In 2001, Michigan State University started offering a Master of Social Work program that could be fully completed in Flint.
“This program’s presence in Flint fuses MSU’s goal of accessible education with social work values, which emphasize serving disadvantaged communities, and as a result represents one of our proudest efforts and legacies,” said Steve Anderson, Director of the School of Social Work.
Courses, hosted at the Mott Community College campus, include options for both part-time and full-time schedules and generally are taught at night to accommodate those who work. Currently there are 90 students enrolled. Since the program started, nearly 450 students have received their MSW degrees.
“Our presence in Flint has allowed many students from Flint and the surrounding area to pursue graduate social work study who otherwise could not do so,” Anderson said.
The format relieves the burden on students to be physically present in East Lansing. The university is able to provide cutting-edge training to students via in person instruction, blended or online classes, and hands on experience.
“At a time when service needs are great and increasingly complex, the Flint MSW program has followed the MSU land grant mission to create access to education where it is most needed,” Anderson said.
Students in the Flint MSW program also provide valuable community services. All MSW students complete 960 hour field placements in community agencies, and the school has placement agreements with 40 Genesee county agencies for this purpose. While working within these agencies, it is estimated that social work students provide more than 30,000 hours of community service annually. In addition, most MSW students remain in the area after graduation, and play a prominent social service role in the Flint community.