Michigan’s School Social Workers
A school social worker enhances the well-being of vulnerable community members and those living in poverty. The day in the life of a school social worker can include meeting with students, responding to emergencies, and connecting people with services.
School social work involves counseling and psychology while focusing on client case management. School social work promotes social change, evolution, coherence, and empowering communities and people. School social work is the understanding of human development, behavior, and the social, economic, and cultural institutions and interactions.
Michigan school social workers explain the passion of their profession.
Associations to Support You
Start Your Michigan School Social Worker Journey
Step 1: Earn a bachelor’s degree in any of the following:
- Social Work
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Counseling
Step 2: Earn a Master of Social Work Degree (MSW).
Step 3: There is a detailed specific process for becoming approved as a school social worker in the state of Michigan. Candidates must meet the requirements set forth by Michigan State University as per the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). The three steps to becoming a fully approved school social worker can be found here.
Volunteer to Gain More Experience!
Get hands-on experience and find a classroom near you that is in need of a volunteer!
Job Shadow a School Social Worker
To participate in a job shadow, reach out to a school district and request to job shadow a School Social Worker for a day.
Each school district has their own policy when it comes to job shadowing, but you may need a state ID or a driver’s license to participate.
College Program Information
Click a point on the map to find degree programs, scholarships, grants, and organizations to join!
Michigan School Social Worker Educational Funding
Free College Opportunities
Allows students to earn college credit (up to 10 courses) while in high school at no cost between 9th-12th grade. The classes that students are eligible for must not be offered by the high school or PSA and must lead towards postsecondary credit, accreditation, certification, and/or licensing.
How to apply – Students are to talk with their high school advisor on eligibility, application, deadlines, and college course options.
A Michigan Department of Education approved five-year program of study.
EMCs work closely with certain colleges to provide students with an opportunity earn a high school diploma and one or more of the following:
- 60 transferable college credits.
- An associate degree.
- A professional certification.
- The Michigan Early Middle College Association (MEMCA) technical certificate.
- Participation in a registered apprenticeship.
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is designed to help students pursue their dreams, goals, and aspirations in the Mitten State! Graduating high school seniors are eligible to earn a skill certificate or degree at their local community college tuition-free just by filling out the new and simplified FAFSA.
State Scholarships & Grants
Michigan Reconnect is a scholarship program that pays you to attend your in-district community college tuition free or pays up to the in-district rate if you attend a community college where you’re considered out-of-district. Applicants must be 25 years old to apply.
Thirteen Promise Zones have already begun awarding scholarships. Educators, businesses, families and civic leaders are also striving to embed a pervasive culture of learning in these communities – an essential ingredient in any recipe for education success.
Amount: $2,000 – $5,500
Graduate Assistantships
Participating in a graduate assistantship is a great way to cover the financial costs of graduate school while gaining valuable experience in your field of education.
Federal Scholarships & Grants
Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you’re eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.You must apply for aid every year.
The Federal Student Aid Estimator provides an estimate of how much federal student aid the student may be eligible to receive. These estimates are based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), an index to determine federal student aid eligibility.
Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are federal student loans offered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to help eligible students cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade, career, or technical school.
A federal grant for undergraduate students with financial need.
Direct PLUS loans can help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education makes Direct PLUS Loans to eligible graduate or professional students through schools participating in the Direct Loan Program.
Grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, administered directly by financial aid office at each participating school, not all schools participate
part-time employment while enrolled in school, available to undergrad, grad, and professional students with financial need, available to full and part-time students, administered by participating schools, emphasizes employment in civic education and work related to course of study or civic education, on or off campus
“School social work is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.”
School Social Worker Story Tellers
Below are videos highlighting school social worker throughout Michigan.
Find out why they love the profession.
MASSW School Social Worker’s First Career Step
Lansing, MI
MASSW will move your school social worker career forward.
A School Social Worker’s Amazing Career Path
Detroit Public Schools, MI
This rewarding career helps make the world a better place.
Michigan Social Worker of the Year
Southgate Community Schools, MI
A leading Michigan school social worker shows how improving others lives fulfills her life.
A School Social Workers Purpose
Michigan State University
Her childhood life in foster care was so positive it put her on the school social worker career path. It’s an exciting career.
