MSW Program

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Advocate for others. Pursue your passion.

Our Master of Social Work degree program is designed to build the next generation of social workers.

Social work buttons and pins on a black table — Grace Abbott School of Social Work Master of Social Work (MSW) Program

Our Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program is built around an advanced generalist curriculum that is well-rounded and prepares students for effective practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Required courses for the degree balance clinical, community, and policy practice content, while electives offer students opportunities to advance their knowledge and skills in particular areas of interest. Our MSW degree is recognized for licensure for independent social work practice in the United States. Our MSW program is flexible! Classes are offered in-person, remotely, and totally online so that students can structure their schedule however they prefer.

Students may enter the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at either the generalist (63 credit hours), or the advanced generalist (39 credit hours) level. The generalist level is designed for students whose undergraduate degree is not in social work. Advanced generalist MSW students demonstrate advanced practice skills in mental health therapy on the individual and group levels, diagnosis of mental health disorders, community practice, policy, research and program evaluation, and supervisory and leadership skills in social service settings. Students recognize the value of multidisciplinary work to meet client needs, engage in policy practice, and evaluate and enhance agency programs. The advanced generalist program promotes critical thinking and conscientious application of advanced social work knowledge, skills, values, and ethics. The advanced generalist program calls for enhanced skills in critical thinking that allow for the analysis of complex problems and application of empirically supported interventions through anti-racist and anti-oppressive lenses.

To apply, you will need to submit:

Undergraduate transcript(s)

A personal statement on your career plans and program

Three (3) letters of recommendation

Application fee

Application Deadline: July 1, 2026

Apply to the MSW program today

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Every student’s path during Graduate School is unique! Our program is flexible in adjusting your plan of study to best fit your needs. Depending on support, time commitments, practicum placement, and resources, most students earn their MSW in 2-5 years. Part-time in Graduate School is six (6) credit hours per semester, and nine (9) credit hours per semester is considered full-time. How long your education will take depends on whether you enter the MSW program as a Foundation or Advanced Standing student.

The MSW Foundation Program is a 63-credit hour program available to applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of Social Work. If you have an undergraduate degree in another social science like Psychology, Human Services, Youth and Family Studies, etc., you will need to enter the MSW Foundation Program. Additionally, if you have a master’s degree from another social science like Psychology, Human Services, Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy, you will still need to enter the MSW Foundation Program. Some credits from these particular master’s degrees may transfer into the MSW program (electives and research) but our accreditation body, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), requires that the majority of the MSW coursework come from a CSWE-accredited MSW program. Finally, we do not accept work experience for credit.

The MSW Advanced Standing Program is a 39-credit hour program available to applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited school of Social Work.

The majority of courses meet once a week for 2 hours and 40 minutes. Each course fulfills three (3) credit hours. Some courses are offered in the evening. If you are taking online courses, the classes are asynchronous, meaning you do not have to meet in real-time with a class or teacher. If you are taking remote courses, you will meet once a week, in real-time, but from a remote platform like Zoom.

Yes! The dual degree programs offer interdisciplinary preparation in two fields, requiring fewer credit hours than it would take to obtain each degree independently. Please note: You must apply and be accepted to each dual degree program separately. It is rather common and for some students to apply to one program, get started, and then begin the other. Our dual degree advisors can assist you in this process. Below are our current dual degree options:

For students seeking a dual degree focused on agency and program planning, policy, administration and evaluation, we offer a Master of Public Administration and Master of Social Work (MPA/MSW). For those with an interest in criminal justice, we offer a Master of Social Work and Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice dual degree (MSW/MSCRCJ [catalog.unomaha.edu]). The Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health (MSW/MPH) dual degree program is a collaborative effort between the Grace Abbott School of Social Work and the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health. Foundation dual degree programs are 81 credit hours total. Advanced standing dual degree programs are 57 credit hours total.

Currently, tuition rates for online graduate courses (in-state) are currently $375/credit hour. Tuition rate for on-campus graduate courses (in-state) is currently $341/credit hour. Out-of-state tuition costs are typically double. For more information about tuition and costs, please visit the UNO website.

We do offer scholarships to students once they are accepted into the program. We also have two Graduate Assistant (GA) positions available in the School of Social Work but those open only periodically, so we encourage students to apply to any GA position on campus, as you do not need to be a social work GA to get funding. Attaining a GA position covers your tuition and offers a small stipend. You can find a listing of open GA positions on the Human Resources page through the general UNO website. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions or concerns.

Do you have more questions that were not answered here? Please contact our program.

Advocate for others. Pursue your passion.

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