17³Ô¹Ï

Brown School classes are primarily held in person and on campus on the weekdays, Monday – Friday.  Classes are three hours long, typically from 9-12 pm, 1-4 pm, or 5:30-8:30 pm.  A student taking 12 credits would generally be taking four 3-credit hour courses, each of which would meet once per week for three hours at a time (for a total of 12 hours of class per week).  Part-Time MSW students take 6-8 credits per semester in the fall, spring, and summer.  Part-time classes are a combination of in-person and remote courses and are offered on weeknights or weekends.

At the Brown School, you will join a student-centered community dedicated to supporting your academic and professional development.  Our comprehensive resources – like Career Engagement, Student Affairs, the Stat Lab, Global Programs Office and Writing Center â€“ are designed to support you throughout your tenure at the Brown School – both inside and outside the classroom.

Traditional MSW students have until the end of their first year to change concentrations, Advanced Standing MSW students must make changes before beginning the program, and Part-Time MSW students should work with their advisor on available options.

Yes! We offer several dual degree programs in partnership with other school across 17³Ô¹Ï and at Eden Seminary.  You can read more about all the available dual degrees online.  Students interested in a dual degree must apply and be accepted into each degree program separately.

Yes. The Brown School allows admitted students to defer their admission for one year. To request a deferral, applicants must submit a deferral request form along with a written explanation detailing their reasoning and plans for the deferral year. Deferrals cannot be extended beyond one year.  Scholarship awards granted by the Brown School will be honored when the deferral is activated for the subsequent academic year.

Course registration for incoming students begins in the late summer.  In order to access registration, you must submit your intent to enroll, pay the $200 deposit and activate your student log in credentials.  Students will be paired with an academic advisor who helps select, review, and approve your chosen courses each semester.

Applicants should apply to the program type they wish to attend. Brown School policy states students must maintain their enrollment load (full-time or part-time) throughout the duration of their program. Requests to change enrollment load will only be considered before the start of the first fall semester.

Details regarding institutional funding/Brown School scholarship are provided in your admission decision letter.  Scholarships are one-time awards that cover only a portion of your tuition costs and are evenly split across each semester of your program.  All possible scholarship funding is awarded at the time of admission and any award issued to you is final.  For additional ideas about how to finance your education, visit our website.

Most students rely on a variety of sources, including Brown School scholarships, external scholarships and grants, part-time employment, and federal student aid, if they are eligible, to fund their degree.  We have compiled additional funding resources and helpful links online as you begin this financial planning process.

The majority of Brown School students work part-time while completing their graduate studies.  Students have access to a variety of campus-based employment opportunities including part-time jobs, fellowships, and research assistantships via Handshake once they receive their student log in credentials.   supports students with employment resources and job postings.

Eligible students wishing to be considered for Federal Student Aid (student loans and work-study) should complete the  (FAFSA) for the appropriate academic year.  Students will need their most recent tax return, Federal Student Aid ID, and 17³Ô¹Ï’s school code of 002520.  No parent application will be needed.  Beginning in the spring, students who have completed the FAFSA and indicated intent to enroll will receive their loan package via email.  You can read more about federal student aid online.

As the Brown School houses exclusively graduate programs, we do not offer opportunities for graduate or teaching assistantships for master’s-level students.  However, many research centers are housed in the Brown School and choose to hire students as part-time employees – but do not offer tuition remission.

Yes!  Our office offers guided tours led by student ambassadors on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays throughout the academic year –  If possible, we encourage admitted students to plan on attending Admitted Students Weekend Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 for an in-depth opportunity to meet your cohort, dialogue with faculty, and experience our community in person.

Graduate housing is not provided, and students live off-campus in privately-owned or University-owned properties in a variety of neighborhoods around campus, each with its own unique distinguishing characteristics. The Graduate Center at 17³Ô¹Ï has compiled some  as you make your housing plans.  You can also read more about on 17³Ô¹Ï’s website.

Parking passes are available through the  office and typically go on sale later in the summer.  All full-time 17³Ô¹Ï students receive a Metro Link pass, which includes access to the region’s light rail and bus systems. The University also operates a  system that services surrounding neighborhoods.  For bikers, the Office of Sustainability provides , including free bike tune-up events, self-tune-up stations, and bike rentals.

Many students move to St. Louis over the summer to have time to settle in and get their bearings before starting classes. Domestic students may arrive in St. Louis at any time and must plan to attend New Student Orientation in person during the weeks leading up to the start of classes.  International students can arrive in the U.S. as early as 30 days before the program start date and should refer to the date listed on their visa documents for specific details.  Advanced Standing MSW students must arrive in time to attend their in-person Bridge to Brown course in early August.

Brown School New Student Orientation is typically held the week prior to the start of fall classes.  Students will be sent information about this required event via email and can check back here for additional information as it is available.

International students must complete several time-sensitive steps to complete their enrollment and begin the visa process.  We encourage you to begin these steps as soon as possible after you are admitted to allow enough time to complete the visa process before the start of the fall semester.

1. Review the Financial Support Requirements and secure your
2. Submit your intent to enroll and $200 enrollment deposit in your 17³Ô¹Ï Graduate Admissions Portal
3. Monitor your personal email for information about creating your 17³Ô¹Ï key and log in
4. Follow instructions to activate your 17³Ô¹Ï Key and log in credentials to access university systems
5. Use your 17³Ô¹Ï key to create an account and log into  to complete the visa process
   
   The visa process is overseen by the Office of International Students and Scholars.  Incoming students are strongly encouraged to read about the required steps in the visa process on the  and reach out to their office with specific questions.

Specific details and deadlines will be shared with admitted students via email.  You can also read more about the complete visa process and specific recommendations on the 

U.S. immigration regulations require that international students lawfully document their ability to meet all educational and living expenses for their first year of study in the U.S. before the University can issue an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.  The non-negotiable total amount students are required to document for the 2026-2027 academic year includes tuition and fees, student health insurance, and estimated living expenses:

• MSW or MSP Students – $80,000 USD
• Advanced Standing MSW Students – $85,000

Admitted students may deduct two semesters of any Brown School scholarship from the total amount they are required to demonstrate. Students bringing dependents should add $4,500 for each dependent. Read more about the approved funding documents and all required steps in the visa process on the 

The Brown School does not provide full funding support such as assistantships, stipends, or tuition waivers for its master’s programs. International students must be prepared to meet the financial support requirement with external funding sources, such as personal funds, sponsor support, employer or government support, private loans, external grants or scholarships, etc.

The Brown School has an Office of Global Programs and full-time staff dedicated to supporting international students, from the time they apply until after they graduate.  International students also receive support from the , which supports international students across the University.

Incoming international students can arrive in the U.S. as early as 30 days before the program start date and should refer to the date listed on their visa documents for specific details.  We recommend that you arrive as early as possible within your specified time frame.  We strongly suggest international students secure visa appointment no later than August 1, 2026 to ensure enough time to arrive for the start of the semester.