Earn Your Master of Social Work From UM
The University of Montana's Master of Social Work prepares students for advanced social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
UM offers three pathways to the MSW degree: an In-Person MSW, a fully Online Asynchronous MSW, and a 12-month Advanced Standing MSW for qualifying BSW and BSSW graduates. Across our programs, students connect classroom learning with professional practice while developing the knowledge and skills to respond to complex social issues at multiple levels.
One MSW. Many Career Possibilities.
Interested in clinical practice, policy, research, or leadership? You don't have to limit yourself to just one area of social work.
The University of Montana's Master of Social Work uses an Advanced Generalist approach, preparing students to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Rather than separating students into narrowly defined tracks, the curriculum brings together clinical practice, policy, research, community practice, and leadership so students can understand and respond to complex social issues at multiple levels.
Whether you want to become a clinical social worker, advocate for policy change, lead a community organization, pursue research, or combine several areas of practice, you can shape your MSW experience through coursework, electives, and practicum opportunities that reflect your interests and career goals.
Advanced Generalist Practice at UM
UM's Advanced Generalist approach reflects an integrated view of social work practice, recognizing that individual and family needs are often connected to broader organizational, community, and policy conditions.
Students learn to bridge direct practice with individuals, families, and groups with community practice, research, policy analysis, advocacy, and organizational leadership. The curriculum is grounded in social work values, critical thinking, social and economic justice, and an understanding of the historical, political, and cultural contexts that shape practice.
Shape Your MSW Around Your Goals
Students can build additional depth in their areas of interest throughout the MSW experience:
- Core Curriculum: Develop direct and clinical practice skills while also learning policy, research, community practice, and leadership.
- Electives: Build additional depth through electives in areas such as differential diagnosis, trauma-focused psychotherapy, couples and family therapy, addictions, motivational interviewing, and expressive arts therapy.
- Practicum: Apply and expand your skills in settings aligned with your learning goals, including settings that may not traditionally be labeled "clinical."
Elective offerings and practicum opportunities vary by semester, location, program requirements, and availability.
Interested in Clinical Social Work?
UM's Advanced Generalist MSW includes clinical and direct-practice education in the core curriculum. Students develop skills related to engagement, assessment, intervention, work with individuals and families, and other areas of professional social work practice.
Students interested in clinical practice can further develop their knowledge and skills through clinical-focused electives, simulated practice experiences, and practicum opportunities that support their professional goals.
Clinical learning is defined by what you do, not only by where you practice.
UM MSW Learning Agreements show students planning clinical/direct-practice learning across behavioral and mental health, healthcare, schools, child and family services, justice and victim services, and substance use and recovery settings. Activities include assessment, intervention planning, relationship building, group facilitation, advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, crisis response, documentation, and resource navigation.
What Can Clinical/ Direct-Practice Learning Look Like?
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Students may develop skills in biopsychosocial assessment, treatment and intervention planning, diagnosis-related learning, motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, and other approaches appropriate to their placement and role.
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Learning activities may include active and reflective listening, rapport and relationship building, individual and family engagement, supportive counseling, and group facilitation.
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Students may work with interdisciplinary teams, advocate for clients, connect individuals and families with community resources, coordinate services, and help people navigate complex systems.
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Depending on the placement, students may develop experience with crisis intervention, risk assessment and response, culturally responsive support, referrals, documentation, and related direct-practice activities.
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Clinical/ direct-practice learning can take different forms depending on the setting, student role, and learning goals. Examples identified in MSW Learning Agreements include providing individual counseling in a K–12 setting, co-facilitating support and education groups in community settings, and providing crisis intervention, support, and resource referrals in justice or victim-services settings.
Clinical Licensure
An MSW with a designated clinical track is not a universal requirement for pursuing clinical social work licensure. Graduating from a CSWE-accredited MSW program is an important educational step toward clinical licensure, but earning the degree does not automatically grant a license.
Licensing requirements are established by individual states and jurisdictions and may include specific educational requirements, supervised post-graduate experience, examinations, and other conditions. Students interested in clinical licensure should review the requirements of the jurisdiction where they intend to practice.
Review and compare social work licensing requirements by jurisdiction through ASWB.
Questions About Clinical Practice and Licensure
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Not necessarily. A designated clinical track is not a universal requirement for clinical social work licensure. Requirements vary by state and jurisdiction and may include specific coursework, supervised post-graduate experience, examinations, and other conditions. Students should review the requirements in the state where they intend to practice.
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Yes. UM's Advanced Generalist curriculum includes direct and clinical practice alongside policy, research, community practice, and leadership. Students can further develop clinical knowledge and skills through elective coursework, simulated practice experiences, and practicum opportunities.
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You don't have to choose only one. Individual and family needs are often connected to organizational practices, community conditions, and public policy. An Advanced Generalist education prepares students to understand those connections and work across different levels of practice.
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Yes. Students can deepen their learning through coursework, elective choices, and practicum experiences. Specific electives and practicum opportunities depend on program requirements, availability, location, and placement capacity.
Choose Your MSW Program
UM offers three pathways to the MSW degree. Each option differs in format, pace, eligibility, and practicum schedule.
In-Person MSW
- 60 credits completed over two years full-time or three years part-time
- Courses are completed in person on the University of Montana campus
- 450 practicum hours during each practicum year, approximately 15 hours per week
- Part-time students begin practicum in the fall of their second year
Eligibility: Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 may still apply but must submit a brief statement addressing their GPA and the strategies they will use to maintain a 3.0 or higher in graduate school.
Online Asynchronous MSW
- 60 credits completed part-time over three academic years
- All courses are completed online and asynchronously
- Practicum begins in year two
- 450 practicum hours during each practicum year, approximately 15 hours per week
- Many students maintain employment while completing the program
Eligibility: Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 may still apply but must submit a brief statement addressing their GPA and the strategies they will use to maintain a 3.0 or higher in graduate school.
Explore the Online Asynchronous MSW
Advanced Standing MSW
- 37 credits completed over 12 months of full-time study
- 9 credits during the summer bridge, followed by 14 credits each semester in the fall and spring
- 600 practicum hours completed across the fall and spring semesters, averaging approximately 20 hours per week
Eligibility: Applicants must have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) from a CSWE-accredited program and a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 for all undergraduate work, based on a 4.0 scale.
Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 may still apply but must submit a brief statement addressing their GPA and the strategies they will use to maintain a 3.0 or higher in graduate school.
Applicants whose BSW or BSSW was earned more than seven years ago may still apply and should clearly describe relevant social work experience and continuing education or training on their resume.
Explore the Advanced Standing MSW
Field Education and Practicum
Field education is an integral part of every UM MSW pathway. Students complete supervised practicum experiences that connect classroom learning with professional social work practice. Practicum schedules and required hours vary by program option.
Explore Field Education & Practicum.
Important Planning Information
- Tuition and fees vary by MSW program option. Review Graduate School tuition and fees and the School of Social Work fees for current cost information.
- Students may also be eligible for School of Social Work scholarships, University scholarships, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance. Explore School of Social Work scholarships and funding.
- Tuition waivers may be available to students in the In-Person and Advanced Standing MSW programs.
- Dual degree programs may be available to students in the In-Person and Advanced Standing MSW programs. Students considering a dual degree should contact Social Work staff or faculty early for planning.
- Students in the Online Asynchronous MSW may not take electives outside of the Online MSW program.
Master of Social Work Alumni
Stephanie Shaw, Online MSW Graduate, 2025
Stephanie currently provides mental health services and is working toward licensure at Family Health and Wellness in Libby, Montana.
"This program has taught me that we don’t have all the answers. We just need the courage to ask hard questions the humility to listen and the compassion to stand beside others as they write their own stories."
Ready to Apply?
Review the application instructions for program-specific requirements and deadlines, then submit your application or request more information.