• Skip to table of contents
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

On-Campus MSW Program

Change the world with one of the world’s best MSW degrees

  • Apply Now
  • School of Social Work
  • Introduction to the Program
  • By the Numbers
  • Why an MSW?
  • Student Voices
  • Our MSW, Customized to You
  • Practicum Education
  • The Carolina Difference
  • Faculty Focus
  • How Do I Apply?
  • Scholarships & Student Support
  • Join Our MSW Alumni
  • FAQ
  • UNC School of Social Work
  • Apply Now

Learn More

Change the world
with one of the world’s
best MSW degrees

Explore each section to learn more about our On-Campus MSW degree paths.
UNC's Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building

Our Communities Need Social Workers.
Our Communities Need You.

Application Deadlines

    Jan. 13, 2026
  • 12-Month Advanced Standing MSW Program (beginning May 2026)
  • Feb. 10, 2026
  • 2-year Full-Time (beginning August 2026)
  • March 10, 2026
  • 3-Year MSW program (beginning August 2026)

Be a changemaker with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, the country’s No. 2 public university social work program. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, you’ll have access to one of the world’s best public universities and one of Architectural Digest’s most beautiful campuses.

Our MSW students come from a variety of lived experiences and diverse backgrounds and can choose one of two concentrations — direct practice (DP) or community, management, and policy practice (CMPP), also known as macro social work. Our focus is on evidence-based education unique to you, embracing core values of the social work profession:

  • Equal access to services
  • Respect for individual worth and human dignity
  • Right of self-determination
  • Availability of human social institutions that are responsive to human needs
  • Positive regard for the unique characteristics of diverse populations
  • Personal responsibility for the ethical conduct, the outcomes of practice and the continuous acquisition of knowledge and skills

Application Deadlines

  • January 14, 2025: 12-Month Advanced Standing MSW Program (program beginning May 2025)
  • February 11, 2025: 2-Year MSW Program (program beginning August 2025)
  • March 11, 2025: 3-Year MSW Program (program beginning August 2025)
  • UNC's Old Well with flowers
  • Students walk to class along a path of fallen yellow leaves
  • The Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building on UNC's campus
  • A professor teaching a class
  • Two students engaged in conversation
  • UNC's Old Well in front of another campus building
  • A smiling UNC student
  • Two UNC students drinking coffee outside
  • A large group of students walking to class
  • An action photo of students walking to class
  • A group of students walk to class
  • Two smiling young women pose in front of a blue background with the words "I'M A TAR HEEL!" written on it. They are holding large foam fingers that read "#1 Go Heels" in support of the University of North Carolina. A person in the foreground holds up a phone, seemingly taking a picture of them.
  • A student places a pin on a map
  • Students hanging out on a bright sunny day
  • A student poses for a photo on UNC's campus
  • UNC's Old Well with trees overhead
  • A group of students and a professor talk underneath bright yellow fall leaves
  • A student proudly wears Carolina gear while walking to class
  • Three Carolina grads dressed up for graduation
  • A beautiful evening sky above UNC's campus
  • By the Numbers

    🎓 Number of alumni: 6,000+
    🥈 National ranking: No. 2 public
    🏆 First-time masters level examination pass rate: 95%
    🥇 Ranked No. 1 value in American public higher education
    📈 Increase in salary: 25%
    🌟 First generation students: 20%
    📚 Course electives: 45
    🏢 Potential practicum partnership sites: 850+

    Why an MSW?

    Our on-campus programs are tailored to those looking to pivot into or enhance their career in social work, whether they have a Bachelor of Social Work degree or training in another discipline. Not only do social workers with a master’s degree earn 25% more, but they gain the tools to become changemakers in their communities. Our MSW program seeks to address a national shortage of social workers by tapping into talent from areas across North Carolina, the Southeast and the nation.

    Completing your MSW at UNC provides you with wider access to expertise, experience, and connections that help create positive change in your community:

    • Industry Need
      The nation has a shortage of social workers, with too many underserved areas. Over the next seven years, national shortages are predicted for the following Direct Practice positions: mental health and substance abuse social workers; health care social workers to assist aging populations; and child, family and school social workers.
    • Leadership Opportunities
      The state of North Carolina currently employs more than 15,000 licensed clinical social workers. The need for professionally-trained social workers is projected to grow by 9–12% from 2021–2031.
    • Macro “Big Picture” Option
      Our Community, Management, and Policy Practice concentration prepares social workers to improve lives from the systems level. Macro social workers engage in cutting edge research and interventions that shape policies, programs, and practices that impact large populations and communities.

    Student Voices

    “The UNC MSW program is one-of-a-kind. The program is designed for students to gain a robust and holistic social work education while also providing you with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive.”

    – MaryAshley Moody, MSW ’25
    MaryAshley Moody

    Special Opportunities

    Two UNC students sitting together on a bench
    Two UNC students sitting together on a bench

    Our School offers four options for pursuing the Master of Social Work degree and separates MSW curriculum into two levels, the Generalist Curriculum and the Specialization Curriculum, each supporting your professional career goals.

    In your Generalist Curriculum, students take an intense and intentionally designed set of courses that sets the framework for your degree. Specialization Curriculum courses are tailored to your career and research interests and goals, spanning courses from Social Work Practice with Families, Individuals, and Groups; Community Organizing; Core Competencies and Skills for Trauma Informed Practice to Fundraising and Marketing. Students can also complete a variety of certifications such as Substance Use and Addictions Specialist Certification, Licensure in School Social Work, the Non-profit Leadership Certificate and the Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities and Neurodivergent Certificate. Our program also offers four dual degree programs: MSW/MPH, MSW/JD, MSW/MPA, or MSW/MDiv (in collaboration with the Duke University Divinity School).

    Additionally, students can continue their degree path into a Ph.D. in Social Work. Graduates of our doctoral program are prepared to develop, test, and disseminate social interventions in all areas of social work. Our graduates continue their careers as faculty members and administrators at leading universities across the United States and often conduct research internationally.

    12-Month Advanced Standing MSW Program

    Do you have a Bachelor of Social Work degree? If so, then our Advanced Standing program may be the right fit for you. In this program, qualifying students that can dedicate one year of full-time study to this accelerated program begin classes in May and graduate the following May. The program creates a strong cohort bond with BSW graduates from diverse colleges and universities and jumpstarts professional practice careers.

    2-Year MSW Program

    This traditional full-time academic program allows students to begin the program in August, complete two years of fall and spring semester course work, and graduate in May. Practicums begin in the first semester of study and continue throughout the program. If you’re looking for a sense of place within the Carolina campus and want to forge a deep connection with your cohort community, this is a great option.

    3-Year MSW Program

    Do you live within commuting distance of Chapel Hill? Are you employed in the helping professions, and looking for an alternative to two academic years of full-time study? While similar to the 2-Year MSW, this option allows you to spread out classes and practicum education over three years to allow for your personal and career commitments, without sacrificing the structure of weekly in-person classes taught by the same teaching faculty.

    Online MSW Program

    Are you a busy working professional looking to further your impact, a recent graduate, or looking to pivot into the field of social work? Our Online MSW’s unique combination of asynchronous and synchronous 100% online courses allow students to balance weekly coursework deadlines with class attendance, while taking full advantage of our world-class faculty, student success team, practicum placements, and connections with our extensive network of researchers, industry leaders, and alumni.

    Practicum Education

    An MSW for the Real World

    Practicum education is an integral part of each MSW student’s journey at our School. Through practicum assignments, our students put their classroom knowledge into practice through real-world experiences — exploring career paths, developing workplace skills and competencies, expanding their professional networks, and building confidence in working with clients and colleagues.

    Annually, our students are placed in more than 450 different agencies and organizations throughout North Carolina. They contribute more than 130,000 hours to these agencies in total — an estimated value of $1.2 million in service to our state and its people. Our students have completed placements in social services, schools, hospitals, community nonprofits, research organizations, substance abuse treatment programs, child welfare agencies, transitional housing programs, and a variety of other organizations. The school uses a time-tested matching system to ensure that each student receives a practicum experience assignment that is appropriate to the student’s needs and professional goals.

    A group of graduate students in conversation

    Practicum Education: An MSW For the Real World

    Practicum education is an integral part of each MSW student’s journey at our School. Through practicum assignments, our students put their classroom knowledge into practice through real-world experiences — exploring career paths, developing workplace skills and competencies, expanding their professional networks, and building confidence in working with clients and colleagues.

    Annually, our students are placed in more than 450 different agencies and organizations throughout North Carolina. They contribute more than 130,000 hours to these agencies in total — an estimated value of $1.2 million in service to our state and its people. Our students have completed placements in social services, schools, hospitals, community nonprofits, research organizations, substance abuse treatment programs, child welfare agencies, transitional housing programs, and a variety of other organizations. The school uses a time-tested matching system to ensure that each student receives a practicum experience assignment that is appropriate to the student’s needs and professional goals.

    The Carolina Difference

    UNC's Old Well with flowers in the foreground

    As one of the oldest professional schools of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, we celebrate an academic heritage that began with the University’s charter on Dec. 11, 1789 and with the School’s founding in 1920. The University is among the top research universities in the world, and our School is proud to be among the nation’s top schools of social work. All MSW classes are held at the UNC School of Social Work main building, Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building on the Carolina campus.

    Centrally located less than four hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains and two hours from the beach, Chapel Hill is a beautiful quintessential college town with a campus featuring walkable streets, historic buildings, visual and performing arts, and nationally ranked sports teams. (Go Heels!) You’ll be just 20 miles from Raleigh-Durham International Airport and the Research Triangle Park, the country’s largest research park. The Triangle is consistently ranked at the top of national best places to live and work lists, and nearby Raleigh and Durham are 15-30 minute drives from Chapel Hill.

    The Carolina Difference

    UNC's Old Well with flowers in the foreground

    As one of the oldest professional schools of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, we celebrate an academic heritage that began with the University’s charter on Dec. 11, 1789 and with the School’s founding in 1920. The University is among the top research universities in the world, and our School is proud to be among the nation’s top schools of social work. All MSW classes are held at the UNC School of Social Work main building, Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building on the Carolina campus.

    Centrally located less than four hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains and two hours from the beach, Chapel Hill is a beautiful quintessential college town with a campus featuring walkable streets, historic buildings, visual and performing arts, and nationally ranked sports teams. (Go Heels!) You’ll be just 20 miles from Raleigh-Durham International Airport and the Research Triangle Park, the country’s largest research park. The Triangle is consistently ranked at the top of national best places to live and work lists, and nearby Raleigh and Durham are 15-30 minute drives from Chapel Hill.

    Faculty Focus

    “Through our in-person program, you can connect with dozens of faculty who are leaders and experts across our field, learning effective strategies to prevent and reduce health and social problems affecting clients and communities. The foundational and specialized courses that make up our program are among the most advanced MSW courses that you will find anywhere in the world.”

    – Will Hall, Associate Professor
    Will Hall

    MSW Admissions and Applications

    Students admitted to a Master of Social Work program at UNC School of Social Work represent a wide array of personal backgrounds and academic interests. We seek students who offer diverse cultural perspectives to contribute to our academic community. Our programs are rigorous and rewarding. Our graduates become leaders in the social work profession.

    If this is the right academic and career path for you, we encourage you to apply for admission. Our admission process is administered through the UNC Graduate School, and your application and supporting materials should be submitted online through the UNC Graduate School website. Please plan to attend a UNC School of Social Work information session, either in person or via livestream, to learn more about the admission process and our academic programs.

    Jan. 13, 2026: 12-Month Advanced Standing MSW Program (beginning May 2026)
    Feb. 10, 2026: 2-year Full-Time (beginning August 2026)
    March 10, 2026: 3-Year MSW program (beginning August 2026)

    To be considered for admission to UNC School of Social Work, you must provide documentation of the following in your UNC Graduate School application:

    • Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, earned from an accredited four-year college or university (or the international equivalent of a bachelor’s degree)
    • Academic background that encompasses knowledge and world views from a broad variety of disciplines
    • Unofficial transcripts from each college and university attended
    • Statement of Purpose (3-4 pages)
    • Three (3) letters of recommendation
    • Current resume or CV that includes professional and volunteer experiences in social work
    • TOEFL or IELTS score within the past 2 years (international applicants only)

    Interviews are required for all competitive international applicants. Applicants that respond “yes” to any Community Standards questions on the UNC Graduate School application may be asked to provide information for a criminal background check and participate in an interview as well.

    Social work experience is not required. However, social work-related coursework and volunteer or professional experience are preferred.

    The Advanced Standing Program is an accelerated MSW program for BSW graduates. It is a 12-month program that begins in May. To be considered for admission to the Advanced Standing program, you must meet all of these criteria:

    • A completed Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree prior to enrollment that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
    • “B” (or higher) grade point average on the last 60 credit hours of your undergraduate degree
    • “B” (or higher) grade on all required undergraduate social work courses
    • Satisfactory completion of 400 clock hours in a direct service placement with a “B” (or higher) grade
    • At least one of the three letters of recommendation must be from a faculty member in your BSW program

    Our academic programs are enriched by students who represent a diverse range of cultural perspectives, and we encourage international students to apply. All competitive international applicants will be required to complete an interview for admissions consideration.

    International applicants must provide a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score taken within the past two years. The required minimum score is 90 for the TOEFL exam or 7 for the IELTS exam. The TOEFL/IELTS is not required if you meet one of the following criteria:

    • Residency in a country where English is the language of instruction
    • Bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution, and/or
    • Bachelor’s degree from an institution where the sole language of instruction is English

    The UNC Graduate School website provides more information for international students who wish to apply.

    Scholarships & Student Support

    When considering the costs to attend graduate school, MSW students often use a combination of funding sources to finance their graduate studies. Our School offers more than 50 different merit- and need-based scholarships for MSW students. In addition, the School offers opportunities for student employment and assistantships (building monitor, computer lab monitor, program assistant, research assistant, etc.). Work schedules vary but are typically four to ten hours per week.

    We encourage all students to explore funding opportunities from a variety of sources. Here are several starting points:

    • UNC School of Social Work scholarships for MSW students
    • UNC Graduate School funding opportunities
    • UNC Office of Scholarships and Student Aid resources
    • Additional resources for funding

    March 1 is the priority deadline for submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The code for UNC-Chapel Hill is 002974. Detailed information on tuition and fees are available on the UNC Finance and Operations website.

    Learn More About Available Scholarships

    Join Our MSW Alumni

    “I was a non-traditional MSW student, intent on solving problems by combining my corporate background with my interest in social justice. UNC’s macro program was the perfect fit, supporting my journey to discover my best path, and helping me build the skills and confidence to launch an innovative nonprofit.”

    – Nora El-Khouri Spencer, MSW ’17
    Nora El-Khouri Spencer

    Frequently Asked Questions

    No.

    We do not require a specific GPA for admission into the program. However, the average GPA for newly enrolled students is typically between 3.2 and 3.4. While strong scores may make an applicant highly competitive in terms of their academic aptitude, please know that the admissions committee will review your entire application package and assess admissions decisions on a more holistic basis.

    Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a four-year college or university. Although no specific coursework is required, participation in social science courses and/or related fields is preferred. If you are interested in applying to the Advanced Standing program, a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is required.

    Applicants may apply to only one MSW program per year. Applicants may indicate in the supplemental question section of their application if they want to be considered for a different program if they are not granted admission to their initial program of choice.

    Yes! Our School hosts general information sessions throughout the year for each of our MSW programs. In addition to meeting some of our faculty, staff and students, these sessions provide potential applicants with an overview of the application process. You’ll also learn about our coursework, practicum placements, financial aid, and more. Each information session includes a formal presentation and plenty of opportunities for Q&As. Although applicants are not required to attend an info session, we strongly recommend that you do. Our School hosts information sessions throughout the year for each of our MSW programs.

    UNC Visitors Center offers tours for prospective graduate students to orient them to the campus and community and to provide information on housing, dining, recreation, and graduate student life. Visit the UNC Visitors Center website for more information.

    Our program offers various merit and need-based scholarships and other financial support. Please see the SSW Financial Aid page for more information. Funding decisions will be communicated prior to the decision deadline for the program to which you were admitted.

    Photo of the UNC School of Social Work with students gathered in lobby

    UNC School of Social Work

    Advancing equity
    Transforming systems
    Improving lives

    About the UNC School of Social Work

    Footer

    Contact

    UNC School of Social Work
    Tate-Turner-Kuralt Building
    325 Pittsboro St
    CB #3550
    Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3550

    For further questions, please contact:
    Yuri Alston, Assistant Director of Recruitment Admissions & Financial Aid
    mswadmissions@unc.edu
    919-962-4905

    More from the School of Social Work

    • 12-month Advanced Standing Program
    • 2-Year MSW Program
    • 3-Year MSW Program
    • Online MSW Program
    • Ph.D. Program

    Connect

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    UNC Old Well Logo
    Copyright © 2025 · UNC School of Social Work · Accessibility