The MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Full-Time MSW Program students attending on a full-time basis generally complete the program in two academic years.
This is a named option within the Social Work MSW. A broader overview of the School, our MSW Program Goals, the MSW Curriculum, and Field Education can be found on the Social Work MSW Overview page.
You can also review:
- the Learning Outcomes for the MSW Program;
- the MSW Program Accreditation standing and MSW competencies; and,
- more information about Certification and Licensure.
Applicants with a CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work degree from within the last five years should instead look at Full Time Social Work Advanced Standing.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | January 10 |
| Spring Deadline | The program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | The program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English must provide an English proficiency test score and meet the Graduate School minimum requirements (https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/requirements/#english-proficiency) and Social Work's higher requirements:
|
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Online applications are available through the School of Social Work website.
Admission into the master's degree program includes the Graduate School requirement that applicants hold a minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. Applicants from an international institution must demonstrate strong academic achievement comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master’s degree, using all credits from the degree to calculate the GPA equivalency. The Graduate School will use your institution’s grading scale. Do not convert your grades to a 4.00 scale.
Applicants apply online through the Graduate School's application site (link found in the instructions on the School of Social Work website). A complete application includes both the Graduate School application and the School of Social Work's supplemental application forms.
Applicants must review the instructions on the School of Social Work website for specific application details and prerequisites.
Advanced Standing
Individuals who have completed a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree within five years from the academic year of graduation to the academic year of enrollment should apply to Social Work Advanced Standing.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
MSW Program Resources
Thanks to the generosity of friends and alumni, the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work also has a number of Awards and Scholarships available to MSW applicants and current MSW students, ranging from several hundred dollars to covering the full cost of tuition and fees, as well as training grants and other opportunities that can provide funding for students with specific career interests.
Students also have access to federal loans and work study.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Named Option Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 49 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 25 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | Grades of C are accepted only if they are offset by an equal number of credits of A. Candidates who receive more than two grades of C (in courses that do not extend beyond one term) or a grade of D or F while in the program will be dropped from the MSW Program. Candidates who receive a grade of C in the Field and Integrative Seminar courses may continue only with permission of the faculty and may not offset the grade with a grade of A. (This policy does not apply to grades received for courses taken to meet the statistics prerequisite while in the program but it will affect the GPA). |
| Assessments and Examinations | None. |
| Language Requirements | None. |
Required Courses
Generalist Practice
First-year MSW students complete all generalist courses unless granted an exemption:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC WORK 400 | Field Practice and Integrative Seminar I | 4 |
| SOC WORK 401 | Field Practice and Integrative Seminar II | 4 |
| SOC WORK 441 | Generalist Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups | 3 |
| SOC WORK 442 | Generalist Practice with Communities and Organizations | 2 |
| SOC WORK 612 | Psychopathology in Generalist Social Work Practice | 2 |
| SOC WORK 650 | Methods of Social Work Research | 3 |
| SOC WORK 708 | The Field of Social Work | 2 |
| SOC WORK 709 | Social Policy | 2 |
| SOC WORK 710 | Diversity, Oppression and Social Justice in Social Work | 2 |
| SOC WORK 711 | Human Behavior and the Environment | 2 |
| Total Credits | 26 | |
Generalist courses must be completed before beginning Advanced Generalist courses.
Advanced Generalist Specialization
In a broad social justice framework, advanced practice MSW students complete an advanced generalist practice specialization. Students may choose one of four focus areas:
- Aging;
- Child, Youth, and Family Welfare;
- Health; and
- Mental Health.
For more information about focus area recommendations, students should refer to the Specialization Handbook found on the Social Work website Student Resources page.
Students complete an Advanced Practice class in a focus area, a Policies & Services class in a focus area, a sequence of Field Practice in a focus area, Advanced Macro Practice, and three "free electives" chosen in consultation with an advisor. Students may also choose to complete their advanced generalist practice specialization with no focus area, and still complete Advanced Practice, Policies & Services, and Field Practice courses that are based within focus areas, in addition to Advanced Macro Practice and three "free electives" chosen in consultation with an advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice (choose one) | 2 | |
| Interventions with Children, Youth, and Families | ||
| Social Work Practice in Aging and Mental Health | ||
| Advanced Soc Work Practice in Mental Health | ||
| Social Work Practice in Health Care | ||
| Policies & Services (choose one) | 2 | |
| Mental Health Policies and Services | ||
| Health, Aging, and Disability Policy and Services | ||
| Child, Youth, and Family Policies and Services | ||
| Child Welfare | ||
| Advanced Macro Practice | 2 | |
| Advanced Macro Practice | ||
| Advanced Practice Field 1 | 11 | |
| Field Practice and Integrative Seminar III | ||
| Field Practice and Integrative Seminar IV | ||
| Three free electives from the list below chosen in consultation with advisor. | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 23 | |
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For information on available Advanced Practice field units and the process of selecting a field unit, students should refer to the Field Handbook found on the Social Work website Student Resources page.
Free Electives
Electives may chosen from this list in consultation with an advisor. The Specialization Handbook has suggested electives for focus areas and select sub-focuses. Not all electives are offered in a given year or semester. Courses outside of the department may substitute for a course on this Free Electives list in consultation with an advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC WORK 623 | Interpersonal Violence | 3 |
| SOC WORK 624 | Social Work with the Small Group | 2 |
| SOC WORK 626 | Social Work with the Community | 2 |
| SOC WORK 627 | Sex Trafficking and Sex Trading | 2 |
| SOC WORK/AMER IND 636 | Social Work in American Indian Communities: The Indian Child Welfare Act | 3 |
| SOC WORK 639 | Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Individuals and Social Welfare | 3 |
| SOC WORK 642 | Social Work and Adolescents | 2 |
| SOC WORK 643 | Social Work and Delinquency | 2 |
| SOC WORK 644 | Issues in Developmental Disabilities | 3 |
| SOC WORK 646 | Child Abuse and Neglect | 2 |
| SOC WORK 648 | Palliative and End-of-Life Care Social Work Practice | 2 |
| SOC WORK 656 | Family Practice in Foster and Kinship Care | 2 |
| SOC WORK 659 | International Aspects of Social Work | 2 |
| SOC WORK 661 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 662 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 663 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 664 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 665 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 672 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 673 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 674 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 675 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 676 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 679 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 712 | Psychopathology for Social Work Practice in Mental Health | 3 |
| SOC WORK/URB R PL 721 | Methods of Planning Analysis | 3 |
| SOC WORK 741 | Interventions with Children, Youth, and Families 1 | 2 |
| SOC WORK 742 | Assessing and Treating Children and Adolescents | 2 |
| SOC WORK/NURSING/PHM PRAC 746 | Interdisciplinary Care of Children with Special Health Care Needs | 3 |
| SOC WORK 817 | Social Work Practice in Schools II (only for School Social Work students) | 2 |
| SOC WORK 821 | Social Work Practice in Aging and Mental Health 1 | 2 |
| SOC WORK/LAW 822 | Family Law: Marriage and Divorce | 2-4 |
| SOC WORK/LAW 823 | Family Law: Parent and Child | 3-4 |
| SOC WORK 825 | Grief, Death, Loss and Life | 2 |
| SOC WORK 835 | Advanced Soc Work Practice in Mental Health 1 | 2 |
| SOC WORK 836 | Mental Health Policies and Services 1 | 2 |
| SOC WORK 842 | Consultation and Supervision in Social Work | 3 |
| SOC WORK 852 | Influencing Political Systems for Social Change | 2 |
| SOC WORK 854 | Crises Intervention in Social Work | 2 |
| SOC WORK 860 | Recent Developments in Social Work | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 861 | Recent Developments in Social Work | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 862 | Recent Developments in Social Work | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 863 | Recent Developments in Social Work | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 869 | Recent Developments in Social Work | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 870 | Cognitive and Behavioral Mental Health Treatments for Adults | 2 |
| SOC WORK 873 | Social Work Practice in Health Care 1 | 2 |
| SOC WORK 875 | Health, Aging, and Disability Policy and Services 1 | 2 |
| SOC WORK/ED PSYCH/HDFS/NURSING 880 | Prevention Science | 3 |
| SOC WORK/PUB AFFR 887 | Nonprofit Leadership | 3 |
| SOC WORK 920 | Child, Youth, and Family Policies and Services 1 | 2 |
| SOC WORK 921 | Child Welfare 1 | 2 |
| SOC WORK 924 | Family Problems and Social Work | 2 |
| SOC WORK 929 | Social Work and Substance Use Disorders | 2 |
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These courses can count as either an Advanced Practice/Policies & Services course, or a free elective. Taking additional Advanced Practice/Policies & Services courses as electives should only be done in careful consultation with an advisor, and can only be taken in the advanced practice year.
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Named Option-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
Graduate credits in equivalent generalist courses completed with a grade of B or better taken at CSWE-accredited MSW programs may be used to fulfill the minimum degree credit requirement. In general, coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to the MSW Program may not be used to satisfy degree credit minimums. Graduate credits from other MSW programs/institutions may not be used to fulfill the minimum residence credit requirement.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
Graduates of UW-Madison may transfer only those courses numbered 300 or above toward their minimum graduate degree credit requirement for coursework determined by the social work faculty to be equivalent to the MSW generalist coursework, up to 7 credits. Coursework completed through a degree earned five or more years prior to admission to the MSW program may not be used to satisfy credit requirements. Students seeking credit for previously completed social work practice courses may only do so if completed while declared in the BSW degree program.
MSW students may transfer undergraduate coursework from external institutions as determined by the social work faculty to be equivalent to the MSW generalist coursework, up to 7 credits. Coursework completed through a degree earned five or more years prior to admission to the MSW program may not transfer to satisfy credit requirements. Students seeking credit for previously completed social work practice courses may only do so if completed while enrolled in a CSWE-accredited BSW degree program.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
No credits accepted.
Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW-Madison
On a case-by-case basis generalist Social Work courses numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student may transfer to fulfill degree requirements. No more than 7 credits of generalist course may be used for this purpose. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to the MSW program may not be used to satisfy credit requirements.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
MSW Satisfactory Progress Criteria
Graduate students are required to maintain and graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.00.
Grades of “C” are accepted only if offset by an equal number of credits of grades of A. Students who receive more than two grades of C or a grade of D or F will be dropped from the MSW Program. (This policy does not apply to grades received for courses taken to meet the Statistic prerequisite while in the program but will affect the GPA).
Students who receive a grade of C in the Field and Integrative Seminar courses may continue only with permission of the faculty and may not offset the grade with a grade of A. Refer to the Field Education Handbook (found on the Social Work Student Resources site) for more details about grades in Field.
Advisor / Committee
All master's candidates are assigned to the social work academic advisors.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credits
Time Limits
Full-Time Program students matriculating through the Full-Time MSW program on a part-time basis must enroll in a minimum of two courses each semester and complete one full-time semester of at least 8 credits. Candidates who withdraw from the Full-Time Program without having completed at least 8 credits must reapply for admission to the program. Students who withdraw from the Part-Time MSW Program without having completed at least 6 credits must reapply for admission to the Part-Time Program.
Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances. They may also contact the L&S Academic Divisional Associate Deans, the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning Administration, or the L&S Director of Human Resources.
Other
Credit versus Placement
The above policies only refer to coursework for credit. Additional opportunities may be available for students to demonstrate competence and prior knowledge to place out of required courses without earning credit.
Coursework over five years
Coursework that does not meet the above policies is not sufficient to meet program requirements. Students may choose to demonstrate competence in required foundation courses through examination for credit for select courses.
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Program Resources
MSW students can also take advantage of the College of Letters & Sciences SuccessWorks services, including their Canvas modules on jobs and internships.
People
Professors: Lawrence M. Berger, MSW, PhD; Marah H. Curtis, MSW, PhD; Katherine Magnuson, PhD; Stephanie A. Robert, MSW, PhD (School Director)
Associate Professors: Lauren Bishop, PhD; Tally Moses, MSW, PhD; Tova Walsh, MSW, PhD; Marci Ybarra, MSW, PhD
Assistant Professors: Pajarita Charles, MPA, MSW, PhD; Lara Gerassi, MSW, PhD; LB Klein, MSW, PhD; Jooyoung Kong, MSW, PhD; Jessica Pac, PhD; Alejandra Ros Pilarz, PhD; Tawandra Rowell-Cunsolo, PhD
Clinical Professors: Audrey Conn, MSSW, APSW; Ellen Smith, MSSW
Clinical Associate Professors: Laura Dresser, MSW, PhD; Alice Egan, MSSW, APSW; Amanda Ngola, MSW, LCSW; Lynette Studer, MSSW, PhD; Angela Willits, MSW, LCSW
Clinical Assistant Professors: Jaime Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, PhD; Amanda Zuehlke, MSW, LCSW
A complete list of all faculty and staff in the school is available on the School of Social Work Directory.