Health Insurance
As a condition of enrollment at the University of California, all registered students are required to to meet the university’s health insurance mandate. Registered UC Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students are automatically enrolled in the Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) as a way to meet this mandate. Berkeley SHIP is a comprehensive major medical insurance plan, providing medical, counseling, prescription, vision and dental services. To learn more about SHIP and how to access SHIP benefits, please visit University Health Services > How to Use SHIP.
Students can choose to keep SHIP or waive enrollment if they have comparable coverage that meets the University’s criteria. While all students are eligible to use services at the campus health center, the Tang Center will only accept SHIP insurance. For more information please visit University Health Services > Waiving SHIP.
Liability Insurance
Berkeley Social Welfare provides all MSW students with professional and general liability insurance for legal protection if an act or omission occurs at field placement that inadvertently leads to harm. Premiums for this required liability coverage are paid on students' behalf from Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition (PDST) fees charged to all Social Welfare MSW students. All students accepted into the Social Welfare MSW program must be eligible for required coverage under the School's professional liability insurance policy to be eligible for field placement.
Mandatory TB Screening and Immunizations
All UC Berkeley incoming and re-admitted students must satisfy TB screening and immunization requirements as mandated by the UC Office of the President by the established deadlines. Failure to comply may jeopardize matriculation or continued enrollment in the Social Welfare MSW Program. To learn more about these requirements, deadlines and steps to complete, please visit the Tang Center’s Mandatory TB & Immunization Program.
Some field placement sites require additional health screening. If a student does not wish to submit to additional health screening for whatever reason, they may request information about other available placement options.