Social Work Communications

Are you interested in incorporating a global social work opportunity into your MSW degree?

Consider pursuing a Global Independent Study! This is a student-initiated experience that gives MSW students the opportunity to travel abroad during the Spring/Summer term. Students travel outside the U.S. to study a topic of their interest while working with a faculty instructor. Students from all program pathways and curriculum tracks are eligible to apply and will receive elective credits for the global independent study course. Students can focus their study on service learning, internships, research, and more. Global Independent Study students are eligible for a grant of up to $2,000 to help cover the cost of their experience. To learn more information about Global Independent Study, please visit the Office of Global Activities (OGA) website.

Another global opportunity includes incorporating 27 months of Peace Corps service into your MSW program. If you are interested, then check out our Masters International Volunteer Program. Please note students interested in this option must submit their Peace Corps application before September 1, 2022.

Check out the Office of Global Activities (OGA) website for more information on global opportunities. Reach out to OGA at ssw.oga@umich.edu with any questions.

Please be aware that global education experiences remain contingent on travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Office of Global Activities Webpage
• Admitted Student Webpages
• Incoming MSW Communications

Greetings and Welcome to Social Work!

As you plan your social work educational journey, I want you to be aware of a great resource available to you - The School of Social Work Career Services Office. We offer many services to students and alumni of our program. Such services include individual career planning appointments, professional development workshops, writing services, mock interviewing, review of field and job application materials (resumes, goal statements and cover letters) and licensure information and support.

As you may be aware, the title and field of social work (especially clinical practice) is regulated in all 50 states and Washington DC. As such, these jurisdictions dictate what criteria is needed to successfully apply for licensure. Basic criteria may include verification of a social work degree and coursework, moral character and background checks, and passing social work board exams.

Moral character and background checks may include applicants answering questionnaires about past criminal offenses, sanctions, probationary status, sanctions from other professional licenses, and obtaining results from child abuse/neglect registry, FBI fingerprinting, and sex offender registry. This is serious because a social work board can decline, sanction or revoke a license based upon the information from these sources. Each jurisdiction has information about their application process and rules regarding sanctions and convictions. The Association of Social Work Boards provides a clearinghouse of information about licensure. You can research licensure requirements by state and links are provided to each state for specific details.

If you have concerns about whether or not a criminal conviction or offense would prevent you from obtaining licensure here in Michigan (MI), the State of Michigan Licensure and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has a Preliminary Determination Request for Health Licensing form that you may complete for a preliminary review before you would have to apply for licensure in MI. This is only applicable for Michigan licensure.

Additionally, some jurisdictions may want specific coursework or field work completed during your MSW program in order to pursue a clinical license. New York, Florida, Minnesota, and Indiana are just a few of the states where specific coursework is required to achieve a clinical license.

It is imperative that you know about the licensure requirements in the state(s) you wish to practice in after graduation so that you can plan accordingly while in our program. On our career services webpage, we have basic information about licensure and a link to a chart listing each jurisdiction/state. You will also find the levels of licensure, whether specific coursework is needed, and a link to the specific jurisdiction/state.

If you have any questions, email our office at ssw-cso@umich.edu.

Again, welcome to the School of Social Work. Go Blue!

Michelle Woods, LMSW - Clinical and Macro Practice
Director of Career Services
U-M School of Social Work

• Licensure Webpage
• Admitted Student Webpages

Welcome to the University of Michigan School of Social Work!

You are strongly encouraged to read through the admitted student webpages for important information. Updated information will be added throughout the spring and summer.

Course planning and registration information will be available in June and course registration will occur online in July. Please expect to receive an email from us in early summer with more information.

Be sure to regularly check your UMich email account. All official School communication is sent to the UMich email account.

Incoming On Campus MSW students should plan for an in-person class schedule. Students beginning field education in fall term 2022 should plan for an in-person field experience.

We look forward to seeing you this fall!

Please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management with any questions.

• Student Uniqnames & UMich Email
• Admitted Student Webpages

Dear Incoming Students,

Welcome to the University of Michigan School Social Work, where we strive to deliver the very best MSW education.

You have chosen the profession of social work at a complex time when our world has changed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the renewal of commitment to antiracism, and leadership challenges in our nation. Social work is needed now more than ever -- to maintain social connections at this time of social distancing; to work for health equity; to assure financial help for those who are hardest hit economically; and to help people to manage the demands and the emotions of the ongoing pandemic. We will do our very best to deliver, as we always have, a top-notch MSW education that will position you to be a leader in the new future of social work practice.

You will choose your courses from a rich, updated curriculum. I am proud of the School's deep and genuine commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which will infuse your courses and your field placement. Another of the School's distinctive strengths is the talented and diverse student body. Your fellow students will be an important part of your learning experience. Our dedicated faculty and staff will go the extra mile to support students to realize success in their studies.

Congratulations on your acceptance to the School. I wish you a transformative educational experience at the U of M, and I look forward to meeting you, live online, at orientation.

With a hearty welcome, and Go Blue,

Joseph Himle
Interim Dean and Howard V. Brabson Collegiate Professor

CHECK YOUR UMICH EMAIL

Please be sure to check your UMich email frequently! All official School communication is sent to the UMich email account. If you have not yet set up your uniqname, please do so as soon as possible. Once you create a uniqname, then you will have a University of Michigan email account accessible at email.umich.edu. Your UMich email address will be your uniqname + @umich.edu.

LEARN ABOUT THE FIELD APPLICATION PROCESS

Your field placement (or 'field') is the hands-on, real-world training portion of the MSW program and is 25% of the curriculum. You will apply for your field placement the first day of the month six months before your first term of field.

You will be invited to an informational Field Webinar for online students during your first term in the program. More information to come!

ORIENTATION TOOLKIT & COMMUNICATIONS

An Orientation Toolkit for your Online MSW cohort will be available a few months prior to the start of your first term with valuable resources and tools for incoming Online MSW students. You are expected to review all information in the Toolkit to prepare you for your U-M SSW journey.

In the Toolkit, you will find a Communications Tile where you will find copies of communications sent out to incoming Online MSW. Be sure to check the Communications Tile.

Please read through the admitted student webpages for important information. Information will be updated as it is available, so be sure to periodically revisit the pages.

Course planning and registration information will be available at a later date and details will be emailed before registration begins. Course registration will occur online. More information to come!

VIRTUAL ORIENTATION WEEKEND

Detailed information will be sent two months prior to the start of your first term.

QUESTIONS? CONTACT US

SSW Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management
ssw.msw.info@umich.edu
(734) 936-0961

SSW Office of Field Education
ssw-fieldoffice@umich.edu
(734) 764-5331