College of Letters and Science
Master of Social Work (MSW) Degree
Graduate Degree
ELEVATE COMMUNITY WELL-BEING – EARN YOUR MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK ONLINE
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program prepares students to be competent, effective, self-reflective advanced generalist social workers who embody the core values of the social work profession, apply critical thinking and research skills, abide by the NASW Code of Ethics, and engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in their work.
With an emphasis on serving rural communities, our program prepares students to be collaborative organization leaders who advocate for social, economic, racial, and environmental justice and the development of responsive social policies, programs and services. The MSW at UWSP prepares students to employ systems, strengths-based, and empowerment approaches in serving individuals, families, groups, institutions, and communities.
This online program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals and others who have a need for flexible scheduling. With full-time and part-time options for both advanced and regular standing students, students complete core and elective courses that align with their career goals, including options to gain expertise in school, clinical, and medical social work.
GET STARTED TODAY!
Request information and start your journey in our online MSW program. Our team will reach out to you about attending an information session.
Now accepting applications for regular standing students interested in attending part-time starting in fall of 2025.
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Why Pursue Your MSW at UWSP?
The MSW advanced generalist curriculum caters to your unique career goals. Our engaged and supportive faculty will partner with you throughout your journey as you build your knowledge and skills through online and virtual classes. The MSW program is flexible enough to fit into your lifestyle. You will be matched to field placements in your area of interest. And, the program is priced competitively so it also fits your budget!
Career Growth in Social Work
Your MSW degree is in demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of social workers is projected to grow 7% in the next ten years, faster than the average for all occupations. A variety of trends are influencing this growth including ongoing child welfare needs, the increasingly recognized value of social workers in school settings, the growth of our aging population, and more and more people seeking treatment for mental health issues and substance use disorders.
Flexible Field Placement Options
Regular standing students complete two field placements during their time in the MSW Program, one 400-hour generalist placement in a setting aligned with their interests and a second 500-hour advanced placement in a specialty area. Advanced standing students complete only the 500-hour specialty placement. All field placements are carefully vetted by the MSW Field Director to ensure appropriate supervision and opportunities to work on the social work competencies.
Online but Connected
Through our robust online program, we develop meaningful connections among faculty and students. While many classes are asynchronous, others have a required Zoom component that fosters collaborative skills, builds community, and allows for deeper exploration of concepts.
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MSW TUITION
$625 per credit
Full-Time Advanced Standing
| Summer |
3 |
$2,158 |
|
|
| Fall |
15 |
$10,710 |
|
|
| Spring |
15 |
$10,710 |
|
|
| Total** |
33 |
$23,578 |
|
|
The MSW program is the same price for students who reside in-state or out-of-state.
*Includes segregated fees and distance education fees. Segregated fees are estimated. Distance education fees are $50 per credit for online classes.
**School Social Work pathway requires 2 additional summer credits.
UWSP Tuition and Fees
UWSP Financial Aid Office
Full-Time Regular Standing
| Summer |
3 |
$2,158 |
|
|
| Fall |
14 |
$10,085 |
|
|
| Spring |
14 |
$10,085 |
|
|
| Summer |
3 |
$2,158 |
|
|
| Fall |
15 |
$10,710 |
|
|
| Spring |
15 |
$10,710 |
|
|
| Total** |
64 |
$45,906 |
|
|
The MSW program is the same price for students who reside in-state or out-of-state.
*Includes segregated fees and distance education fees. Segregated fees are estimated. Distance education fees are $50 per credit for online classes.
**School Social Work pathway requires 2 additional summer credits
UWSP Tuition and Fees
UWSP Financial Aid Office
Part-Time Advanced Standing
| Fall |
6 |
$4,885 |
|
|
| Spring |
6 |
$4,885 |
|
|
| Summer |
3 |
$2,158 |
|
|
| Fall |
9 |
$6,600 |
|
|
| Spring |
9 |
$6,600 |
|
|
| Total** |
33 |
$25,248 |
|
|
The MSW program is the same price for students who reside in-state or out-of-state.
*Includes segregated fees and distance education fees. Segregated fees are estimated. Distance education fees are $50 per credit for online classes.
**School Social Work pathway requires 2 additional summer credits.
UWSP Tuition and Fees
UWSP Financial Aid Office
Part-Time Regular Standing
| Fall |
6 |
$4,885 |
|
|
| Spring |
6 |
$4,885 |
|
|
| Summer |
3 |
$2,158 |
|
|
| Fall |
8 |
$6,035 |
|
|
| Spring |
8 |
$6,035 |
|
|
| Summer |
3 |
$2,158 |
|
|
| Fall |
6 |
$4,885 |
|
|
| Spring |
6 |
$4,885 |
|
|
| Fall |
9 |
$6,600 |
|
|
| Spring |
9 |
$6,600 |
|
|
| Total** |
64 |
$49,246 |
|
|
The MSW program is the same price for students who reside in-state or out-of-state.
*Includes segregated fees and distance education fees. Segregated fees are estimated. Distance education fees are $50 per credit for online classes.
**School Social Work pathway requires 2 additional summer credits.
UWSP Tuition and Fees
UWSP Financial Aid Office
An MSW Program Tailored for You!
Earn your MSW degree through our flexible and accessible program. This online degree is made to fit your needs at competitive pricing! Combine your passion for serving others with our expertise and established partnerships.
Credit Requirements
The MSW program is a 64-credit curriculum, with advanced standing students completing just the second 33-36 credit year. For each year of the program, students complete three credits in the summer term and a minimum of 14-17 credits each in the fall and spring terms. Students without a BSW complete the program in two full-time years, and students with a BSW complete the program in one full-time year.
Choose Your Pathway
The pathways within our Advanced Generalist curriculum allow our MSW students to gain expertise aligned with their career goals.
Apply!
The MSW program staff is eager to talk with you and learn about your career goals! Consider signing up for an information session to have your questions answered.
Degree Accreditation
The UWSP MSW Program is currently in pre-candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Pre-candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it submitted an application to be reviewed for candidacy and received approval of its Benchmark 1 from CSWE accreditation staff to move forward for a candidacy review within 1-year. A program that has attained pre-candidacy status has not yet been reviewed by the BOA nor verified to be compliant with the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Students that are admitted to pre-candidate programs in the fall (or later) of the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation. Candidacy is typically a 3-year process and attaining pre-candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain candidacy and initial accreditation. Pre-candidacy applies to all program options, which includes locations and delivery methods. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.
Review our program’s pre-candidacy status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation at accreditation@cswe.org.
The learning outcomes for social work students are established by the Council on Social Work Education and are referred to as competencies. These competencies are dimensions of social work practice that all social workers are expected to master during their professional training.
View the 9 Social Work Competencies here.
Graduates of MSW programs are eligible for employment in a wide range of fields including child welfare, youth justice, schools, mental health, substance use disorders, health care, aging, developmental disabilities, criminal justice, and more. Many take on administrative and supervisory roles within their organizations, and some focus their careers on addressing issues of inequality or injustice through advocacy, community organizing, or policymaking.
Yes! The courses are fully online with the required field placement to be completed in a student’s home community.
Regular Standing
Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.
Advanced Standing
Applicants must have a CSWE-accredited baccalaureate social work degree, a CASWE-accredited baccalaureate social work degree, or an internationally earned ISWDRES-evaluated degree comparable to a baccalaureate in social work, earned within the last 7 years.
All students complete core courses aligned with the learning outcomes for advanced social work practice and choose elective pathways to align with their career goals, with specific options to include clinical, medical, and school social work.
Now accepting applications for part-time regular standing students interested in starting in Fall 2025.
Applications for Part-Time and Full-Time Regular Standing students who wish to start Summer 2026 will be accepted November 1, 2025-March 1, 2026.
Applications for all cohorts, including Part-Time and Full-Time Advanced Standing students, who wish to begin in Summer 2027 will be accepted November 1, 2026-March 1, 2027.
Meet Your Faculty and Staff
Our experienced social work faculty at UW-Stevens Point will help you complete your MSW degree and prepare you to address the most challenging social concerns in our communities.
Amy Zlimen Ticho
- Professor
- Chair, Department of Sociology and Social Work
- MSW Program Director
College of Letters and Science, Department of Sociology and Social Work, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
715-346-3603
Olivia Gerrish
- Assistant Professor
- MSW Field Coordinator
College of Letters and Science, Department of Sociology and Social Work, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Tara Anderson
- Assistant Professor
- Coordinator, Substance Use and Addiction Studies Minor
College of Letters and Science, Department of Sociology and Social Work, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Margaret Kubek
College of Letters and Science, Department of Sociology and Social Work, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences