Social Work Degrees at Augsburg
Augsburg University appears in our ranking of the 35 Best Value Christian Colleges with CSWE-accredited Programs.
Since 1980, the School of Arts & Sciences has conferred an accredited Bachelor of Social Work for Augsburg University undergrads following God's vocational calling to become justice advocates. Chaired by Dr. Michael Schock in Memorial Hall, the 128-credit, four-year degree examines human society to prepare for generalist practice solving strife. Professors are highly accessible in daytime courses like Global Peace, Urban America, Statistical Analysis, and Race Inequality that have an average size of 16. BSW majors must finish 480+ fieldwork hours at partnering placements, including Minnesota AIDS Project, West 7th Community Center, St. Stephen's Shelter, and Ramsey County CPS. Students might also join Omicron Delta, earn the Steen Torstenson Award, serve abroad in Mexico, minor in Psychology, and present at the Zyzzogeton Research Festival.
Meeting every other weekend, Augsburg University's Master of Social Work has an adult-friendly format where aspiring LGSWs advance their global activism skills to "Be the Difference." Directed by Dr. Lois Bosch, the 61-credit program blends eight Saturday sessions each semester with online assignments on Moodle. Advanced Standing BSW grads take a simplified 13-month, 48-credit track instead. Commitment to justice is deepened in two second-year concentrations: Multicultural Clinical Practice or Multicultural Macro Practice. Graduates build portfolio projects with 920 internship hours or 500 for Advanced Standing. The Diversity Social Work Advancement Program offers $3,500 stipends for trauma-related placements from Peru to Cameroon. Other opportunities include pursuing the Dual MSW/MBA, becoming Keith Ellison Fellows, attend the NASW Heartland Conference, add the Leadership Studies Certificate, and volunteer with YouthCARE.
About Augsburg University
Augsburg University was opened in September 1869 as an all-male, Lutheran seminarium by August Weenaas and fellow Norwegian settlers. Named for the Augsburg Confession, the ministerial school trained men for service until becoming coeducational in 1921. Hosting the Nobel Peace Prize Forum in 2013, Augsburg earned university status for private, Protestant liberal arts education. Budgeting $107.9 million, Augsburg University now enrolls 3,486 Eagles, including 161 MSW majors, from 52 countries. Near the Cedar Cultural Center, Augsburg occupies a 24-acre Riverside campus in the United States' 16th largest metro. Linked to 29,000 alumni, Augsburg University has trained Susan Allen, Devean George, Anne Panning, Rev. Mark Hanson, and more.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked Augsburg the 29th best Midwest college with the 201st best social work program nationally. On Niche, Augsburg is America's 87th most liberal college, 124th best university location, and 150th top Christian school. Times Higher Education placed Augsburg the 500th best institution overall. Given 5/5 stars for LGBTQ-friendly policies on Campus Pride Index, Augsburg University won the 2015 Insight into Diversity Excellence Award. College Factual crowned Augsburg the country's 103rd best social work school with the 226th highest-paid alumni. WalletHub chose Augsburg University as the 94th best value tuition. In Washington Monthly, Augsburg was recognized for the 36th most Peace Corps volunteers and 136th best Ph.D. completion rate.
Augsburg University Accreditation Details
In October 2014, Augsburg University underwent a quality checkup by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) to retain its Level V accreditation under the 10th president Paul C. Pribbenow. This regional agency in Chicago is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to check all of Augsburg's 90 baccalaureate, nine master's, one doctoral, and three certificate programs from Rochester to St. Paul. Augburg is institutionally approved by the Lutheran Education Council in North America (LECNA). The BSW and MSW programs are also accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through October 2023.
Augsburg University Application Requirements
The Fall 2016 acceptance rate of 44 percent caused Peterson's to classify admission to Augsburg University as "moderately difficult." First-year Eagles must graduate from a licensed high school, complete a homeschool program, or achieve a minimum 2250 GED score. On average, freshmen present 3.15 GPA, 1140 SAT, and 22 ACT marks. Declaring the Bachelor of Social Work major happens after 52-64 credits, including College-Level Algebra, are completed with a cumulative GPA above 2.5. Starting the MSW requires tackling a bachelor's curriculum with at least four social science and three humanities classes. The Advanced Standing path needs CSWE-accredited training with preferably 2+ years of experience. Maintaining an overall GPA or 3.0 or higher is recommended too.
Augsburg University has an Early Auggie deadline of December 1st and priority deadline of May 1st for undergrads. The MSW Program has an admission period from June to January 15th each year. Interested students create online accounts to submit the Common Application or Augsburg Application. If needed, extra materials are mailed to 2211 Riverside Avenue in Minneapolis, MN 55454 or [email protected]. Social work programs need the following:
- $35 application fee (waived if online)
- Official transcripts from all schools
- Three signed recommendation letters
- ACT or SAT test scores with writing
- Typed response to one of four prompts
- Tests of English language if applicable
Tuition and Financial Aid
Entering the BSW Program full-time costs Augsburg University undergrads $19,075 each semester or $38,150 annually. Part-time study currently bills $1,192 per credit. Mandatory fees add $325 each term or $650 yearly. Living at the Minneapolis campus' dorms like Mortensen Hall bills $9,939 for room and board. Annual cost of attendance equals $51,254 for residents and $42,815 for commuters. For 2018-19, the Master of Social Work is charging $679 per credit. Total prices are $41,419 for Traditional MSW and $27,839 for Advanced Standing post-grads. The Dual MSW/MBA costs slightly more at $849 per credit though.
According to the NCES College Navigator, 96 percent of full-time Augsburg Eagles share $45.4 million in financial aid packages worth $19,908 on average. Institutional awards include the Regents Scholarship, Promise Grant, Presidential Scholarship, Peace Corps Grant, American Indian Scholarship, Military Tuition Grant, and Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship. Filing the FAFSA with code 002334 could qualify Bachelor of Social Work majors for Federal Pell or SEOG Grant funds. Hockey State natives might claim the Minnesota State Grant, Allis Opportunity Grant, or Minnesota Dream Act Grant. MSW students employed at Allina Health, Fridley Public Schools, Pinnacle Services, Lutheran Social Services, and other organizations receive Partnership Grants. The Federal Work-Study jobs offer up to 20 paid hours weekly. Money magazine reports that graduates of Augsburg University also have an average debt of $22,388 from Stafford, PLUS, and private loans.
Learn more about Augsburg University at the Social Work Department website.