With its Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula, Michigan almost seems like two entirely different states. The Upper Peninsula is largely made up of rural and suburban areas, while the Lower Peninsula is home to Michigan’s largest cities, including Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Warren. Overall, the cost of living in Michigan is about 12% lower than the national average, although there are wide variances between rural and urban areas in the state.
As you prepare to work and practice in Michigan, it is important to know that the U.S. Census Bureau reports that over 16% of Michigan’s population lives below the poverty line. As a social worker, you’ll need to understand the societal effects of poverty and how it affects the ways in which people operate.
Tuition and Curriculum Information for MSW Programs in Michigan
If you want to earn an MSW in Michigan, there are 15 schools within the state that can help you reach this goal. Two of these schools, Michigan Technological University and Northern Michigan University, are located in the Upper Peninsula. The other 13 schools are located in the Lower Peninsula. There is a wide range of tuition costs in Michigan, leading to an average tuition cost of $14,347. You may be able to significantly reduce your financial obligations by applying for scholarships, as the average scholarship award in Michigan is $7076.
If you already have a Bachelor’s degree in social work, you may want to look for a program that offers Advanced Standing options. These programs allow you to earn your degree in as little as one year, since you already know the basic foundations of social work. For instance, Wayne State University offers an Advanced Standing program in two specialties: Innovation in Community, Policy, & Leadership, and Interpersonal Practice.
Curriculum
In each semester of your MSW program, you can expect to take courses in counseling and therapy techniques, the needs of different populations, and ethics in the field of social work. In addition to your traditional educational obligations, you will need to complete a set amount of field hours each semester. Your field hours may take you into hospitals, mental health clinics, rehabilitation centers, and more. Most schools in Michigan require between 700 and 1,000 hours of field experience.
MSW Salary and Job Outlook in Michigan
One of the main benefits of earning an MSW degree is the huge selection of career paths you can pursue. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that social workers can work in many different settings, including schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and mental health clinics. If you choose a concentration during school, you will learn a lot about what career paths you can pursue with that concentration.
Some of the largest social work employers in Michigan include Humana, Father Murray Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Hospice of Michigan, and Brookdale Senior Living. After completing enough supervised work hours, you may also be able to go into private practice. Because this gives you more freedom in where and how you work, you may find this to be a very rewarding option.
Social Worker Salary in Michigan
After earning an MSW, you can look forward to earning salaries that are higher than the national averages. As an entry-level social worker, you may earn less than those that have reached LCSW status or have lots of experience.
O*Net reports that healthcare social workers tend to earn the highest salaries in Michigan, with an average salary of $50,900 per year. Family social workers and mental health social workers earn average salaries of $47,700 per year and $42,400 per year, respectively (O*Net, 2012).
Social Worker Job Outlook in Michigan
Similar to the rest of the country, the job outlook for social workers in Michigan is bright. Healthcare social workers are in high demand, with anticipated job growth of 27% through 2020 (O*Net, 2012). With approximately 240 new job openings per year, the demand for mental health social workers is expected to increase by 20% (O*Net, 2012). Family social workers can expect to see a 10% increase (O*Net, 2012).
Social Work Licensure in Michigan
In Michigan, all licensure of social workers goes through the Michigan Board of Social Work. First, you become licensed as a Master Social Worker (MSW). This license is intended to help you prepare for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Once you pass the exam, you can work as an MSW.
To become an LCSW, you need to complete 4000 hours of supervised work experience. This can be completed in as little as two years. After submitting proof of this work experience, you can sit for the advance exam and get your license.
Masters in Social Work Degree Programs in Michigan
Andrews University
(Berrien Springs, MI)
- Masters in Community and Social Psychology
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $23,700 Tuition Cost
- $9,242 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Central Michigan University
(Mount Pleasant, MI)
- Masters in Human Development and Family Studies
- $9,855 Tuition Cost
- $5,971 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Eastern Michigan University
(Ypsilanti, MI)
- Masters in Social Development
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- Masters in Social Work and Public Administration Policy
- $7,701 Tuition Cost
- $4,660 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Grand Valley State University
(Allendale, MI)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $10,078 Tuition Cost
- $3,573 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Madonna University
(Livonia, MI)
- Masters in Social Development
- $15,180 Tuition Cost
- $6,117 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Michigan State University
(East Lansing, MI)
- Masters in Family and Community Services
- Masters in Human Development and Family Studies
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- Masters in Social and Family Systems
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $13,211 Tuition Cost
- $7,534 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Michigan Technological University
(Houghton, MI)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- $13,095 Tuition Cost
- $8,521 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Rural Campus Setting
Northern Michigan University
(Marquette, MI)
- Masters in Social Work and Public Administration Policy
- $8,064 Tuition Cost
- $3,452 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Rural Campus Setting
Spring Arbor University
(Spring Arbor, MI)
- Masters in Human Development and Family Studies
- $21,998 Tuition Cost
- $10,391 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
University of Detroit Mercy
(Detroit, MI)
- Masters in Social Work and Public Administration Policy
- $34,530 Tuition Cost
- $20,104 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
(Ann Arbor, MI)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $13,625 Tuition Cost
- $11,704 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of Michigan-Dearborn
(Dearborn, MI)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- $9,876 Tuition Cost
- $3,318 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of Michigan-Flint
(Flint, MI)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $8,676 Tuition Cost
- $3,130 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Wayne State University
(Detroit, MI)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $9,747 Tuition Cost
- $4,715 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Western Michigan University
(Kalamazoo, MI)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $9,138 Tuition Cost
- $3,705 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting