MSW Foundation Program
for Applicants Without Advanced Standing
Advanced Standing requires the individual to have completed their Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree prior to being accepted into the MSW program. The MSW Foundation program is designed for individuals without a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and is only offered through our distance education program.
The Master of Social Work program at the University of North Dakota is accredited by The Council on Social Work Education. The MSW program offers advanced generalist curriculum that prepares students to practice competently in a variety of settings and across practice levels.
- Classes begin January 2010, Applications due August 15, 2009
- 60 Credits
- 3+ Years to Complete
- Online
- Live Web Classes Held Evenings/Weekends with 2 On-Campus Visits
- Deadlines for Lessons/Exams
- In-State Tuition Regardless of Residency
MSW Foundation courses are only available through the Distance Program. We do not offer the MSW Foundation program on campus. Instead, students who have a bachelor’s degree in a related field may apply to the Fast Track BSSW Program. Successful completion of this program qualifies individuals to apply for admission to the MSW Advanced Standing programs. Completion of the Fast Track Program does not guarantee admission to the Advanced Standing MSW Program at UND.
Thank you for your interest in the MSW programs. Important dates and deadlines for the Graduate School can be found here. If you have questions about our full-time MSW program, please contact Carenlee Barkdull, MSW Director, by email or phone (701) 777-3770. For questions about our part-time MSW program, please contact Carol Schneweis, Part-Time MSW Coordinator, by email or phone (701) 777-3768.
Admission Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- At least 30 credit hours of liberal arts courses in such fields as biology, music, languages, anthropology, economics, political science, history, literature, sociology, psychology, and philosophy.
- A course with human biology content.
- A grade of C or higher in a statistics course prior to entering the Advanced Generalist Concentration portion of the MSW program.
- Willingness to abide by the National Association of Social Worker’s Code of Ethics and the University Of North Dakota Code Of Student Life.
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 overall or a GPA of 3.00 in the last 2 years of the undergraduate program.
Admissions Process
The Department of Social Work will consider only completed application files. Applicants whose files are not completed until after the deadline for application may be rejected solely because of the number of applicants already accepted. It is recommended that applicants begin the process of application at least 6 weeks prior to the application deadline to ensure the file is completed on time. A completed application consists of the following:
- Graduate School application
- Three references
- 3-5 page personal statement (the essay described in the Graduate School application) covering: motivation for being a social worker, values and beliefs regarding social work, experience with diversity, qualities the applicant brings to the profession, personal qualities in leadership and creativity, and professional goals.
- Resume
- Official transcript (undergraduate and graduate course work)
- Background check
All materials are submitted to the Graduate School, which then transmits the materials to the Department of Social Work. Applications are reviewed and ranked in a competitive admission process. Rating criteria include: written statement, references, resume and grade point average. Not all students will be admitted in this process.
Degree Requirements
- Successful completion of 60 credit hours of courses approved by the social work faculty with at least a 3.00 grade point average. The number of electives required is dependent on whether a student selects the independent study or the thesis option.
- Satisfactory completion of foundation courses (24 credit hours).
- Satisfactory completion of the advanced generalist concentration courses (36 credit hours)
- Completion of SWk 997, an independent study and comprehensive exam, or SWk 998, a thesis.
- Completion of at least 24 semester credits with UND. Transfer credits must be obtained in a CSWE accredited program, and a maximum of 15 credits will be allowed for transfer.
- The development of a program of study in the semester in which the full-time student first enrolls in concentration courses, or the second semester in which the part-time student enrolls in concentration courses.
- Part-time students will meet the residency requirement by enrolling in a minimum of 18 credits in a two-year period, including at least one summer with a minimum of six-credit enrollment on campus in Grand Forks and participation in field seminars near the end of their program.
For additional information about the MSW Foundation distance program including technical requirements and tuition cost, please visit the Online & Distance Education website.
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Thesis Option
- Full time students select a Faculty Advisory Committee by the end of the first semester of enrollment in concentration courses. Part time students select a Faculty Advisory Committee during the second semester of enrollment in concentration courses.
- A proposal must be submitted no later than the semester prior to the student’s final semester.
Non-Thesis Option
- Full time students select a faculty adviser by the end of the first semester in concentration courses. Part-time students select a faculty advisor during the second semester of concentration courses.
- A proposal must be submitted no later than the semester prior to the student’s final semester
- The final comprehensive examination is completed in the last semester of enrollment.
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