Program Overview

Introduction to the Program

The Helen Bader School of Social Welfare (HBSSW) offers a program of graduate studies in social work, with the mission of promoting positive change through social work research, scholarship, education, and community partnerships. The Department of Social Work is committed to the values of the social work profession, including social justice and diversity, public service, and individual and community well-being.

Program Goals and Objectives

The goal of the MSW program is to prepare graduates with specialized knowledge and skills for advanced practice and leadership with diverse populations and communities. The program aims to educate students to become highly skilled, culturally competent, and ethical social workers, and to provide leadership for the practice of social justice.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the MSW program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Have an undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 or better
• Have completed at least 21 semester credits in the social and behavioral sciences
• Submit a personal statement indicating their reasons for seeking a doctoral degree in social welfare, their goals as future scholars, and a topic or issue in the field that they consider to be particularly challenging and worthy of study
• Provide a current copy of a professional résumé or curriculum vitae
• Submit three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's achievements and academic potential
• Submit a sample of written work that demonstrates the applicant's knowledge of social science theory, practice, and research, ability to think analytically, and writing skills

Application Deadlines and Process

Application deadlines vary by program, and all applications must be completed and submitted on or before January 2. Students who apply and are accepted to the joint MSW/PhD program will be able to earn both the Master of Social Work and Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare.

Program Structure and Curriculum

The MSW curriculum is designed to prepare students for advanced-level professional Social Work practice, and builds upon a solid base of coursework in human behavior, practice methods, research, and policy. The program includes:

Professional Foundation

• The purpose of the Professional Foundation curriculum is to orient students to the profession of social work and to provide a knowledge, values and skills base in preparation for the Advanced Curriculum
• Coursework in the Professional Foundation is not included in the 34 Advanced Curriculum credits required for completion of the MSW degree
• Students who complete both the foundation and advanced curricula will fulfill all requirements for the MSW degree in two years (approximately six semesters), including two semesters of summer study

MSW-Level Advanced Curriculum

• Once students complete the Professional Foundation, they move into the Advanced Curriculum portion of the MSW degree program
• The MSW Advanced Curriculum credits will be distributed as follows:
  • Required courses
  • Elective courses
• Students who qualify to begin in the advanced curriculum will complete all MSW requirements in the first year (three semesters), including one semester of summer study

PhD Requirements

A minimum of 42 credits of PhD-level coursework is required, and the PhD program requires all 42 credits to be completed within the program at UWM. The program includes:

• One required foundation course in the philosophy of science
• Three specialization seminars that address broader themes on child and family welfare, health and behavioral health, and criminal justice practice and policy
• Six courses on research methods and statistics to advance their understanding in quantitative and qualitative research methods, design, and applied analysis
• Three pro-seminar courses that cover content relevant to ethics, grant writing, and teaching
• Two practicum credits to expand students' skills in teaching and research
• Two elective courses in areas that strengthen students' knowledge in their substantive areas of interest

Additional Requirements

• Preliminary Examination: All students must pass a preliminary examination subsequent to successfully completing all required coursework and prior to being admitted to doctoral candidacy
• Dissertation Proposal Defense: All students must successfully complete an oral defense of their dissertation proposal to determine their preparation for independent research
• Dissertation: Students who have passed the Preliminary Examination and have submitted a one-page preliminary dissertation proposal are formally admitted to doctoral candidacy
• Residence: Students must meet minimum Graduate School residency requirements
• Time Limit: It is expected that most students will complete all degree requirements within seven years of initial enrollment in the joint MSW/PhD program. All requirements MUST be completed within ten years from the date of initial enrollment.