Students from all academic disciplines are invited to apply to the Master of Social Work program. Students admitted to the graduate social work program may be admitted to the foundation program (63 semester credits) or to the advanced standing program (37 credits). Students requesting admission to either program must demonstrate the following:
- Proof of academic achievement. A four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university is a prerequisite for admission to the Northwest Nazarene University Graduate Social Work program. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 is expected with a GPA of 3.0 or better in the applicant’s major field of study. Students with an overall GPA of less than 2.75 may be considered for admission provided that the GPA from the junior and senior years of their baccalaureate program is 3.0 or better.
- Evidence of having successfully completed (C [2.0] or better) a minimum of 21 semester credits in the following liberal arts areas: psychology, sociology, ecology, political science, law, economics, business, statistics, research, and oral or written communication. At least one course in human biology or biology that included content in human biology must be included.
- Evidence of potential to practice social work, such as submission of evaluation material from field supervisors in the applicant’s baccalaureate program, letters of recommendation from supervisors in professional employment settings (or full-time volunteer settings, e.g., VISTA), letters of recommendation from faculty in a related field of study (e.g., religion, psychology, sociology).
- Personal statement/writing sample (Maximum 8 pages).
- A basic understanding of computer technology, including good word processing skills.
PLEASE NOTE: Academic credit is not given for life or work experiences.
FOUNDATION STANDING
Student who enter the Master of Social Work program from disciplines other than social work or who received their undergraduate degree in social work more than five years prior to entering the MSW program are given Foundation Standing. These students must take courses to lay a foundation for the concentration level social work courses. These foundation courses are taken during the first three semesters of the program.
ADVANCED STANDING
The ADVANCED STANDING option was developed to recognize the academic accomplishments of outstanding applicants who have completed a B.A. in social work or BSW from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Criteria for admission to advanced status are the same as foundation admission requirements with the addition of the following:
- Applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.25 or better for the last 90 quarter credits or last 60 semester credits in their baccalaureate program.
- A grade of B [3.0] or higher is required in all upper division social work classes.
- Applicants must have completed their BSW within five years of enrollment in this MSW program. Individuals applying for advanced standing must submit a copy of their senior practicum evaluation and any other supporting documents (such as information related to terms spent overseas, in urban or rural settings, or a copy of a research project) that can establish their competency to begin graduate study.
- At the time of matriculation, applicants are expected to have completed one full year of social work employment, voluntary service in a human services setting (e.g., VISTA, MCC, AmeriCorps), or an overseas experience. Applicants need to submit with their application material an employment/volunteer form and a letter of reference from their on-site supervisor. Consideration for admission to advanced standing will be given to outstanding, recent graduates of BSW programs who have not completed a full year of work in a social service agency but have participated in diverse volunteer settings during their college or university experience (e.g., overseas terms, urban plunges, rural projects, or outstanding research projects).
BSW/LICENSED NOT QUALIFIED FOR ADVANCED STANDING
Applicants who are graduates of a baccalaureate program accredited by CSWE but do not meet all of the program's requirements for advanced standing may request to meet with the Program Director to develop an individualized study plan. Only courses completed within the last five years with a grade of B [3.0] or better will be considered as meeting the eligibility requirements for discussion of a course challenge. Consideration of the applicant's request will be based upon a formal examination or a discussion of relevant theories/concepts and course content with the Program Director.
Applicants who are not graduates of BSW or B.A. social work programs but who have graduated in a related field and believe that a particular foundation course(s) will be redundant may request to take an examination as an option for challenging a professional foundation course(s). Upon successful completion of a challenge exam, the applicant will be excused from taking the selected foundation course. A maximum of 12 credits may be challenged.
