Select your enrollment pathway
- Full-time or part-time enrollment
- Advanced Standing or Regular MSW
- First enrollment term: Fall for Regular MSW students and Summer for Advanced Standing students
Application Information and Instructions
MSW admissions
Application information and instructions.
Applications are reviewed and applicants are notified on a rolling basis. Submit your application and all supporting documents as early as possible.
Applications open August 1
Applications become available for submission.
Reviews begin September 1
Application reviews begin by unit.
Early decision December 8
Early Decision application deadline.
Final deadline February 7
Final application deadline.
Before you apply
Understand your program choices.
Applicants identify their program status and concentration, then provide a preferred modality.
Select an area of specialized practice
- Clinical Practice
- OCL: Organization and Community Leadership
- Major preference: Select the MSW major under the College of Social Science
Choose a delivery option
- East Lansing
- Statewide Blended
- Applicants provide a preference, but modality placement is not guaranteed.
Learn before submitting
Attend an information session and review the complete application instructions before entering your materials.
Modality notice: Modality is not guaranteed and may change based on enrollment capacity and programmatic changes.
Program availability
MSW modality and program options.
Both modalities currently list Regular and Advanced Standing pathways, full-time and part-time enrollment, and Clinical and OCL specializations.
| Modality | Regular MSW | Advanced Standing | Specialized practice | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time | Part-time | Clinical | OCL | |
| East Lansing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Statewide Blended | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Program availability: Options are based on availability and are subject to change.
OCL course format: Organization and Community Leadership practice courses may be offered in person in East Lansing, synchronously online, or asynchronously online with monthly Saturday synchronous Zoom sessions, based on availability and cohort needs.
Application checklist
Gather your supporting materials.
Transcripts
Include transcripts with your application. Official transcripts are required for final processing.
Three recommenders
Provide professional or academic references only. Advanced Standing applicants need at least one recommendation from a practicum or field office. Personal references are not accepted.
Academic statement and resume
The Academic or Applicant Statement is required, along with a resume. The Personal Statement is optional.
Additional documents
Submit other required materials as needed, such as an affidavit of support, court documents or other application-specific records.
Important notices
Confirm these details before submitting.
Out-of-state applicants
Out-of-state students applying to Statewide Blended must live within 50 miles of the Michigan border.
Additional admission requirements
Review the Graduate School's international admissions requirements before applying.
$75 application fee
The application fee is $75 for domestic and international applicants.
Apply to the correct option
Program-option mistakes may delay or void an application. Confirm your status, concentration and modality preference before submitting.
Department guidance
Strengthen your application.
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Choose the correct program option Review every selection carefully because errors may delay or void the application.
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Identify additional academic interests Express interest in certificate or scholar programs. These require a separate application after admission.
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Provide context for a GPA below 3.0 Explain the circumstances and demonstrate your preparedness for graduate study.
After submission
Stay connected to your application.
Check the Slate portal regularly
Log in to review your application status and respond promptly to messages or requests.
Respond within two weeks
Once admitted, you have two weeks to accept or decline the offer. Delays may affect your preferred modality.
Ready to begin?
Download the full instructions, confirm your program selections and submit through the Slate Applicant Portal.