SSW FAQ

The first step is to try to change sessions yourself. When you are in the course, you may see a button at the top that says "Reset my deadlines". If you have access to that button, you can click it and manually move yourself to the session that begins on a date that better suits your schedule. If you do not have the option to reset you can either just wait until the new session becomes available and then enroll or you can email [email protected] for assistance.

MasterTrack courses have a fixed schedule, which means you need to complete all your coursework during a specific time period. Courses have hard deadlines which you can't reset. You may be able to switch sessions if you fall behind.

Peer Reviews Deadlines

You'll need to get all required peer reviews for your assignments before the end of the course. If you don't have enough peer reviews (2) on an assignment, you can post in the forums asking your peers to review your submission. Completing the peer review at least a week prior to course deadline is recommended. It may take 7-10 days to receive a review.

MasterTrack courses have a fixed schedule, which means you need to complete all your coursework during a specific time period. Courses have hard deadlines which you can't reset. You may be able to switch sessions if you fall behind.

Peer Reviews Deadlines

You'll need to get all required peer reviews for your assignments before the end of the course. If you don't have enough peer reviews (2) on an assignment, you can post in the forums asking your peers to review your submission. Completing the peer review at least a week prior to course deadline is recommended. It may take 7-10 days to receive a review.

Graduate school is always a lot of work. Add that you chose the University of Michigan - the top program in the nation.

• For a 3 credit class, you should expect to spend 2 hours in your live session plus an additional average of 8-9 hours on asynchronous work (readings, assignments, watching videos, etc).
• That means, if you are taking 2, 3-credit classes in a semester, you should expect to spend about 20-22 hours each week on your MSW coursework.

We know, this is a lot. There will be times that this is simply not possible. Here are some tips you might consider.

We all have ebbs and flows in our lives. Those of us in part-time, online programs are often balancing a lot of competing demands. Sometimes something has got to give! Some considerations:

• Learn the art of the skim. Some readings will be more meaningful to you than others. Consider skimming some of it. Here is a great article from UNC about how to skim.
• Prioritize the things you will do (and not do). As adult learners, we are in control of our education. Making strategic decisions about setting some work aside might actually help us do better at what we take on.
• Remind yourself this is ok. Doing less reading for a week or two will not be enough to set you off course in the program. This is not a reflection of your worth.
• Talk to your instructors. Life happens, and instructors know that. Don’t hesitate to let your instructors know what you’re dealing with. Ask for extension when you need them. While not guaranteed, most instructors are open to considering them.

U-M SSW is a big place, and U-M itself is huge. With a big (huge!) campus, comes big (huge!) bureaucracy. Expecting this can actually help you as you maneuver through it.

• View your faculty advisor as a partner to help you navigate your way. They may not always know the answer, but they can sure help you find one. Let them know if/when you're feeling overwhelmed by it all. They can help.
• Your technical advisor (Antuan) is here to help with anything course related. Petitions problems, independent study questions, substitutions... these can all go to your TA.
• Be sure to rely on each other. Use your Slack channels to connect with colleagues. It is likely that someone else has answers - or at least support - to offer.

The answer to this is going to be different for different students, and may even differ depending on the class. Some things to consider:

• You are moving through the program at a slower pace. Residential students move fast and are often solely focused on school.
• Residential students enter field sooner. If you're not yet in field, you may find it hard to relate to the things they are talking about.
• Classes are designed for students who are in Ann Arbor. Groups may need to meet together, and sometimes classes do community based projects that would be difficult for you.
• Access to faculty might be limited to the day. Even if the class is in an evening, residential program faculty usually restrict office hours to daytime hours.

Just when you get into a rhythm with work and classes, you will need to roll in a field placement. Students love field, because it's where the class material really comes alive. A few practical things to think about early:

• You will need to do 16 hours/week in your field placement. Most people do this over two full days, though other configurations might be possible.
• Many agencies want field students in the daytime hours. We do our best to accommodate evening and weekend placements, but depending on where you live, this could be limited. If you work days, you might want to talk to your employer now about how much flexibility you could have. This will give you more options.
• Some students do what is called an employment based placement where they do their field placement at the same place they work. This reduces the time it takes to travel elsewhere, get oriented, etc.

With all of these things, talking to your field faculty early is advised.

We developed a comprehensive resource that was sent out before the SW590/Orientation Weekend: Online MSW Student Welcome Guide. Review the guide to find:

• Content regarding the online program in general
• Information about courses and course planning
• Field education information and schedule
• Links to resources in the SSW and U-M overall

The simple answer is YES, you can do this. However, there are a few things you should consider before making this decision:

• Taking more credits than the CPW indicates in one term, and then less in another is totally fine. From an overall tuition standpoint, this will level back out.

  • For example, if your CPW says to take 6 credits in winter and 6 in spring/summer (12 credits), you can take 4 in the winter and 8 in the spring/summer (also 12 credits) and the overall tuition you pay still balances in the end (you are paying for 12 credits).
  • You can contact the University Office of Financial Aid (734-763-6600) or Cerise Carrington (734-936-0961) in our Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management to see how the number of credits taken will impact your financial aid package.
• If you are receiving federal aid, you are required to be enrolled in at least 4 credits. So if you are reducing in a given semester, keep that in mind.
• Our policy is that part-time students can take up to 8 credits in a semester. We have, on occasion, approved part-time students to take 9 credits in a semester. Approval for this is needed, so please be in touch with Antuan Featherstone or Barb Hiltz to discuss the approval process.
• You are welcome to go over the total of 45 credits, just know you'll pay more in overall tuition. Part-time students pay per credit hour. So you'll pay extra for the classes you take beyond 45 credits.
• If you want to stray from the plan your CPW lays out, it is good (though not required) to check in with your technical advisor, Antuan Featherstone. He can make sure that anything you intend to wait to take will be available in a later term.