Social Work, M.S.W.

The Master of Social Work (M.S.W) degree program at Oakland University provides students with the requisite theoretical knowledge, evidence-based interventions, and ethical framework for advanced social work practice with diverse client systems. OU M.S.W students will be uniquely trained through an integrated curriculum with both clinical and macro social work training.

All M.S.W students will demonstrate advanced mastery of nine Core Competencies by the CSWE, which will allow them to assume clinical and macro social work practice roles upon graduation.

Students who wish to pursue licensure as clinical or macro social workers after graduation will have the necessary course preparation and field experience to do so. Those students who seek more intensive training in a specialized area will have the option to complete one of three optional specializations (integrated health, community and organizational leadership or school social work).

Depending how students enter the M.S.W program, (Advanced Standing versus Traditional) students have two options for completing the proposed M.S.W degree: a Traditional curriculum, including 64 hours of coursework and 900 hours of field education, and an Advanced Standing program that requires 34 credit hours of coursework and 450 hours of field education. The M.S.W can be completed in two (2) calendar years of full-time study. Student may complete the M.S.W Program part-time and can developed an individualized plan to complete on a part-time basis.

The traditional program of study includes one year of foundational coursework on the principles of social work as a profession (including issues of social justice, diversity, and professional ethics), conducting and critiquing research, generalist practice in social work across a variety of scales and systems, and understanding human behavior. Students in their second year or first year advanced standing students master advanced generalist practice across the life course, and may choose two courses focused on practice in distinct contexts (restricted electives). Students also complete 450 hours of supervised field education in the first year, and 450 hours in the second year, to reach the 900 hours.

APPLY NOW Program Requirements - Traditional Program Requirements - Advanced Standing

Mission & Goals

Advising

Informational Sessions

Admission and Requirements

We offer two pathways for students to apply to the MSW Program, a traditional MSW Program and an Advanced Standing MSW Program.

Advanced Standing MSW Program: A student with a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited programs may be considered for the 10-month advanced standing program if the student received a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited social work program.

For advanced standing students, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 in BSW coursework is preferred.
Two recommendations that speak to the applicant's academic and/or professional suitability for social work
Personal statement that will be used to assess preparation for and commitment to advanced study in Social Work, suitability for the profession, and skills in written communication. See instructions to the personal essay statement;
One-page resume

Traditional MSW Program: For admission into the traditional 2-year MSW program, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or its equivalent from a foreign institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work attempted in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study is is preferred.

Student must have successful completion (grade of C- or better) of undergraduate courses in social and behavioral sciences (12 credit hours, drawing from sociology, psychology, government, economics, or related disciplines), research (4 credit hours), and biology with human content (4 credit hours). These courses may be completed at the introductory level.
Two recommendations that speak to the applicant's academic and/or professional suitability for social work
Personal statement that will be used to assess preparation for and commitment to advanced study in Social Work, suitability for the profession, and skills in written communication. See instructions to the personal essay statement;
One-page resume

Students with lower GPAs may be considered for provisional admission when combined with volunteer work and work experience, or when there are extenuating circumstances. The Admissions Committee will assess a GPA between 2.7 and 3.0, generally for provisional acceptance.

Provisional applicants will be admitted on a part-time basis. These applicants may petition the admission committee by explaining reasons for their lower GPA and how the student plans to overcome such difficulties while attending full-time. Students with GPAs lower than a 2.7 will need to provide a strong rationale in the personal statement and may require an interview with the admission committee for a decision.

Deadline: Prospective students will apply through the OU Graduate Admissions for admittance into the program for the Summer Semester (advanced standing) and Fall Semester (traditional program). We have a rolling admission process but provide benchmark dates for students to apply to prepare for registration and the practicum placement process. Therefore these are considered "soft deadlines"

December 15 Students may apply for an early admission decision if submitted by
February 15 and April 15 for the M.S.W Program or until our cohort is filled or until June 1st, whichever comes first.

For questions about admission, please contact Maria Beam at 248-370-3166 or email with questions.

Focus Areas

Student may choose to specialize in one of our three optional specializations where all credits can double count for the M.S.W program elective requirement. Students may also choose not to specialize in one area.

Focus Area in Integrated Health 8 Credits

The M.S.W program offers an optional sub-specialization area that focuses on integrating health and behavioral health practice. The curriculum is designed to meet the contemporary workforce needs with regard to healthcare reform and to underscore the major contributions MSW graduates are qualified to make in the future of healthcare systems that address both physical and behavioral health. The primary goal is to prepare graduates in this area with advanced generalist practice in clinical services, advocacy, and management roles in the dynamic fields of health care and behavioral health.

Core for Focus Area (8 credits)

SW 5630 – Advanced Social Work Practice in Integrated Healthcare (4 credits)
SW 5640 - Integrated Health Policy and Services (4 credits)

Focus Area in Community and Organizational Leadership 8 Credits

The M.S.W program offers an optional sub-specialization area that focuses on community and organizational leadership, preparing students for advanced generalist practice within the community and in organizations. This specialization emphasizes a macro approach to advancing social justice. Students will gain the skills required to address structural inequities through organizational leadership, community practice, advocacy, and policy reform.

To earn the specialization in community and organizational leadership, students select course for 8 credits from the following:

SW 5730 - Program Development and Evaluation (4 credits)
SW 5740 - Community Organizing (4 credits)
PA 6500 - Fundraising and Philanthropy (4 credits)
PA 6510 - Grants: Politics and Administration (2 or 4 credits)

Focus Area in School Social Work 8 credits.

The M.S.W program offers an optional specialization area that focuses on school social work.

Core for Focus Area (8 credits)

SW 5830 - Policy and Practice of School Social Work in Educational Settings (4 credits)
SW 5835 - Diagnosis & Assessment of Mental Health and Educational Disabilities in School Social Work (2 credits)
SW 5840 - Social Work Interventions in an Educational Setting (2 credits)

State of Michigan Department of Education School Social Work Certification

Temporary Approval: This form is used to request a letter of recommendation for temporary approval as a school social worker in Michigan. Temporary approval by the State Department of Education is required for employment as a school social worker.

Request SSW 310 Form for Temporary Approval

Accreditation

Assessment

Scholarships, Fellowships and Aid

Through graduate assistant positions, social work scholarships, OU scholarships, employment-based internships, and the workforce expansion grant, the MSW Program provides social work students with a number of opportunities to receive financial assistance to cover the cost of their education.

Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Grant with Easterseals-MORC

The Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion program is a unique grant opportunity for Masters-level Social Work students interested in community mental health, behavioral health and addiction. The program aims to develop and expand the community mental health workforce by providing advanced training to students entering the fields of mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse.

Students accepted as an BHWE grant recipient will receive enriched education, training and career development opportunities, focused on interprofessional development and the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.
Internships will focus on the interprofessional integration of addictions and behavioral health treatment interventions and/or prevention in community mental health and behavioral health setting
Tuition Grant up to 34 credits total: Master-level Social Work (approximately $30,000 in tuition support

The application will open on January 25, 2025 for the 2025/2026 academic year and will close March 20^th 2025

Application: Return this completed form , required statement and one copy of your resume by the application deadline. If you have questions about the application, contact Maria Beam at devoogd@oakland.edu

Tuition Reduction for Easterseals-MORC Employees

As part of our Partnership with Easterseals-MORC, up to 50 students will receive a tuition discount if they pursue a Master of Social Work degree at Oakland University. This tuition award will be applied to your tuition bill each semester--similar to a scholarship. We are gathering the information we need to apply this discount. If you are an Easterseals-MORC employee, please submit the following form with employment information.

Michigan Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship (BSW and MSW students)

The Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellowship is an opportunity to provide additional resources and support to students committed to working in Michigan’s Child Welfare System - Children’s Protective Services, Foster Care, Licensing and Adoption. This program aims to recruit, retain and educate students to be leaders in child welfare. The fellowship includes coursework and practicum education requirements. Additionally, fellows will receive a stipend. Students will be contractually obligated to search for and accept employment in public, private, or tribal child welfare agencies in the State of Michigan upon graduation.

Students will receive a $5,000 stipend per semester, for a total of $10,000, while completing an internship in a child-welfare-approved agency.

Eligibility

BSW with a Minor in Child Welfare and Advanced Standing students willing to complete the fellowship requirements, including coursework, practicum placement, and mandatory work payback, can apply.

Passionate about working in child welfare
Committed to completing your internship in a child welfare-approved agency
Agree to work in a child welfare-approved agency post-graduation for 4 months for every semester funded, for up to 8 months.

Application: Select here to apply for the Title IV-E Fellowship

SMART Internship Program (MSW Students only)

The Student Mental Health Apprenticeship Retention and Training (SMART) Program aims to address a shortage of school-based mental health professionals in high-risk schools across Michigan. By providing student-led mental health services, it helps meet the growing demand for emotional support among students affected by stress, trauma, social isolation, and anxiety resulting from pandemic-related adjustments. The SMART grant supports MSW social work student training and internship practicum supervision. Funding is designated for both first year MSW student interns as well as returning, second year/advanced standing interns, enrolled in graduate-level mental health professional programs and supervised in qualified public school practicum internships. Students receiving SMART awards are required to work in a public school for not less than 3 school years post-graduation.

Eligibility

SMART is open to MSW students who are completing their first or advanced/final year internship placements in the fall and are:

Passionate about working with underserved communities
Committed to completing your internship in schools identified as economically disadvantaged
Agree to work in a public school for not less than 3 years post graduation

Application to Apply: SMART Application

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: Master Social Work Student Support (MSW Advanced Standing only)

MSW students who will start their MSW Program and internship full-time in fall 2024 have an exciting opportunity to partner with the State of Michigan to enhance the workforce in Michigan and improve the availability of behavioral health services within the public behavioral health sector across the state.

Oakland University's Social Work program has received funding from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) to provide $30,000 to full-time advanced-standing MSW students. I am including the MDHHS-prepared FAQs for further details. After graduating from the MSW program, there is a two-year commitment to work in public mental and community health.

Application Link & Deadline (Not accepting new applications)

Scholarships

Graduate Assistantships & Student Jobs on Campus

GA Positions & Student Employment via Handshake

Social Work Job Board

Job Board for Social Work jobs

OU Pledge