western michigan university school of social work continuing education

School of Social Work

Master of social work, concentrations, specializations.

You are invited to learn more about the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at Western Michigan University by attending a virtual information session , or scheduling an individual session with our Manager of Recruitment and Outreach.

 RSVP for an INFO SESSION   Start Your Application     More information

The WMU School of Social Work offers the MSW program in Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.  Note: While a number of courses are currently offered online due to COVID-19 safety concerns, WMU School of Social Work does not offer an entirely online degree program at this time.

Locations and Pathways

Field education.

Field education is a significant, impactful and engaging part of social work education. You will practice the knowledge, skills and values of the social work program and learn to be a professional social worker in practice.

This intensive focus on field education is unique in social work education, and is what makes it our signature pedagogy. Note that most internships require daytime availability.

Learn more about fieldwork

There are several pathways to your MSW degree.  Learn more here .

All program options are now available at all three locations.

Admissions requirements are the same for both the full-time and extended study advanced standing programs. When you apply, you will select a program and location. Our programs operate in cohorts, which means you will traverse your program with the same group, which builds a sense of friendship and community. However, it also means that changing programs or locations can only be considered if space becomes available in another cohort. Requests to change program or location cannot be guaranteed.

Learn more about our program options below:

• Standard MSW
• Advanced standing

Standard Master of Social Work (60 Credits)

The graduate professional program in social work at WMU prepares you for direct-service and leadership positions in the field of social welfare. It begins with a 24-hour foundation curriculum, including classes on human behavior, social policy, culture/ethnicity, research and social work practice and introduces different approaches to problem solving. This foundation will prepare you to choose between two concentrations:  clinical practice  or  policy, planning and administration .

Field education  provides opportunities for practical experience under supervision by a seasoned social work professional in a human service setting. In this program, you will complete a 400-hour internship over two semesters, followed by a 500-hour concentration internship over two more semesters.

The School of Social Work admits students once a year, with classes starting each fall. There are two different ways to schedule your program - either full-time (2 years, 12-15 credits per semester) or part-time/extended study (3 years, 6 credits per semester year-round).

Advanced Standing Master of Social Work (39 Credits)

If you received a BSW degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited school within the last six years, with a minimum GPA of 3.25 (using the most recent 60 credits) and have only one social work course grade below a B, you are eligible to apply for the advanced standing program. This 39-credit program builds on the BSW foundation courses, allowing you to complete your MSW faster than students without a BSW.

In this program, you will complete one 500-hour internship over two semesters. 

The School of Social Work admits for this program once a year, with classes starting each summer 2 session (July). There are two different ways to schedule the program - either full-time (10 months, 12-15 credits per semester) or part-time (2 years, 6 credit per semester).

Policy, planning and administration

This concentration prepares you for leadership in government, nonprofit and community organizations and empowers you to facilitate changes in the structures and processes of organizations, communities and society to contribute to:

• a just distribution of resources and opportunities.
• the ability of officials and the citizenry to understand and respond appropriately to the human condition.
• the provision of opportunities and resources to troubled or disadvantaged people to help them cope with personal and social barriers to the betterment of their condition.

Clinical social work

This concentration prepares you for advanced clinical practice with individuals, families and groups within diverse community contexts. Clinical practice emphasizes transactions between people and environments, preparing you to develop practice knowledge and skill in

• the promotion and enhancement of psychological, social, and biological well-being.
• the amelioration of psychological, social, and biological dysfunction.
• the integration of theory, practice and research knowledge.

Built into your MSW program are nine elective credit hours. You may select any graduate-level courses relevant to your degree, or you can work toward a specialization. Most specializations are only nine credit hours and do not extend the time to graduation. 

Clinical practice students may choose any specialization. PP&A students may only choose holistic health specializations because internships required for the other specializations would likely interfere with their programs. Click below to learn more.

School of Social Work specializations

• Trauma Specialization
• Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
• School Social Work

College of Health and Human Services collaborative specializations

• Special Programs in Alcohol and Drug Abuse (SPADA)
• Holistic Health

Requirements:

Nine credit hours of approved trauma courses

• SWRK 6500, and SWRK 6379
• five additional credits of trauma-approved courses
• Courses apply to MSW elective credits

MSW Clinical Concentration Field Placement (500 hours)

• Students complete their placement with a TALS approved organization
• Placement must use a trauma-focused approach
• Placement supervised by a trauma-trained clinician
• Many placements available

Five credit hours of approved trauma courses

• SWRK 6500, 6378, 6379
• Placement supervised by a TF-CBT-trained clinician
• Students may simultaneously earn TALS by taking four additional trauma-approved courses

What is school social work?

School social work is a specialized field of practice where social workers provide support to children to help them achieve their goals. Social workers assess for learning barriers and equip the child and their family to advocate for support. With specific training in systems theory, special education law, and school law, school social workers help schools to draw connections between human development, education, justice, mental health and families.

State approval for school social workers

Western Michigan’s MSW program fulfills the educational component of the state requirements for approval as a school social worker. Detailed Michigan Department of Education requirements can be found at michigan.gov . Note:  If you seek approval in another state, please contact that state’s licensing board.

Complete state eligibility requirements

• Completed MSW degree
• At least one interpersonal practice course (grade "B" or better)
• Completion of school social work courses SWRK 6200, SWRK 6210, SWRK 6220 (grade "B" or better)
• 500 hours at a qualifying internship with children (school setting preferred) 

Temporary Approval as a School Social Worker

• Send the Recommendation for Temporary Approval as a School Social Worker form (REC:SSW 310) to WMU School Social Work Coordinator
• WMU will grant REC:SSW 310 if all requirements have been met (valid for 5 years)
• Obtain a job as a school social worker (SSW). This employer will complete the REC:SSW 310 form
• MDE will grant temporary approval as a SSW

Approval as a School Social Worker

• Complete one full year of employment in a school setting under the supervision of a fully approved school social worker
• If you meet the requirements, your employer will apply for full approval status
• The Michigan Department of Education will issue full approval
• Maintain your approval status by remaining employed as a school social worker

Course Offerings

• Summer I: SWRK 6200 (hybrid) - 1 section
• Summer II: SWRK 6200 (hybrid) - 1 section
• Fall: SWRK 6210 (hybrid) - 1 to 3 sections
• Spring: SWRK 6220 (hybrid) - 1 to 3 sections

Note: Courses should be taken in the order offered. Students should contact their academic adviser or program coordinator if they need to request an exception. 

Approval Renewal

If you do not secure and maintain employment as a school social worker, refer to the information below for renewal options.

• 0-5 years since school work employment: No refresher needed. Use original 310 University Recommendation form to apply for employment and temporary approval.
• 6-9 years since school work employment: Complete a refresher course. WMU does not currently offer refresher courses. Submit verification of coursework and field placement completion or work experience verification to WMU. WMU will issue a new 310 University Recommendation form.
• 10+ years since school work employment: Repeat all coursework and field placement or work experience verification, completing all steps in the approval process.

WMU Alumni seeking school social work training

WMU currently offers the school social work training as continuing education courses. You must have completed at least 500 hours in an approved school social work setting or worked with children under the supervision of a licensed social worker within the past five years to take the courses. After completing the courses, you can continue with the steps indicated in the chart to be approved as a school social worker. Please visit our CE page for more information - wmich.edu/hhs/ce .

• Phone: 269-387-3180
• Email: swrk_admi@wmich.edu  

Interested in learning more about graduate trauma programs?   Contact Dr. Karen VanDeusen at karen.vandeusen@wmich.edu .

The courses below are approved and satisfy requirements for the trauma specializations in the MSW program. These courses are available to all MSW students.

• SWRK 6350 - Core components and Skills for trauma-Informed Practice (3 credits)
• SWRK 6351 - Secondary Traumatic Stress and Self-Care in Trauma- Focused Practice (1 credit)
• SWRK 6352 - Trauma and Neurodevelopment / Trauma and Neurodevelopment (1 credit)
• SWRK 6353 - Integrating Mindfulness with Treatment for Trauma / Mindfulness (1 credit)
• SWRK 6354 - Integrating Body-based Interventions with Treatment for Trauma (1 credit)
• SWRK 6355 - Intimate Partner Violence: Assessment and Intervention (1 credit)
• SWRK 6356 - Assessment and Treatment for Adult Survivors of Sexual Trauma (1 credit)
• SWRK 6357 - Trauma and Military Social Work (1 credit)
• SWRK 6358 - Risk Assessment and Treatment Planning for Adolescents with Sexually Abusive Behaviors (1 credit)
• SWRK 6359 - Strengthening Trauma-Informed Organizations
• SWRK 6361 - Intergenerational Trauma: Assessment and Intervention in Indigenous Communities (1 credit)
• SWRK 6362 - Play Strategies for Trauma Practice with Children and Adolescents (1 credit)
• SWRK 6363 - Black Adolescents and Trauma (1 credit)
• SWRK 6364 - Trauma and Refugee Populations (1 credit)
• SWRK 6365 - (pending) Trauma and Sexual and Gender Minorities (1 credit)
• SWRK 6366 - (pending) Human Trafficking and Trauma Practice (1 credit)
• SWRK 6378 - Integrative Seminar in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (1 credit - available only for TF-CBT students)
• SWRK 6379 - Integrative Seminar in Trauma Studies (1 credit - available only for TF-CBT and TALS students)
• SWRK 6500 - Core Concepts of Child and Adolescent Trauma (3 credits)

Mission, vision and goals

The   mission   of the masters program is: we value scientific inquiry, service, integrity, ethics, competence and the power of justice to educate and co-create a diverse, equitable, and accessible Program focused on human rights and enhanced quality of life for persons and communities, locally and globally.  

Our   vision   is a learner-centered school that develops social work leaders to impact social, economic, environmental, and racial justice through excellence in research and practice.

The   goals   of the masters program are to:

• provide  a professional education that prepares advanced practitioners to enhance, advocate, and support social, economic, and environmental justice and personal well-being for all people.
• prepare advanced practitioners who  demonstrate  the knowledge, skills, values, cognitive and affective processes necessary to work effectively with diverse, vulnerable, and marginalized populations. 
• prepare advanced practitioners who  possess the needed  knowledge, embrace social work values, and have the requisite skills needed to formulate and realize a vision of a just society. 
• prepare ethical, reflective, and competent advanced practitioners in Clinical Social Work to work with individuals, families, and groups; and in Policy, Planning, and Administration to work with organizations, communities, and institutions within a global and changing environment
• prepare advanced practitioners to effectively engage, assess, and intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and institutions by  utilizing  evidence-based knowledge and theories and guided by trauma informed, culturally responsive, and anti-racist models of practice.
• prepare advanced practitioners with the knowledge, skills, values, cognitive and affective processes necessary to engage in practice informed research and research informed practice, and the ability to evaluate social work practice at micro, mezzo, and macro system levels. 
• prepare advanced practitioners who are grounded in a cultural-bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework, understand the historical roots of the social work profession, and can analyze, develop, and  utilize social policy to advance justice  policy to advance justice.     

Grand Valley State University

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Program Information

2023-2024 SCHEDULED PROGRAMS

SELF-PACED PROGRAMS

Grand Valley State University works hard to bring our social workers the continuing education clock hours that are required by the state of Michigan. Our goal is to offer quality courses that are meaningful and applicable to professional social workers. We also provide small, personal, and intellectual environments to optimize your learning experience.

The below programs have been approved for Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Clock Hours through the School of Social Work at Grand Valley State University.  Payment is due upon registering for the course.  Participants must attend/view the entire program to receive continuing education hours.  No partial credit can be awarded.

Click on the title of each course below for additional information and registration. 

2024-2025 Synchronous (live) SWCE Programs 

Register now.

STAY TUNED! Come back late September to register for these workshops.

Self-Paced Programs

This section includes fully asynchronous, on-demand courses that participants can complete at their own pace.   Upon registration and payment for the asynchronous course(s), a confirmation will be emailed to the participant with instructions on how to log into Blackboard, our online course system.  If you have any issues accessing your course, please call our office at 616-331-7180 or email [email protected] .  You must receive a passing score of 80% or better on the post-test to receive credit for the course.  Upon successful completion of the course(s), your Michigan Social Work Continuing Education certificate will be made available to download within Blackboard, our online course system.  Please download and save/print this upon finishing the course .  If you've finished a course and no longer have access to the certificate, please email us for a replacement copy: [email protected] .

Past Programs

5/10 - Seeing Systems Through a Native American Lens - View Flyer

4/26  - Chronic Disorganization Challenges and Strategies   - View Flyer

4/19  -  Healing What is Unseen: Implicit Bias   - View Flyer

3/22  - Ethical Decision Making in Administration and Supervision - View Flyer

3/15 - Topics in Social Work Ethics: Technology, Teammates, and Treatmen t - View Flyer

3/13 - STOP, LOOK, & LISTEN... knowing (and re-knowing) Yourself - View Flyer

3/8 - Implicit Bias for Social Workers - View Flyer

3/4 - Macro Monday - Meeting Magic: Empowering Facilitators for Effective Results - View Flyer

2/28 - Nature Play from a Mental Health Lens - View Flyer

2/16 - Topics in Social Work Ethics: Self-Care, Supervision, and Self-Determination - View Flyer

2/12 - Macro Monday - Thriving Through Change - View Flyer

2/2 - Holistic Approaches to Pain Management and Self Care - View Flyer

1/31 - Implicit Bias for Social Workers - View Flyer

1/29 - Macro Monday - Supervisor Workshop: Clear and Constructive Feedback - View Flyer

1/26 - ADHD 2.0, Special Topics in ADHD - View Flyer

1/19 - The Intersection of Human Trafficking and the Drug Culture - View Flyer

1/12 - Integrating Yoga into Trauma Treatment - View Flyer

12/8 - The Intersection between Mental Health and Legal Status - View Flyer

12/4 - Macro Monday - Grants Management - View Flyer

12/1 - Implicit Bias for Social Workers - View Flyer

11/17 - A Closer Look at Problematic Sexual Behaviors - View Flyer

11/15 - Implicit Bias for Social Workers - View Flyer

11/10 - Professional Ethics for the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Professional - View Flyer

11/6 - Macro Monday - Supervision: Braving Antiracist Discourse - View Flyer

11/3 - Growing Attachment Through a Play-Based Lens - View Flyer

10/27 - What if We Could Talk About Anything: Hope for Meaningful Conversation in a Divided World - View Flyer

10/17 - 2023 Ara Cary Lecture Series: How Relational Neuroscience Reframes Children's Mental Health - View Flyer

10/16 - Macro Monday - Creating a Culture of Inclusive Leadership - View Flyer

10/13 - Harnessing Nature's Power: Ecotherapy for Mental Wellness and Healing - View Flyer

10/6 - "I'm a Social Worker and Having Suicidal Ideation"; Thoughts From an Ethical Perspective - View Flyer

9/29 - Understanding the Basics of Cognitive Processing Therapy - View Flyer

9/15 - Current Trends in Adolescent Substance Use, Treatment, and Risk Mitigation - View Flyer

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Social Work Continuing Education 301 Fulton Street West, 718 Eberhard Center Grand Rapids , Michigan 49504

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Continuing education programs offered by the School of Social Work are approved to provide continuing education through the Association of Social Work Board's Approved Continuing Education (ASWB ACE) program, which is accepted in these jurisdictions in the United States and Canada . For more information about our CE approval, please visit the CE policies page .

Please direct any questions about continuing education to [email protected] .

Special Continuing Education Discounts for U-M SSW Alumni

To apply alumni discounts to continuing education courses, please identify your affiliation as "U-M SSW Alumni" at registration. Alums who are also current faculty, staff, or field instructors should use those affiliations instead.

Exam Preparation Course

Alumni receive a $50 discount on the exam prep course. To request to receive information about specific course topics, please join the continuing education mailing list .

School of Social Work Development and Alumni Relations

1080 South University Room 2807 Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106

[email protected] (734) 763-6886

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• Phone 1 (734) 764-3309 Fax 1 (734) 936-1961
• Email MSW [email protected] CE [email protected] PhD [email protected]

University of Michigan School of Social Work 1080 South University Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106

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