A day part-time program is available for students wishing to pursue other pathways and/or curriculum or schedules, such as Advanced Standing or Social Work Essentials/ MasterTrack MSW. Day part-time students may pursue any of the eight specialized pathways.
Please note transfer students and international applicants that require F-1 or J-1 status are not eligible for the part-time day program.
Financial Aid
Day part-time applicants are eligible to apply for Michigan Social Work scholarships and grants.
Curriculum Schedule
Students admitted to the part-time MSW Program must complete all MSW degree requirements within four years of their first term of enrollment. Occasionally, part-time day program students may need to enroll in an evening course.
The following day part-time schedule options are available:
Plan A: Two-Year+ Part-Time (45 credits)
For students eligible for the 45-credit program as Advanced Standing, Social Work Essentials/ MasterTrack MSW, U-M Community Action and Social Change & Social Work, UM-Dearborn Human Services & Social Work or U-M Sociology & Social Work.
Students enroll in seven consecutive terms, including spring-summer, with field placement starting in the fourth term (second fall term) and the fifth term (second winter term) for those with advanced standing status.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Winter | Spring/Summer | Fall | Winter | Spring/Summer | Fall |
| 7 credits | 7 credits | 6 credits | 6 credits (including Field) * except for Advanced Standing | 7 credits (including Field) | 7 credits (including Field) | 5 credits (including Field) |
Plan B: Three-Year Part-Time (60 credits)
Students enroll in nine consecutive terms, including spring-summer, with field placement starting in the second winter term. The Office of Field Education will determine whether the applicant’s place of employment is eligible to count as field credit.
Pathway: Community Change / Management and Leadership / Policy & Political Social Work / Program Evaluation and Applied Research
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Winter | Spring/Summer | Fall | Winter | Spring/Summer | Fall | Winter | Spring/Summer |
| 7 credits | 7 credits | 6 credits | 7 credits | 6 credits (including Field) | 7 credits (including Field) | 7 credits (including Field) | 7 credits (including Field) | 6 credits |
Pathway: Global Social Work Practice / Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse / Social Work Practice with Older Adults and Families from a Lifespan Perspective / Children, Youth, and Families
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Winter | Spring/Summer | Fall | Winter | Spring/Summer | Fall | Winter | Spring/Summer |
| 8 credits | 7 credits | 6 credits | 6 credits | 6 credits (including Field) | 7 credits (including Field) | 7 credits (including Field) | 7 credits (including Field) | 6 credits |
Part-time students must keep the SSW Registrar's Office informed of their enrollment plans each term. Once admitted to the day part-time MSW Program and after enrollment plan selection, students are expected to follow their selected enrollment plan. If, after initial enrollment in the program, a student is unable to enroll for one or more expected terms, then withdrawal from the program is required. To re-enroll, the student must complete and submit a reapplication form to the School's Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management at least six weeks prior to the term in which the student wishes to re-enroll.
Field Education
All MSW students* including day part-time students will complete a total of 912 field hours. Day part-time students should expect to complete field education during regular “daytime” business hours. An employment-based field option may be available for students currently employed in social work-related positions.
*Exception: advanced standing students will complete a total of 684 advanced field hours.
Application
All applicants must submit a brief statement describing why they are applying for admission to the part-time MSW program and their plans for completion of MSW degree requirements. Students enrolling in courses as non-degree students are not considered to be enrolled in the part-time MSW program.
Deadline
December 1, 2025 is the early application deadline. We are accepting applications for the Fall 2026 semester until July 15, 2026.