Frequently Asked Questions – Full-Time MSW

Yes. The beautiful UW-Madison campus is architecturally and historically rich. Due to COVID-19, you can sign up for and in-person or virtual tour through Campus and Visitor Relations: https://info.wisc.edu/campus-tours/ To request more information about the Full-Time MSW Program, you can sign up for a Group Information Session.

No. It is not possible to transfer between the Full-Time and Part-Time MSW programs.

You can, however, reapply to the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work for acceptance into the other MSW program.

Part-Time MSW Program course sequencing means that applications from Part-Time MSW students seeking entry into the Full-Time MSW Program can only be considered if the applicant has completed the generalist foundation course sequence (years 1 & 2) and is ready to enter the Full-Time MSW Program at the start of the advanced practice year (year 3). Thus, Part-Time MSW students would apply to the Full-Time MSW Program in the fall of their second year.

Current students considering reapplying to the other MSW program in the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work are required to meet with their advisor as soon as possible.

Admissions for both the Full-Time MSW Program is highly competitive. To prepare a competitive application, carefully follow all of our application instructions.

Everyone interested in our MSW Program must apply to our program.  You must complete and submit a full application.  Once the Admissions Committee reviews and selects you for admission into our program, you will confirm your attendance, then the process of evaluating your past coursework begins by you submitting a course exemption form requesting a review for exemptions, based on prior coursework. Any generalist MSW coursework you completed with a grade of B or better will be considered by our faculty for equivalence to comparable generalist coursework in our program and may be permitted for transfer credits or exemption. Eligible coursework must have been completed at a CSWE-accredited MSW Program within the last five years.

Yes, applicants whose accredited BSW degree is older than five years can exempt and receive credit for some Generalist coursework by passing exemption exams.

For information about classroom course exemptions, go to the MSW Exemption Exams page.

If you meet the following criteria you are eligible to complete a portfolio field exemption exam to exempt from (but not receive credit for) Generalist field coursework:

1. You have post-BSW Social Work practice experience, the equivalent of two full-time years in the last five years;
2. You graduated from an accredited Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) school of social work more than five years from the academic year of graduation to the academic year of enrollment in the MSW Program; and,
3. Your field grade was a “B” or better or a “Pass” at a “B” or better level.

See the Field Handbook chapter titled “Policy for MSW Program Exemption from the Generalist Year of Field SW400 & SW401” for details.

Our accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), does not permit us to give academic credit for life or prior work experience.

No. The Social Work field course is an educationally directed experience not a work experience. It involves educational and professional social work learning experiences, as well as a level of autonomy beyond existing job descriptions and/or goals of an individual agency. Fieldwork, employment, or volunteer experience that was not obtained while attending an accredited Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) BSW program will not qualify you for an exemption from the Generalist Practice field placement and field seminar.

No. We do, however, offer a few social work courses online. Please visit the Course Search & Enroll app (https://enroll.wisc.edu/) to see which social work courses are currently being offered online.

Depending on the course, class size can range from 10 to 70.

The Full-Time Master of Social Work Program currently has approximately 200 students across two years of study. We accept about 100 new applicants each year.

Yes. To read more about the Madison Campus Office of Child Care & Family Resources, please go to their website, where you will also find information on a childcare financial assistance program.

Yes. UW-Madison has a Domestic Partnership Policy that specifies that domestic partners are entitled to access to benefits extended to spouses.

See the UW-Madison Graduate School’s Guide to Graduate Student Life.

No. It is not possible to transfer between the Full-Time and Part-Time MSW programs.

You can, however, reapply to the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work for acceptance into the other MSW program.

Current students considering reapplying to the other MSW program in the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work should see their advisor as soon as possible.

Part-Time MWS Program course sequencing means that applications from Part-Time MSW students seeking entry into the Full-Time MSW Program can only be considered if the applicant has completed the generalist foundation course sequence (years 1 & 2) and is ready to enter the Full-Time MSW Program at the start of the advanced practice year (year 3). Thus, Part-Time MSW students would apply in the fall of the second year to the Full-Time MSW Program.

Advanced Standing is granted to students who have obtained exemptions from the first year (Generalist Year) of the MSW Program. To qualify, an incoming student must have completed a BSW degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program within five years from the academic year of graduation to the academic year of enrollment in the MSW Program.

For more information, see Advanced Standing MSW.

We offer one specialization in Advanced Generalist Practice.

Within the Advanced Generalist Specialization students can focus their advanced studies in:

• Aging
• Child, Youth, and Family Welfare
• Health
• Mental Health

Students are not required to choose a focus area. Students are welcome to take courses in other focus areas as electives in the advanced year of the program. However, students should consult with their advisor when choosing courses, particularly if they wish to pursue a particular license or certification.

The School offers incoming MSW students SW 705, an online summer statistics course . To enroll, you must register as a UNRS special student, which gives incoming graduate students clearance to fulfill prerequisites that are required for their graduate program. You can access the application using this link: https://acsss.wisc.edu/apply/

Visit the Registrar’s Office page on Residence for Tuition Purposes for questions relating to residency, appealing nonresident status, and information on Minnesota reciprocity.

Students seeking financial assistance can visit the following websites:

• Office of Student Financial Aid
• Grants Information Collection
• UW-Madison Student Job Center
• School of Social Work Scholarships, Awards, and Fellowships

Costs are based on number of credits taken. Tuition rates, fees, and payment schedules can be found on the Bursar’s Office Tuition and Fees website.

Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid find out more about the cost of graduate school at UW-Madison. The Office of Student Financial Aid has prepared a sample budget for students from Wisconsin or Minnesota or from Out-of-State to cover the costs of attending graduate school at UW-Madison.

Yes. Students in our professional programs are charged a lab fee of $110.00 per semester enrolled in field. This fee is used to provide students with supplemental experiences and information designed to shape “the professional character and competence” of students and to help promote a culture “congruent with the values of the profession and the mission, goals and context of the program.” (2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, Implicit Curriculum, Council on Social Work Education)

Yes. To read more about the Madison Campus Office of Child Care & Family Resources, please go to their website: occfr.wisc.edu, where you will also find information on a childcare financial assistance program.

Yes. For information on health care visit University Health Services (UHS) and for health insurance visit Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).

Yes. UW-Madison has a Domestic Partnership Policy that specifies that domestic partners are entitled to access to benefits extended to spouses.

The University has limited on-campus housing available for graduate students. For more information, visit the University Housing’s website on University Apartments.

For more information on off-campus housing, the Campus Area Housing Listing Service maintains a searchable database for listings of private housing, including apartments, houses, rooms, efficiencies, co-ops, and roommates.

Madison is home to about 10 cooperative houses. For more information, visit the website of Madison Community Co-op.

Please refer to our resource on the Student Resources page regarding Reporting Issues.