizes.

Programs offered

Winona State University MSW offers two complete program choices based on students’ academic background. Graduates get ready for licensure as independent clinical social workers – a credential needed in mental health, healthcare, and child welfare settings.

Students with non-social work bachelor’s degrees can choose the Regular Standing MSW (MSWR). This path needs 60 total credits and delivers thorough training through generalist and specialized clinical coursework. Students gain 1,000 hours of field experience spread over several semesters. The curriculum has foundation courses in social work practice, research methods, and human behavior before moving to clinical specialization.

The Advanced Standing MSW (MSWA) serves students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program in the last 7 years. This faster option requires 42 total credits because students skip coursework they’ve already covered in their undergraduate studies. Advanced Standing students complete 600 hours of field practicum.

Both paths feature a Trauma-Informed Clinical Social Work concentration that meets all educational requirements for LICSW licensure in Minnesota and most other states. The curriculum helps busy adult learners through:

• Asynchronous online courses arranged in concentrated seven-week blocks
• Option to focus on just one or two courses at a time
• Practica spread over multiple semesters for accessibility
• Flexibility to proceed at full-time or part-time pace

Students can choose from specialized electives in:

• Trauma-Informed Clinical Practice with Children and Families
• Advanced Topics in Mental Health
• Advanced Topics in Health Care Social Work
• Advanced Topics in Child Welfare

Expert community practitioners and agencies help design the curriculum, which bridges typical gaps between social work education and practice. Graduates gain specialized expertise that meets licensure requirements in 49 states and territories.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows marriage and family therapist positions will grow 14% in the next 10 years. Rehabilitation counselor jobs are predicted to increase by 11% by 2031.

About the online program

Winona State’s MSW program gives working professionals and distance learners exceptional flexibility through its online format. Students can complete assignments at their convenience with asynchronous coursework in this fully online program. The program’s seven-week course blocks replace traditional semester-long classes. This structure lets students focus intensively on fewer subjects at once.

Students can take more classes each semester without feeling overwhelmed, thanks to this smart approach that speeds up graduation timelines. The program stands out with several key features that balance accessibility and educational quality:

• Classes delivered entirely online with asynchronous formats
• Seven-week course blocks for focused learning
• Virtual Professional Development Labs each semester
• Up to 1,000 hours of hands-on field experience

Weekend virtual Professional Development Labs happen once every semester. These labs blend live sessions with self-paced components. Students get a chance to build networks with their MSW peers and learn from experts in the field. The labs help prepare students for LICSW licensure exams and connect them with professionals working in their chosen specialties.

Field practicums are the core of social work education, even online. Students apply their classroom knowledge in ground settings under licensed social workers’ mentorship. The program spreads practicum requirements across multiple semesters. This thoughtful distribution helps busy adult learners manage their time better.

The program’s trauma-informed clinical social work concentration readies students to work in mental health, healthcare, child welfare, gerontological, and school social work settings. The curriculum benefits from cooperative work with expert community practitioners and agencies. This unique setup bridges the gap between social work education and practice effectively.

Students worried about licensing can rest easy. The program meets educational requirements for LICSW licensure in Minnesota and most other states. This makes the degree valuable whatever state you choose to practice in.

Accreditation

Quality accreditation marks every great MSW program, and Winona State University has full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through 2030. This prestigious recognition confirms the program meets national standards for social work education.

CSWE accreditation includes all program locations and delivery methods. Your degree keeps its value whatever way you complete it. The accreditation process needs a full evaluation of curriculum, faculty qualifications, student outcomes, and institutional resources. Programs with full accreditation status have showed they meet all educational standards the profession sets.

So, CSWE-accredited degrees like the Winona State University MSW give you several clear advantages:

• Recognition by licensing boards in all states, as most require graduation from CSWE-accredited programs
• Eligibility for advanced standing in doctoral programs
• Qualification for certain federal employment positions that need professional social work credentials

Winona State University has managed to keep its Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation since 1913, which shows its steadfast dedication to academic excellence. The university’s specialized accreditations extend to programs of all types within its five colleges.

The program meets educational requirements for professional licensure. However, U.S. Department of Education regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) requires disclosure that licensing requirements vary by state and change over time. The MSW program cannot guarantee licensure for any student due to these variations, even though Winona State regularly researches licensing requirements.

CSWE accreditation through 2030 gives prospective students peace of mind about stability and quality. This credential proves the curriculum, instruction, and learning outcomes meet the profession’s highest standards—a key factor to think over when evaluating online MSW programs in Minnesota.

Admission Requirements

Winona State University’s MSW program looks for students who excel academically and show a strong dedication to social work values. Your educational background determines which of the two admission paths you’ll take.

Students with non-social work bachelor’s degrees follow the Regular Standing path. This option needs you to complete several liberal arts courses:

• Two courses in sociocultural determinants (sociology, social problems)
• Two courses in psychological determinants (psychology, developmental psychology)
• One course in biological determinants (human biology, anatomy)
• One course in human and social diversity (race and ethnicity, cross-cultural studies)

Students who earned their BSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned in 2013 or later can take the Advanced Standing path. This path lets you finish your degree faster. You’ll need at least a 3.4 GPA in social work courses, though you might get provisional admission with a lower GPA.

The program expects all applicants to have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Your personal values should line up with professional social work ethics, and you should have a clear reason for choosing this field. Your application needs to highlight qualities that make you suitable for clinical social work with disadvantaged populations.

The admissions team follows a specific timeline. Applications open on October 1st, and students who submit by January 15th get priority. After that, the team reviews applications as they come in if spots are still open. Once you submit everything, faculty members review your application and respond within about 30 days.

You must keep your grades up during your MSW studies. Students who want to join the IV-E Child Welfare Scholar Program need to meet extra requirements. These include full-time enrollment, a B or better in MSW 679 (Advanced Topics in Child Welfare), attendance at required meetings, and specific practicum and work commitments.

Getting into this online Minnesota MSW program depends on your academic record, how well you match with the profession, and submitting your application on time.

Tuition

Getting an MSW degree from Winona State University makes financial sense for future clinical social workers. A clear understanding of costs will help you plan your path to this career-advancing qualification.

The Master of Social Work program at Rochester campus will charge $739.50 per credit plus $27.72 per credit in fees for 2025-2026. This rate is different from regular graduate tuition. Minnesota residents and students from Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota pay $529.74 per credit. Non-resident students pay $799.54 per credit.

Good news for non-resident students – they might qualify for the Resident Tuition Scholarship. This scholarship lets them pay similar rates as Minnesota residents. Students from any state can now access this program at reasonable rates.

The total investment varies by program path. Advanced Standing students can expect to pay about $32,000, while Regular Standing students need about $46,000. These amounts cover tuition, fees, and other education costs throughout the program.

Your budget should include these yearly expenses:

• Books and supplies: $900
• Housing and meals: $10,660
• Personal expenses: $2,000
• Transportation: $600

Students can join the eWarrior Laptop Program at $485 each semester. This program gives you the tech tools you need for your studies.

The program’s value excels nationally. Public universities typically charge $12,394 yearly for MSW programs. Private nonprofit schools cost around $26,621 per year. Some MSW programs across the country cost up to $89,000 total. WSU’s program costs less than many alternatives.

WSU takes pride in being one of Minnesota’s most budget-friendly college choices. This shows in their clear fee structure and programs that help make education available to more students.

Additional Information

Licensure compatibility is a vital consideration for prospective students. Winona State’s MSW program meets licensure requirements in 49 U.S. states and territories. The program doesn’t fulfill requirements for Florida’s Certified Master Social Worker credential, Indiana, and Maine. Standard licensure titles in states of all sizes include LMSW, LSW, LCSW, LICSW, LGSW, and ASW.

States require many more licensure prerequisites beyond education. Students need to complete specialized exams and training. They must gain supervised post-graduation clinical experience. The process includes criminal background checks with fingerprinting and U.S. citizenship verification.

Career opportunities for MSW graduates keep expanding. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9% growth rate in social work by 2031. This rate surpasses the average compared to other fields. These numbers show the real value of getting clinical social work credentials.

Financial aid can help you manage educational costs. WSU’s first-year students receive financial aid at a rate of 97%. The university’s IV-E Child Welfare Scholar Program supports students who want to work in child protection, foster care, or tribal social services. Students get stipends and specialized training. They commit to work in Title IV-E eligible welfare agencies after graduation.

WSU helps students succeed through many resources. TRIO services support eligible students. The WSU Foundation awards $1.40 million in scholarships each year.