Social Work Essentials FAQ

There is no financial aid available for the MasterTrack Certificate program but financial aid is available to students admitted into the MSW program (whether online or on-campus).

MasterTrack students may sign up for a payment plan through Coursera. The installment payment plan lets you make four equal payments in four consecutive months. Once you start the installment plan, you'll still be charged for the entire program even if you don't complete it.

Social Work Essentials MSW and MasterTrack MSW students can apply for need and merit-based grants and scholarships when they begin taking MSW courses. More information about financial aid can be found here.

Yes, Social Work Essentials MSW and MasterTrack MSW students may submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid to apply for federal loans for the terms that they are enrolled at the University of Michigan in the MSW program.

Students need to enter the MSW program within 2 years of completion of the Social Work Essentials Certificate or the MasterTrack Certificate.

No. Anyone can enroll in Social Work Essentials Certificate courses.

The Social Work Essentials Certificate program is $2,000.

No. You would have a Social Work Essentials Certificate. The Social Work Essentials Certificate alone is a non-credit bearing credential.

You will receive the MSW degree only if you proceed into the MSW degree program after you complete the Social Work Essentials certificate courses. Note that a full MSW application is required for MSW program admission consideration.

No. The Social Work Essentials certificate was designed to be completed over a 4 month period (taking 3 classes at a time). It is strongly discouraged for students to take more than 3 classes at a time, unless they are working on the SW Essentials certificate full time. Each course is approximately 8-weeks long. If a student cannot complete their courses in 4 months, they are able to extend their time in the class but they would need to be administratively moved to another section.

This is designed to be a 4 month, cohorted program. You should sign up and pay for all of the courses within the 4 month window. Because the program is designed to be cohorted, and things like peer grading all happen within your cohort window. If you are unable to complete all of your certificate courses within your 4 month cohort window, we can move your remaining courses into the next cohort. Students who need to do this should email [email protected] for assistance.

There is no limit to the number of students who can join the Social Work Essentials Certificate cohort.