MSW Programs in North Dakota

North Dakota, known as the “Peace Garden” State, ranks as the 19th biggest state in the United States, but the third least populated and the fourth least densely populated (1). The largest industry in this state is agriculture, ranking ninth in the nation in the value of crops and 18th in the total value of products sold (2).

Tourists are drawn to the state to visit Custard State Park, the badlands and Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills region. Despite the tourist attractions, the state’s most lucrative industries are agriculture, food processing, manufacturing and mining (3).

A Growing Population With Distinct Needs

For years, North Dakota has been dealing with depopulation issues – the slow but steady loss of its state population as fewer people chose to farm. However, since 2007, North Dakota has experienced a population boom, which is credited to the many economic opportunities related to the oil boom (4). Fracking in particular has created job growth, resulting in a deluge of new residents (5). The state population has grown at a rate of 7.6 percent, which is significantly faster than the national average of 2.4 percent (6).

As of May 2014, North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, a shocking 2.6 percent (7). However, economic booms such as this often have negative side effects that impact certain demographics in the state. As those working for fracking companies and related industries get higher pay, these increases in income mask the disproportionately lower incomes of the poorest residents in the state. Of particular concern are citizens living on Native American reservations and elderly rural citizens living on fixed incomes (8).

According the US Census Bureau, 5.5 percent of the state’s population is Native American. The national average is 1.2 percent Native American (9). North Dakota also has a slightly higher than average percentage of the population that is over age 65 (14.4 percent compared to the national average of 13.7 percent) (10). If you are interested in working with Native American populations or rural seniors in underserved communities, North Dakota may be the right place for you.

Becoming a Social Worker

If you would like to get your master’s degree in North Dakota, you can attend the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. According to the 2014 US News & World Report school rankings, UND’s School of Social Work was ranked number 79 in the nation for its MSW graduate program (11). You can choose between traditional and online options. The University of North Dakota’s Online Masters in Social Work has been ranked the sixth best MSW online program by TheBestSchools.com (12).

North Dakota does not offer a state level loan forgiveness program for social workers, but you might want to check out the National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC). You will need to work in a designated “Health Professional Shortage Area” (HPSA) or other qualifying position, but you may find out you are eligible for significant loan forgiveness of up to $20,000 of loan forgiveness per year.

Employment Opportunities

Approximately 1,600 social workers are currently employed in the state of North Dakota. Of that 1,600, 470 of them work as child, family or school social workers. About 360 work as mental health or substance abuse social workers, and 410 work as healthcare social workers (13).

Social worker salaries in the state do not vary much by type. Child, family and school social workers make slightly more (median salary of $45,500) than healthcare social workers (median salary of $43,700), or substance abuse or mental health social workers (median salary of $43,400). Of these categories, job opportunities in the state are supposed to grow the most for healthcare social workers (a predicted increase of 22 percent). Mental health and substance abuse social workers can expect to see job opportunities increasing at a rate of 13 percent, and child, family and school social workers can expect to see job growth in that sector at a rate of 14 percent (14) (15) (16).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• Social Work License Requirements in North Dakota
• National Association of Social Workers, North Dakota Chapter
• North Dakota State Board of Social Work Examiners
• North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Licensing Requirements

Universities Offering Master’s in Social Work Degree Programs in North Dakota

• North Dakota State University-Main Campus (MSW Program)
• University of North Dakota (MSW Program)

Sources Cited

1. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/38000.html
2. United States Summary and State Data, 2007. 2007 Census of Agriculture. http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_US_State_Level/usv1.pdf
3. North Dakota drug Threat Assessment, 2002. National Drug Intelligence Center. http://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs1/1052/overview.htm
4. Rural North Dakota’s Oil Boom and Its Impact on Social Services, 2014. National Association of Social Workers. http://www.acosa.org/joomla/pdf/Weber_et_al.pdf
5. Fracking Fuels an Economic Boom in North Dakota, 2014. Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbrown/2014/01/29/fracking-fuels-an-economic-boom-in-north-dakota/
6. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/38000.html
7. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2014. Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm
8. Rural North Dakota’s Oil Boom and Its Impact on Social Services, 2014. National Association of Social Workers. http://www.acosa.org/joomla/pdf/Weber_et_al.pdf
9. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/38000.html
10. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/38000.html
11. Graduate School Search – Social Work Programs, 2014. US News and World Report. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/search?spp=10&program=top-social-work-schools&name=&zip=north+dakota&program_rank=Any&sort=&sortdir=
12. University of North Dakota Online and Distance Education. University of North Dakota. http://distance.und.edu/degree/?id=msw4bsw2
13. May 2013 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/oes/2013/may/oes_nd.htm
14. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211021&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=38&search=Go
15. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211022&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=38&search=Go
16. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211023&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=38&search=Go