Social Work at Michigan State University

Programme overview

The programme prepares students for entry-level social work practice and for graduate study, grounded in the liberal arts and social sciences and accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Faculty: College of Social Science | Department: School of Social Work | Study mode: full-time | Location: East Lansing, MI, United States

What you will study

Social work practice, social welfare policy, human behavior in the social environment, social research and a practicum.

Career pathways

Adoption program specialist, educational consultant, foster care case manager, substance abuse counselor, veterans case manager and youth advocate.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

MSU first-year applicants (all undergraduate majors): admission is competitive with no minimum requirements. Review considers high school performance, curriculum strength, class rank, and leadership and talents. Recommended coursework: 4 years English, 3 years mathematics (2 algebra, 1 geometry), 3 years social studies, 2 years science, 2 years of one foreign language. ACT/SAT are optional. International applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.5 for regular admission (6.0 provisional); Duolingo English Test 110 (95-105 provisional); TOEFL iBT 79 with no subscore below 17 for tests before 21 Jan 2026 (60-78 provisional). Apply by Nov. 1 for early action and maximum scholarship consideration.

Requirements published at program group level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Most first-year students enter in the fall semester. Admission to other semesters may be limited or not available at all.

Transfer applicants can apply for fall (August start), spring (January start) and summer (May start) semesters. International transfer students are not eligible for summer admission.

First-year early action deadline is Nov. 1 (non-binding), with an admission decision by Jan. 15 and the acceptance fee due by May 1. Regular admission has a Feb. 1 priority deadline (decision by Mar. 31) and a final application deadline of Apr. 1, with rolling decisions after Feb. 1. MSU is test optional: applicants may apply without an ACT or SAT score.

The first-year application fee is $75 (or an application fee waiver if eligible). First-year applicants can apply through the MSU application or the Coalition application with Scoir. The application for fall 2027 opens in August.

International first-year applicants have the same deadlines: early action Nov. 1, priority Feb. 1, final Apr. 1, acceptance fee by May 1.

Transfer application deadlines: fall April 1, spring open until capacity is reached, summer March 1. International transfer applicants for fall have a March 1 deadline and must pay the acceptance fee by April 1.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/first-year

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