Master of Social Work (MSW2-MSW), M.S.W.

Location(s): Online, Traverse City, Ferris Main Campus

Master of Social Work

Social Workers serve individuals, families and communities. It is the helping profession. With an advanced degree in social work, you will have more employment doors opened and have the ability to make a greater difference in people’s lives. The curriculum includes study in Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Clinical Practice, Research and Policy. Ferris has a clinical concentration in the MSW program. As such, the emphasis will be on clinical theory and practice as well as the policy contexts of practice. You will be trained to treat behavioral, mental and emotional issues and be prepared to work as counselors, therapists and clinical supervisors. Full time students typically complete their MSW degree in two years. For students with a BSW from an accredited university, the Advanced Standing program enables students to complete their degree in three semesters. Students complete 900 hours of field instruction in one or two different social work agencies. Advanced Standing students’ BSW field education counts toward the total number of hours. The capstone project gives students an opportunity to engage in research or program development. An MSW degree is considered a terminal practice degree in the field of social work.

Program Outcome

Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.

Admission Requirements

New Student Admission Requirements

Traditional Program

Completed application for admission
Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university that includes a clear Liberal Arts base with a firm foundation in the Social Sciences, Political Science, Humanities, and the Sciences.
- 3.00 Overall Undergraduate GPA (on a 4.00 scale) Advanced Year Bachelor of Social Work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited Social Work program.
- 3.20 Overall GPA (on a 4.00 scale) and a 3.50 GPA (on a 4.00 scale) in all Social Work courses.
Submit transcripts from BSW undergraduate education. Upon acceptance, candidates will be required to submit an official transcript. Ferris graduates need not submit transcripts for coursework completed at Ferris.
Submit a current, professional resume or curriculum vitae.
Submit a candidate statement that answers these three questions:

Discuss your professional goals related to our MSW clinical program and further connect your professional goals with a social justice issue that you are passionate about.
Provide a cogent assessment of your intellectual and professional capacity to complete the MSW program with examples of a time you faced a professional failure and how you overcame it and a time you had a professional success and the steps you took for the success.
After reviewing the NASW Core Values, what core value have you demonstrated in the past and what core value (s) would you like to develop in the MSW program.

Request three (3) professional references, including at least one academic reference, from individuals familiar with academic or professional background and can provide an assessment of the applicant’s current work quality and ability to complete graduate education successfully. It is highly recommended that one reference is from the applicant’s senior field instructor.

Advanced Standing

All requirements of the Traditional Program
Provide copies from all BSW Field Evaluations

Application Deadline: Early decision deadline for Fall Semester is December 1, late review deadline is no later than March 15
These requirements also apply to Transfer Students.

All Major Requirements - 35 to 63 Credits Required

Foundation Year - 27 Credits Required

Foundation Year students must take all the courses within this section, as well as the courses within the Advanced Year section for a total of 62 to 63 credits.

SCWK 510 - Policy Analysis & Advocacy Credit Hours: 3
SCWK 520 - Generalist Macro Practice Credit Hours: 3
SCWK 530 - Generalist Micro Practice Credit Hours: 4
SCWK 540 - Human Behavior/Social Environ Credit Hours: 3
SCWK 550 - Research Methods Credit Hours: 3
SCWK 560 - Diversity & Social Justice Credit Hours: 3
SCWK 591 - Field Practicum 1 Credit Hours: 4
SCWK 592 - Field Practicum II Credit Hours: 4

Advanced Year - 35 to 36 Credits Required

Advanced Year students will only need to take the courses within this section for a total of 35 to 36 credits.

Choose 1 of 2
SCWK 610 - Leadership, Policy & Advocacy Credit Hours: 3 (Foundation or Advanced Year)
SCWK 611 - School Social Work Adv Policy Credit Hours: 3
SCWK 620 - Advanced Group Practice Credit Hours: 3 (Foundation or Advanced Year)
SCWK 630 - Advanced Micro Practice Credit Hours: 4 (Foundation or Advanced Year)
SCWK 631 - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Credit Hours: 1 (Foundation or Advanced Year and Optional)
Choose 1 of 2
SCWK 632 - Adv Clinical Prac/Supervision Credit Hours: 3
SCWK 633 - School SCWK Assessment Credit Hours: 3
SCWK 650 - Applied Social Work Research Credit Hours: 3 (Foundation or Advanced Year)
SCWK 660 - Clinical Assessment/Diagnosis Credit Hours: 3 (Foundation or Advanced Year)
SCWK 691 - Advanced Field Practicum I Credit Hours: 4 (Foundation or Advanced Year)
SCWK 692 - Advanced Field Practicum II Credit Hours: 4
SCWK 693 - Advanced Field Practicum III Credit Hours: 4
SCWK 699 - Social Work Capstone Project Credit Hours: 4

Notes

Students who return to the university after an interrupted enrollment, not including summer semester, must normally meet the requirements of the curriculum which are in effect at the time of their return, not the requirements which were in effect when they were originally admitted.
Students must take SCWK 600 , SCWK 611 , and SCWK 633 to receive a Michigan School Social Work Certificate from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).
Credit Variance - Credits required may vary based on course placement, prerequisites, etc. If you have questions, contact your advisor.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate from Ferris State University, students must meet both University and Programmatic Graduation Requirements.

University Graduation Requirements

These are the minimum graduation requirements for a graduate degree at Ferris State University:

A minimum of 30 credits must be earned.
A 3.00 or higher cumulative Ferris State University GPA in graduate courses is required.
A minimum grade of C or higher must be earned in each course with no more than two grades of C.
A minimum of 70 percent of the degree requirements must be earned from Ferris State University to meet the Residency requirement.
No more than 20 percent of required hours can be thesis credits.
No more than 6 hours can be independent study and/or special topics.
Degree requirements shall be completed within 5 years from first enrollment in a graduate course following admission.
Each student must complete a thesis, graduate project, policy paper, internship, comprehensive examination, or additional course work.

Programmatic Graduation Requirements

These are the additional graduation requirements mandated by the program:

All requirements as specified in the All Major Requirements section must be met.
A minimum grade of B must be earned in all courses.
Foundation Year students must earn a minimum of 62 credits and complete all courses listed in the Foundation Year section and the Advanced Year section.
Advanced Year students must earn a minimum of 35 credits and complete all courses within the Advanced Year section.

Suggested Semester Layout

Consult Advisor to Approve Your Customized Plan in MyDegree

If the student wants to meet the Michigan School Social Work Certificate requirements from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), they will also have to take SCWK 600 .