The Winona State University Master of Social Work Program (located within a regional public university that is committed to community engagement and service) has a diverse, distinctive, and caring faculty who collaborate with eminent community partners to prepare trauma-informed clinical social workers with a distinctive synthesis of knowledge, skills, practice wisdom, and immersive experiences to: 

• promote client empowerment and social justice through applying an honoring, strengths-based orientation to increasingly diverse, disparate, and ever-evolving individuals and communities; 
• integrate with, expand, and enhance existing communities of practice; and 
• develop, utilize, and assess innovative and research-informed practices. 

1. Produce trauma-informed clinical social workers who are effective, self-reflective, and ethical
2. Be an agent of social justice and social change, particularly with diverse and vulnerable populations
3. Offer an integrated curriculum that incorporates our practice communities' expertise, with a curriculum that models the interrelationship between knowledge, research, and practice wisdom
4. Provide a center of social work innovation and excellence that promotes evidence-informed practice, practice-informed research, and life-long learning
5. Maintain a faculty of distinction who are diverse in demographics, teaching and practice experiences, research interests, and theoretical perspectives
6. Promote a nurturing academic environment where strengths are honored to support the learning and professional growth of students

View the MSW Program Outcomes Assessment (PDF).

The WSU MSW Program is accepting applicants to begin the program in 2021.

All applicants should have an overall GPA ≥ 3.0 in their undergraduate education that resulted (or will result) in a bachelor’s degree. (Applicants with a lower GPA may be admitted on a provisional basis.)

Persons applying for “Advanced Standing” status must have a Bachelor’s degree with a Social Work major from a CSWE-accredited program earned in 2013 or later, and their GPA from Social Work courses must be 3.4 or greater. (Applicants who earned their social work degree more than 7 years ago and/or a lower GPA may be admitted on a provisional basis.)

• Students who complete their applications before 15 January, 2021 will receive priority consideration for admission.
• The submission deadline for standard application consideration is 01 March, 2021.
• Applications will be accepted and considered after 01 March, 2021 as space permits.
• Accepted “Advanced Standing” applicants will begin the program in May, 2021. (“Advanced Standing” applicants have with a bachelor's degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program.)
• “Regular Standing” applicants who are accepted will begin the program in late August, 2021. (“Regular Standing” applicants have a bachelor’s degree with a major other than social work or with a social work major from an unaccredited program.)

The program offers a “Trauma-Informed Clinical Social Work” concentration that prepares students to gain employment in areas such as the mental health, health care, child welfare, gerontological, and school social work.

The NASW (2017) defines clinical practice as a "specialty practice area of social work which focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness, emotional, and other behavioral disturbances."

The program’s “Trauma-informed” clinical focus recognizes the pervasiveness of trauma, adverse experiences, and attachment disruptions across populations and the profound impacts these experiences have on the lives of individuals, families, groups, and communities.

The trauma-informed clinical concentration allows graduates to pursue the highest level of professional licensure (i.e., LICSW or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker).

The MSW program has a distinctive delivery model that maximizes its accessibility and appeal to working professionals.

Online Course 

All courses are delivered fully online.

Asynchronous Courses

There are no scheduled meetings for courses. Coursework can be completed when doing so works for you.

Blocks

Courses are offered in seven-week blocks, with students having the option to take one or two courses per block. This allows students to focus their attention on fewer rather than more courses at a time.

Professional Developmental Labs

Once each semester, students come to Rochester for a weekend of professional socialization and professional development.

Advanced Standing

Advanced standing admission is for students with a undergraduate social work degree from a CSWE accredited program. Advanced standing students can complete the 42 credits and 600 hours of field practicum in as little as one year.

Regular Standing

Regular standing admission is for students with a non-social work undergraduate degree. Regular standing students can complete the 60 credits and 1000 hours of field practicum in as little as two years.

Additional options are available for regular and advanced standing students who wish to complete the program at a more modest pace.

Field Education

Learn more about the practicum requirement of this program by reviewing our Field Education Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).

MSW Practicum Supervision Outline (PDF)

MSW Field Education FAQ (PDF)

The WSU MSW Program has been awarded full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through 2030. The program’s accreditation status can be confirmed.

MSW Student Handbook (PDF)

MSW Summer 2023–Spring 2024 Program Calendar (PDF)

MSW Regular Standing, Full-Time (PDF) 

MSW Regular Standing, Part-Time (PDF) 

MSW Advanced Standing, Full-Time (PDF) 

MSW Advanced Standing, Part-Time (PDF) 

MSW MN Licensure Infographic (PDF)

MSW WI Licensure Infographic (PDF)

MSW Student Links and Information (PDF)  

The following information complies with Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) through the U.S. Department of Education:

• WSU’s Social Work program curriculum meets state educational requirements in the states/jurisdictions of: Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
• WSU’s Social Work program curriculum doesn’t meet state educational requirements in the states/jurisdictions of: California.
• WSU’s Social Work program curriculum hasn’t been determined to meet state educational requirements in the states/jurisdictions of: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and District of Columbia.

Last updated on July 1, 2021.