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 (38 credits).

Students requesting admission to either program must demonstrate the following:

• A four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 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.¹
• An official transcript showing evidence of having successfully completed (C [2.0] or better) a minimum of 21 semester credits in any of 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.²
• 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.

Additional requirements for advanced standing:

• 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 or eight years if the applicant has been working full time in the field of social worker since receiving their undergraduate degree. 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.³

Other options for students not qualified for advanced standing:

• Applicants who are recent 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.
• Applicants who are not graduates of a BSW or B.A. social work program but who have graduated in a related field and believe that a particular foundation course will be redundant may request to take an examination as an option for challenging the course. A maximum of 12 credits may be challenged.