10 Fully Funded Master's Programs in Social Work in the US
University of Georgia Programs Offered:Master of Social Work Location:279 WILLIAMS STREET ATHENS, GA 30602 Admission: Admission to the program is highly competitive. Funding: Securing a fully funded offer to the program is extremely competitive.
The University of Georgia's School of Social Work is renowned for its Master of Social Work (MSW) program,
The program has consistently been ranked among the top public MSW programs in the United States. The school's dedication to academic excellence, research, and community engagement has led to its graduates achieving impressive pass rates on national licensing exams and making significant contributions to the field.
MSW students at UGA benefit from impactful field internships and research projects, guided by esteemed scholars and professionals in their areas of interest. The program offers flexible options to meet diverse needs, including full-time, extended-time, and online courses at the Athens, metro Atlanta, and Online campuses. Students can also access financial resources to support their professional goals.
Full-time students have the opportunity to specialize in micro practice, macro practice, or integrated practice, which combines both micro and macro practice specializations. The school's Online Graduate Assistantship Application System is open annually from September 15 to January 15, allowing prospective applicants to apply for assistantships based on academic performance and financial need. Successful applicants receive reduced tuition and additional compensation in exchange for providing assistance to faculty and administrative staff.
To be considered for a Graduate Assistantship for the 2024-2025 academic year, prospective applicants must carefully read all the information on the school's website and submit their application by January 15, 2024. Late applications will not be considered. Upon submitting the application, the Online Application System will generate a confirmation email, which applicants should save in a secure place.
Graduate Assistantship decisions are made based on academic performance and financial need for full-time students. If awarded a School of Social Work Graduate Assistantship, students are required to provide 13 hours per week of assistance to designated faculty and/or administrative staff. In return, tuition is reduced to $25, regardless of residency status, and the additional compensation totals approximately $13,754 per year.
The School of Social Work's commitment to well-being and social justice is evident in the achievements of its graduates and the impact of its outreach programs. The school's research has earned national recognition and influenced social work practice and public policy, contributing to its high rankings among public university social work graduate programs and the recognition of its undergraduate degree program as one of the best in the nation.
NC State University Programs Offered:Master of Social Work Location:205 1911 Building, Campus Box 7639, Raleigh, NC 27695-7639 Admission: Admission to the program is more competitive. Funding: Securing a fully funded offer to the program is highly competitive.
NC State University's Master of Social Work (MSW) program is designed to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and values to enhance the quality of life for all individuals. The program emphasizes an advanced generalist practice approach and promotes cultural competence in its teaching, scholarship, advising, and research.
The MSW program offers two options for earning the degree. The Traditional MSW option is a two-year, full-time program that requires the completion of 60 credit hours. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. The Advanced Standing MSW option is a 12-month intensive program that begins in the summer and requires the completion of 39 credit hours. To be considered for admission, applicants must have a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program and a cumulative GPA of 3.5.
The field internship, which is the cornerstone of the MSW program curriculum, provides students with the opportunity to work with experienced, professional organizations. This hands-on experience allows students to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world settings.
A limited number of teaching assistantships are available for full-time students in the MSW program. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) receive full tuition coverage, health insurance, and 20 hours of pay for work within the School of Social Work. However, the arrangement does not cover university fees and other living expenses. Assistantships are awarded upon admission and are only available for full-time students who begin their graduate work in the fall semester.
Teaching assignments for GTAs are based on departmental needs and vary in demand within the School of Social Work. GTAs may be assigned to the Explicit Curriculum track, where they prepare to teach undergraduate classes in the BSW program, or the Implicit Curriculum track, where they support the curriculum by preparing and presenting materials in class and coordinating educational activities.
GTAs must enroll in and maintain full-time status to be eligible for the assistantship. They are required to earn at least 18 hours of graduate credit in Social Work and 18 hours of classroom instruction with a preceptor in their first year to be eligible to teach classes as an instructor of record in their second year.
Ball State University Programs Offered:Master of Social Work (MSW) Location:Health Professions Building, Room 501 Muncie, IN 47306 Admission: Admission to the program is more competitive. Funding: Securing a fully funded offer to the program is highly competitive.
Ball State University's Master of Social Work (MSW) program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in nonprofit and community organizations. The program is offered at two locations: the main campus in Muncie and the Indy Center in downtown Indianapolis. The curriculum focuses on rural practice, health, addictions, and gerontology, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to become licensed clinical workers (LCSW) or licensed addiction counselors (LAC).
Graduates of the MSW program are well-prepared to tackle complex problems and provide leadership in diverse practice settings. They are highly sought after in fields such as health care, mental health, and substance abuse, where the demand for master's-level social workers consistently exceeds the supply of trained professionals. The program's advanced generalist focus ensures that graduates are job-ready, with a broad scope of practice and increased earning potential.
In response to the growing demand for social workers in rural communities, the MSW program offers specialized coursework and hands-on training in health, addictions, and gerontology. These three areas are projected to have the highest rates of job growth in the coming decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Graduates can expect to find employment in various settings, including hospitals, treatment centers, community mental health centers, long-term care facilities, and retirement communities.
The Indy Center, which began offering MSW classes in the Fall of 2022, provides a collaborative space for graduate programs in Social Work, Architecture, and Urban Design. Students interested in taking classes at the Indy Center can indicate their preference on their application.
Graduate assistantships offer students a valuable academic and professional experience, allowing them to broaden their perspective of social work and related areas through varied assignments directed by faculty members. Assistants are expected to work 20 hours per week, assisting faculty in research and instruction and providing tutorial support for the department. In return, they receive a cash stipend and a tuition waiver, although they are still responsible for student service fees.
To be eligible for a graduate assistantship, candidates must be admitted to the MSW program, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and submit an application to the Department of Social Work. The department also considers applicants' skills and special abilities when making selections.
Eastern Michigan University Programs Offered:MSW Location:Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI, USA 48197 Admission: Admission to the program is more competitive. Funding: Securing a fully funded offer to the program is highly competitive.
Eastern Michigan University's School of Social Work offers a Master of Social Work (MSW) program that focuses on empowerment-oriented practice and collaboration, addressing the needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations. The program aims to develop students' critical thinking, equitable practices, and leadership skills to promote social and economic justice.
The MSW curriculum is based on a generalist practice perspective, which applies problem-solving processes to intervene with various systems, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students can specialize in one of three areas: Families and Children, Health and Aging, or Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery. The program enhances students' skills, knowledge, and values to become leaders in advancing social justice through micro, mezzo, and macro prevention and intervention methods.
EMU offers both full-time and part-time MSW programs. The full program, for students with a bachelor's degree in a field other than social work, requires 61 credit hours. The advanced standing program, for students with a BSW degree from an accredited program and a minimum GPA of 2.75 overall or 3.0 in their last 60 undergraduate credits, consists of 35 credit hours. The MSW program has been CSWE-accredited since 1992.
The School of Social Work provides Graduate Assistantships (GA) for BSW, MSW, and Field programs. Full GA positions offer up to 18 graduate credit hours of tuition waiver per academic year and a stipend, while half-time awards provide up to 9 graduate credit hours of tuition waiver over the Fall and Winter semesters and a stipend. Courses below the 500 level are not eligible for the GA tuition waiver unless they are part of a 150-credit hour, dual degree, bachelor's-master's program.
Full-time GA appointments (20 hours/week) entitle students to 9 graduate credit hours of tuition waiver per semester, with a limit of 18 credit hours per academic year. Students must be enrolled in at least 6 graduate credit hours during Fall and Winter semesters. Unused credit hours (up to 6) can be applied to Spring/Summer courses in the same academic year. If a GA is not reappointed, terminated, or voluntarily resigns, unused credit hours from the employed semester are forfeited.
Half-time GA appointments (10 hours/week) provide 5 graduate credit hours of tuition waiver in the Fall semester and 4 in the Winter semester, with a total limit of 9 credit hours during the Fall/Winter semesters. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 4 credit hours in both Fall and Winter. No tuition waiver is available for Spring/Summer.
Both full-time and half-time awards provide a stipend and cover tuition and differential tuition, but do not cover registration fees, mandatory fees, late payment fees, new student record initiation fees, or program fees.
West Virginia University Programs Offered:Master of Social Work (MSW) Location:NASWcswe accreditedSchool of Social Work 105 Knapp Hall P.O. Box 6830 Morgantown, West Virginia 26506 Admission: Admission to the program is more competitive. Funding: Securing a fully funded offer to the program is highly competitive.
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at West Virginia University (WVU) aims to educate graduate students in advanced integrated social work practice, focusing on individuals, families, groups, communities, and social administration. The program's primary goal is to produce competent and effective practitioners dedicated to enhancing social well-being and quality of life, with a special emphasis on vulnerable and oppressed populations in the Appalachian region's small towns and rural areas.
All students in the MSW program specialize in Advanced Integrated Practice, which prepares them to integrate micro, mezzo, and macro practice skills across service sectors and within interdisciplinary teams. The curriculum emphasizes effective models of rural service delivery to address social and human problems across a wide range of practice areas. Both the BSW and MSW programs at WVU are nationally accredited by the Council for Social Work Education (CSWE).
The MSW program incorporates digital literacy in both its on-campus and online offerings, providing social work education for the 21st century. In the 2024 rankings of graduate schools of social work by US News & World Report, the WVU MSW program is ranked #83. Graduates of the program are eligible to pursue social work licensure at their degree level, although states may have varying requirements for clinical licensure.
The School of Social Work offers several Graduate Assistantships (GAs) to full-time MSW students each year. To be considered, new students must apply to the MSW program by the priority deadline of January 15th. Once accepted, they are invited to apply for the competitive GA positions, which are available only to on-campus MSW students. GA positions cover tuition and include a small stipend in exchange for 16-20 hours of work per week, typically beginning in the Fall semester and running through the end of Spring.
In addition to GAs, the MSW program offers various other opportunities for financial support, including:
1. Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training: provides $10,000 in stipend support for advanced field placement to 20 MSW students per year.
2. Title IVE Child Welfare Training: available to students prepared to do their field placements in West Virginia and work within the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources following graduation.
3. Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND): offers full tuition coverage and a monthly stipend to trainees in this interdisciplinary program focused on improving the health of infants, children, and adolescents with disabilities.
4. Merit-Based Waivers: students with a 4.0 GPA can apply for these waivers, which typically cover 1-3 credit hours, starting from their second semester.
Virginia Commonwealth University Programs Offered:Master of Social Work Location:Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work Social Work 1000 Floyd Avenue, Third Floor Box 842027 Richmond, VA 23284-2027 Admission: Admission to the program is more competitive. Funding: Securing a fully funded offer to the program is highly competitive.
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is designed to help students become advanced practitioners and policy leaders, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to make a significant impact in the lives of individuals and communities. The program offers intensive, specialized coursework, research opportunities, and field experience, enabling students to identify their true passions and develop their unique voices as social workers.
One of the program's key strengths is its small class sizes, which provide students with ample opportunities to connect with their instructors and peers, reflect on shared experiences, and explore their interests. The program is housed in VCU's Academic Learning Commons, a state-of-the-art facility that offers modern technology and flexible learning spaces. Graduate research space is also available, providing students with access to materials, support, and technology to pursue their independent, community-engaged research goals.
The primary objectives of the MSW program are to provide students with:
1. Generalist knowledge, skills, ethics, and values essential for working with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.
2. Specialized preparation for work in either clinical social work or social work administration, planning, and policy practice across various settings.
3. An educational environment that encourages students to apply the profession's values and ethical principles, gain a deeper understanding of diversity, use research methods to evaluate professional practice and service delivery systems, and advocate for social and economic justice.
The program offers approximately two dozen scholarships for current MSW students through a competitive application process. Additionally, incoming full-time MSW students can apply for highly competitive yearlong research assistantship positions that provide a stipend and tuition assistance, as well as a rewarding and educational service component. These assistantships offer students the opportunity to engage in faculty-led research and develop mentoring relationships with faculty members.
Saint Louis University Programs Offered:Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) Location:1701 Duke Street, Suite 200 Alexandria, VA 22314-3457 Admission: Admission to the program is more competitive. Funding: Securing a fully funded offer to the program is highly competitive.
Saint Louis University's Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program is designed to prepare students for a rewarding career in supporting vulnerable populations facing a variety of challenges. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience, enabling graduates to work effectively in diverse settings such as community centers, mental health facilities, hospitals, schools, and nonprofit organizations.
One of the key features of the M.S.W. program is its flexibility, which allows students to choose between online and in-person course delivery formats to best suit their needs. The curriculum is structured to provide a solid foundation in social work principles through generalist courses, followed by advanced practice courses in one of three concentrations: Applied Behavior Analysis, Clinical, or Community and Organization.
Each concentration has a unique focus, with Applied Behavior Analysis emphasizing evidence-based methods for behavioral change, Clinical focusing on assessment, intervention, and outcomes in clinical practice, and Community and Organization centering on mezzo- and macro-level community work, such as advocacy, nonprofit administration, and policy implementation.
Throughout the program, students benefit from the guidance of experienced M.S.W. field instructors who provide mentorship and support as they gain hands-on experience working in social work roles within the community. The program also offers opportunities for specialization through coursework and practicum experiences in various areas, including community mental health practice, criminal justice, gerontology, health practice, school social work, substance use disorder treatment, and trauma-informed practice.
To support students financially, the School of Social Work offers graduate assistantships and internships. Graduate assistantships are University-funded and awarded for two semesters, providing benefits such as health care coverage, a stipend, and tuition remission. Students work with designated faculty members for 20 hours per week, with their time divided between one or two faculty mentors depending on the assignment.
Graduate internships, on the other hand, are funded by the School of Social Work and are assigned for two semesters, with students working 8-16 hours per week with assigned faculty. Interns may assist with administrative work, research, or faculty teaching, and tuition benefits vary based on the assigned hours. Unlike graduate assistantships, graduate internships do not include health insurance or stipends.
To be considered for either a graduate assistantship or internship, students must complete a graduate assistantship/internships application. Assistantships are appointed for one year, and students must reapply to be considered for a second year, with no guarantee of receiving subsequent or continuing internships. However, students who receive a fully-funded University-funded assistantship in one year remain eligible for graduate internships while pursuing their graduate degree in the School of Social Work.
University of Arkansas Programs Offered:MSW Location:School of Social Work Gregson Hall, 301 N. Garland Ave, Garden Level Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 Admission: Admission to the program is more competitive. Funding: Securing a fully funded offer to the program is highly competitive.
The University of Arkansas offers a Master of Social Work (MSW) program that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to excel in the challenging and rewarding field of professional social work. The program's faculty and staff are dedicated to preparing students to effectively address the complex challenges faced by social workers in an ever-evolving world.
Throughout the MSW program, students engage in a comprehensive examination of social work from various perspectives. They are encouraged to reflect on their personal values and beliefs in relation to those of the profession and the populations served. The curriculum encompasses a broad range of theories on human behavior and the environments in which individuals live, as well as practical skills employed by social workers in their efforts to serve and advocate for diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
The program emphasizes the importance of analyzing and advocating for social policies that improve the conditions of vulnerable populations, while also addressing the intricacies of human diversity, social justice, and economic justice. Students explore existing research methodologies and acquire a variety of research skills to support evidence-based social work practice. They also become acquainted with new technologies available to social workers. Crucially, through field internship experiences, students have the opportunity to apply their learning in real-world social work practice settings.
The MSW program at the University of Arkansas School of Social Work is designed to cultivate leader/practitioners who are prepared for advanced practice with multiple systems across the life course. The program places particular emphasis on equipping graduates with the leadership skills and tools necessary to advance the mission of the profession, especially in terms of reducing poverty and empowering vulnerable populations to achieve self-sufficiency and well-being.
The graduate program employs a Multi-System Life Course (MSLC) perspective in its concentration, requiring all students to develop advanced professional knowledge, values, and skills for practice with multiple systems across the life course. The curriculum is structured using a systems framework, with life course theory serving as the theoretical foundation for the concentration curriculum.
As a significant component of the required two-course Research and Technology sequence, students complete a capstone research project over the course of the advanced year. Alternatively, with curriculum committee approval, students may opt to complete a thesis instead.
The School of Social Work offers a limited number of graduate assistantship (GA) positions each year, which may involve teaching support, research, or administrative support. These positions require working directly with one or more faculty members for up to 20 hours per week and include a tuition waiver and stipend. To qualify, students must be regularly admitted to the Graduate School and the MSW program without conditions. Students may also apply for GA positions in other departments and offices on campus.
UW-Green Bay Programs Offered:Master of Social Work (MSW) Location:2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311 Admission: Admission to the program is more competitive. Funding: Securing a fully funded offer to the program is highly competitive.
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's Master of Social Work (MSW) program is tailored to equip graduate students with the necessary skills and knowledge for advanced professional practice in various human services roles. The program places a strong emphasis on multi-cultural practice, social justice, leadership, and advocacy, enabling students to pursue diverse specializations such as licensed therapist, veteran's affairs social worker, or school social worker.
Anchored in the core values of the social work profession, UW-Green Bay's MSW program is dedicated to nurturing advanced generalist social work leaders who are committed to social justice and anti-racist decolonizing practice. This is achieved through regionally responsive, competency-based, and interdisciplinary programs that foster social justice in a constantly changing world by employing strengths-based advanced generalist practice to enhance human and community well-being.
The program utilizes a cohort model to promote strong relationships among students and between students and faculty. Through a field practicum, students gain hands-on experience in advanced social work practice and have the opportunity to develop an Individualized Area of Emphasis, allowing them to deepen their knowledge and skills in a specific area of social work practice that aligns with their interests.
Since its establishment in 2003, UW-Green Bay's MSW program has consistently maintained accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and has successfully trained hundreds of advanced level social workers who have gone on to practice throughout northeast Wisconsin and beyond. The university also provides continuing education courses for social workers and licensed therapists, covering topics such as ethics, boundaries, and factors influencing the client relationship.
Graduate assistantships at UW-Green Bay offer students the opportunity to achieve academic and professional success by building relationships with faculty and peers, gaining experience, and deepening their knowledge. The Social Work Graduate Assistantship position provides programmatic and instructional support throughout the academic year, with responsibilities including assisting with program projects, outreach activities, and instruction for designated courses. Applicants must meet the criteria set by the UW-Green Bay Graduate Program and demonstrate potential for teaching, with preference given to MSW students who have an undergraduate degree in social work and individuals with human services work experience.
Graduate assistants receive a competitive compensation package, including a salary with fringe benefits and out-of-state tuition remission for the non-resident and Midwest Exchange portion of their tuition. To be eligible for a graduate assistantship, students must be admitted in full academic standing to a UW-Green Bay graduate degree program, enrolled in a minimum of six credits each semester of employment and no fewer than 15 credits each academic year, and maintain a 3.0 GPA in their graduate degree courses.
The University of Southern Mississippi Programs Offered:MSW Location:118 College Drive Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001; 730 East Beach Boulevard Long Beach, MS 39560 Admission: Admission to the program is competitive. Funding: Securing a fully funded offer to the program is more competitive.
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the University of Southern Mississippi provides students with a rigorous and diverse learning experience that combines advanced coursework with extensive field work, totaling 900 hours. This experiential learning approach equips graduates with the confidence and competence necessary for professional practice, particularly in clinical settings where licensure as a Master Social Worker is required.
The MSW program at Southern Miss is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and students should be aware that licensure requirements may vary by state.
A key component of the MSW program is the completion of two supervised internships, also known as field work, which provide students with practical experience in a professional setting under the guidance of licensed social workers. The School of Social Work has partnerships with over 200 agencies, primarily in Mississippi, but out-of-state and international placements are also possible. Full-time students complete a 300-hour placement over one semester, followed by a 600-hour placement spanning two semesters.
In addition to field work, MSW students have the opportunity to conduct research alongside faculty mentors, presenting their findings at conferences and co-authoring articles in peer-reviewed journals. Recent graduate research projects have explored topics such as the impact of third-graders' literacy levels on classroom behavior and risk factors for pre-kindergarten obesity.
The School of Social Work offers 13 graduate scholarships specifically for MSW students, as well as graduate assistantships that provide financial support in exchange for 20 hours of work per week during the academic year. Full-time graduate assistants receive a 100% tuition waiver for in-state and out-of-state tuition fees, while part-time assistants receive a 50% waiver. To maintain an assistantship, students must enroll in nine hours of graduate coursework during the fall and spring semesters, or one hour during the summer, and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Admission to the program is highly competitive.
Securing a fully funded offer to the program is extremely competitive.
Admission to the program is more competitive.
Admission to the program is competitive.