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 On-Campus MSW program. Up to twelve 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 must select the Global Social Work pathway as their primary pathway or the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse pathway as their primary pathway with the Global Social Work pathway as their secondary pathway. It is recommended that students interested in pursuing clinical licensure upon graduation select the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse as their primary pathway. However, please note that slots for these students are very limited. Generally, the GASP program is a better fit for students interested in macro social work given the typical role of social workers in many other countries and the students’ limited time to learn the norms of interpersonal practice work abroad. Locations appropriate for Interpersonal Practice students include Australia, Hong Kong, International Rescue Committee, Singapore, and potentially Norway.

Due to course and field requirements for GASP, dual degree MSW/MPH students are not eligible to participate in this 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.

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 Education make the final decision about placement sites based upon fit and availability during the student’s first semester in the program.

Program Requirements

The Global Activities Scholars Program includes all MSW requirements and an intensive global summer field placement.

Each Global Activities Scholar must:

• Enroll in the full-time On-Campus MSW 16-month or 12-month (Advanced Standing or MasterTrack MSW, UM-Dearborn Human Services & SW, or UM Sociology & SW) curriculum schedule.
• Select the Global Social Work pathway as the primary pathway or the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse pathway as their primary pathway with the Global Social Work pathway as their secondary pathway and complete all program requirements.
• Begin field in the first fall term as a 16-month student on an 'out of sequence' track. Note that field placements will be in person. Remote options will not be available.
• Enroll in and successfully complete Field Instruction coursework during the fall and winter terms of the admittance year, which is met by receiving grades of satisfactory during both terms.
• Be accepted by one of the approved global field placement location sites and complete a spring/summer field placement.
• Possess, or be eligible for, a passport.
• International students must obtain a visa and arrive in Ann Arbor by the start of fall term of the admittance year.
• Be committed to global social work practice.
• Attend mandatory meetings both prior to leaving for their global field placement and once they return from abroad.

Completing a global field placement is contingent on maintaining good academic standing before departure. Failure to remain in good academic standing may result in a student completing their final term of Field Instruction locally instead of abroad.

Application

• All potential On Campus MSW students who are interested in working with individuals, communities, and organizations in a global context are invited to apply.
• Application deadlines: December 1, 2022 (early application), February 1, 2023 (priority), March 1, 2023. 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 2023 must submit their special program application by November 1, 2022.
• Financial need will be considered in the review of special program applications.
• 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 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 MSW application.
• Applicants must select the Global Social Work pathway as the primary pathway or the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse pathway as the primary pathway with the Global Social Work pathway as the second pathway.

If you have questions please contact the Office of Global Activities at (734) 936-1964 or ssw.oga@umich.edu.