Advanced Standing Program
34 semester credits, minimum
Advanced Standing is available to students who have completed an undergraduate degree in social work at a program that was accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) at the time the degree was awarded. To be eligible for advanced standing, students must begin their graduate program within seven years of completing their undergraduate degree. Individuals accepted for advanced standing may be required to take credits beyond the 34-credit minimum in the following circumstances:
- If the undergraduate social work degree was earned more than seven years before beginning graduate study;
- If the student earned a grade of less than B (3.0) for a foundation-level class taken as an undergraduate
OR - If the undergraduate program did not contain foundation curriculum content required in the University of Minnesota's program.
The M.S.W. program director determines additional requirements beyond the 34-credit minimum at the time the student is admitted to the program.
Advanced-Standing Options
Advanced Standing, Full-Time Study
- Students take a minimum of 12 credits.
- Students complete one field placement of 500 hours.
- The field placement can be completed over an academic year while the student is enrolled in required concentration courses or in a 12-week summer block placement (40 hours each week) after concentration requirements have been completed.
- Studying full time, students with advanced standing can complete their degree requirements in a 12-month calendar year.
- Students in this option may choose a concentration in Clinical Mental Health, Community Practice, Families and Children or Health, Disabilities and Aging.
- MSW courses are scheduled Tuesday afternoons and evenings (noon - 8 p.m.), Wednesday mornings and afternoons (8 a.m. - 6 p.m.), Friday evenings (4 - 8 p.m.), and Saturdays (8 a.m. - 6 p.m.). Course scheduling varies by concentration. Community Practice: Organizing, Advocacy and Leadership and Health, Disability and Aging concentrations will generally be scheduled during weekday and evening hours. The Families and Children concentration and the Clinical Mental Health concentration will be scheduled during weekday, evening and weekend hours.
- Students choosing a concentration in Clinical Mental Health who want to complete their degree requirements in a 12 month calendar year must begin study in the summer term.
Advanced Standing, Part-Time Study
- Students take at least two classes each semester or one class plus field.
- Students complete one field placement of 500 hours.
- The field placement can be completed over an academic year while the student is enrolled in required concentration courses or in a 12-week summer block placement (40 hours each week) after concentration requirements have been completed.
- Studying part time, students can complete the M.S.W. program in two to three years.
- Students in this option may choose a concentration in Clinical Mental Health, Community Practice, Families and Children or Health, Disabilities and Aging.
- MSW courses are scheduled Tuesday afternoons and evenings (noon - 8 p.m.), Wednesday mornings and afternoons (8 a.m. - 6 p.m.), Friday evenings (4 - 8 p.m.), and Saturdays (8 a.m. - 6 p.m.). Course scheduling varies by concentration. Community Practice: Organizing, Advocacy and Leadership and Health, Disability and Aging concentrations will generally be scheduled during weekday and evening hours. The Families and Children concentration and the Clinical Mental Health concentration will be scheduled during weekday, evening and weekend hours.