Global Activities Scholars Program
The Global Activities Scholars Program (GASP) is a unique opportunity for students interested in working with individuals, communities, and organizations in a global context as part of their MSW program. Up to eight incoming students will be selected each year to complete a global field placement during the spring/summer term (May - August). The purpose of the program is to provide students committed to global social work practice an opportunity to live in a foreign country while completing a part of their field placement requirement.
Applicants may select any practice method concentration and practice area except for the Interpersonal Practice and Mental Health combination due to limitations in the field. Please note that placements for Interpersonal Practice and Social Policy and Evaluation are limited. In addition, dual degree Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health students are not eligible for this program.
Due to the field requirements for the Global Activities Scholars Program, completing a minor practice method will only be approved for advanced standing students who have elected the 16-month program.
Awards are based primarily on previous academic work, recommendations, human services employment experience, previous global experience, engagement in global issues, the applicant's written supplementary statement, and scholarship application materials.
Global Activities Scholars Program funding
- Nonresident Award: $8,500/semester plus one-time $6,000 in spring-summer ($40,000 total)
- Resident Award: $3,500/semester plus one-time $6,000 in spring-summer ($20,000 total)
The funding package above takes into consideration the costs of a global field placement such as visa fees, the cost of a plane ticket, in-country housing and living expenses. Global Activities Scholars are responsible for covering all additional costs associated with a global field placement. The Office of Global Activities does not provide additional money to accepted students. Students should apply for additional funding resources or plan to self-fund remaining expenses.
Currently Approved Field Placement Locations
- Cartago, Costa Rica through Cross Cultural Solutions
- Chennai, India through Madras Christian College
- Haifa, Israel through the University of Haifa *
- Hong Kong through the University of Hong Kong
- Lima, Peru through Cross Cultural Solutions **
- Melbourne, Australia through the University of Melbourne
- Mumbai, India through VIDYA
- Oslo, Norway through Oslo and Akershus University College (HiOA)
- Santiago, Chile through Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile **
- Singapore through National University of Singapore
- Washington, D.C. through the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance
* = Arabic or Hebrew fluency will greatly increase field placement options
** = Requires Spanish fluency
Note: Field placement locations are subject to change. Applicants may indicate site preferences on their application, but ultimately the Office of Global Activities and the Office of Field Instruction will make the final decision about placement sites based upon fit and availability.
Program Requirements
- Enrollment in the 16- month curriculum schedule (or willingness to change curriculum schedule upon acceptance, including renouncing advanced standing status)
- Due to the field requirements for the Global Activities Scholars Program, completing a minor practice method will only be approved for advanced standing students who have elected the 16-month program
- Enrollment and successful completion of SW 515, Foundation Field Instruction, and SW 531 Foundation Field Instruction Seminar, receiving grades of satisfactory during the fall term of the admittance year (This requirement does not apply to Advanced Standing eligible students who receive an exemption from SW 515 and SW 531)
- Global Activities Scholars must enroll in a 1-credit preparation seminar (SW 648) during the winter term before leaving for their global field placement and a 2-credit capstone seminar (SW 748) the fall term after completing the global field placement. In addition, scholars must take a 3-credit globally focused graduate level course
- Acceptance by one of the approved global field placement location sites
- Possession of, or eligibility for, a passport
- A commitment to global social work practice
Application
- All potential MSW students who are interested in working with individuals, communities, and organizations in a global context are invited to apply.
- Application deadlines: December 1 of the prior year (early application), February 1 (priority), or March 1. Selection of applicants will be made from all dates with priority given to those applicants that meet the December and February deadlines.
- Deferred admits planning to enroll in fall 2018 must submit their special program application by November 2, 2017.
- Your MSW application must be complete by the scholarship application deadline.
- If you would like to apply for the Global Activities Scholars Program, 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 online application and then select the Global Activities Scholars Program checkbox. The Global Activities Scholars Program application pages will be added to the end of your online MSW application.
- Applicants may select any practice method concentration and practice area except for the Interpersonal Practice and Mental Health combination. The Global Activities Scholars Program is not available for students selecting Interpersonal Practice and Mental Health on their MSW application.
If you have questions please contact the Office of Global Activities at (734) 936-1964 or ssw.oga@umich.edu.