The Community Scholars program seeks to engage students with a specialized interest in community change work through place-based learning opportunities in the metro Detroit area. The purpose of the Community Scholars program is to train and support a new generation of social workers dedicated to community and social change work in urban cities, neighborhoods, and communities. This is done through coursework, field placements, and extracurricular learning based in Detroit and surrounding areas, including Highland Park, Hamtramck, and Dearborn. Upon graduation, Community Scholars scholars work as community organizers, policymakers, program planners, organization managers and administrators, evaluators, and foundation staff within Michigan, the US, and internationally.
Up to 12 incoming full-time on-campus MSW students who are genuinely committed to community change work in urban areas will be selected for the Community Scholars program.
Community Scholars Funding
- $6,000 per term (3 terms for 12-month / 4 terms for 16-month students)
Specialized Community Scholars Courses
Community Scholars complete the specialized coursework in community change. All Community Scholars will take specialized 1-credit seminars each semester to support critical thinking, engagement, and learning within the cohort. In addition, scholars will be required to take at least one theory and one skill class focused on community change.
Special Fieldwork Placements
Community Scholars will complete a community change-focused field placement. Field placements must be completed at a designated agency in the Detroit area, including Highland Park, Hamtramck, and Dearborn. Note: students must have their own transportation to and from their field placement site(s).
Program Requirements
- Begin the on-campus MSW program in the fall term.
- Completion of program requirements (specialized community scholars courses and field placement) for the Community Scholars program.
- Completion of Community Scholars field work in a designated agency in the Detroit area.
- Enrollment in the full-time on-campus 16-month or 12-month (Advanced Standing, U-M Community Action and Social Change & SW, UM-Dearborn Human Services & SW, U-M Sociology & SW, MasterTrack MSW, or SW Essentials MSW) curriculum schedule.
- Due to course and field requirements for the Community Scholars Program, MSW/MPH students are not eligible to participate in this program.
Application
- All potential on-campus MSW students who are interested in community change work in urban settings are invited to apply.
- Community Scholars may select any pathway.
- Application deadlines: December 1, 2026 (early application), February 1, 2027 (priority), March 1, 2027 (final). Selection of applicants will be made from all dates, with priority given to those applicants who meet the December and February deadlines.
- Deferred admits planning to enroll in fall 2027 must submit their special program application by November 1, 2026.
- Financial need will be considered in the review of special program applications.
- Your MSW application must be completed by the scholarship deadline.
- If you would like to apply to Community Scholars, then please answer “yes” to the question, “Do you plan to apply to an SSW Special Program?” found on the Financial Assistance page of the MSW application ,and then select the Community Scholars checkbox. The Community Scholars application page will be added to the end of your MSW application.
- Be sure to include your name and “Community Scholars Statement” in the upper corner of your statement before you upload it to your application.
For more information about the Community Scholars Program, contact the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management at (734) 936-0961 or [email protected].