Master of Social Work (MSW) at University of Iowa

Programme overview

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program prepares social workers for advanced social work practice and leadership in a wide range of settings. All students develop skills to work with individuals, families, and communities and to advocate for social change. Students select one of two specializations, clinical practice and leadership practice.

Faculty: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | Department: Social Work | Duration: three years, 36 s.h. required | Location: Iowa City, IA, United States

What you will study

The Master of Social Work requires 36 s.h. for advanced standing students—those who hold an undergraduate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)—or 54 s.h. for students who earned a bachelor's degree in a major other than a CSWE-accredited social work program.

Career pathways

Professional social workers are found in every facet of community life—in schools, health settings (such as hospitals, hospice, skilled care facilities, substance abuse treatment, mental health clinics), senior centers, elected office, private practices, prisons, military, corporations, and in numerous public and private agencies that serve individuals and families in need.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to the 54 s.h. program requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited American college or university, or an equivalent degree from another country as determined by Admissions with a reasonable distribution of courses in the liberal arts and sciences (the humanities and the social, behavioral, and biological sciences). Admission to the 36 s.h. program requires a bachelor's degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited college or university. All applicants must have an undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher, or a GPA of 3.00 or higher on 12 s.h. of letter-graded graduate coursework; consult Admissions for assistance in calculating GPA. Competence in personal computers and spreadsheet applications is required.

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.

Graduate and professional admission requirements, costs and deadlines are set by each degree programme; applicants apply through the Admissions Profile application and may apply to only one programme unless applying to a combined degree programme.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.uiowa.edu/

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