Admission Requirements

Successful performance in graduate social work education requires emotional maturity and stability, interest in working with people and readiness to assume professional responsibilities. The applicant's knowledge of professional social work and/or experience in social work settings is an important consideration for admission. Applicants may be required to participate in group interviews.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Undergraduate preparation should demonstrate a liberal arts background and intellectual capacity for graduate study.

Good undergraduate preparation coupled with exposure to the profession through voluntary, internship and/or paid experience is the key to a successful application for admission.
Advanced Standing applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.0 and GPA of 3.2 in the social work major and must have received the BSW degree within the last 5 years.

Records of international students require special evaluation and should be submitted as early as possible. All applicants whose prior language of instruction was not English are required to take the TOEFL and achieve a minimum score of 213; 80 IBT (internet-based test).

Completed applications for admission should be submitted by the deadline date established by the School each year. All admissions are subject to limitations of available space in the School and placement in the field.

Deadlines

Spring 2009
Accelerated Full Time and Accelerated One Year Residence Program
Deadline: November 15, 2008

Fall 2009
Two Year Full Time Program and One Year Residence Program
Deadline: February 6, 2009

Fall 2009
Advanced Standing Program
Deadline: March 2, 2009

Requirements for MSW Degree

To graduate, students must complete a minimum of 60 credits, as defined by the School, including supervised field internships. All work must be completed within a five-year period with grades of "Credit" or "Honors." Students in the two-year program usually meet these requirements in four semesters of full-time study. Students in the One-Year Residence Program usually meet them in five semesters of full- and part-time study.

The School requires a "B" average for granting a Master's degree, and a grade of "Credit" assumes performance at that level or better. "Honors" are given only for consistently outstanding achievement, performance and originality, and indicate a grade above the "A" level. "No-Credit" is equivalent to failure.

Required Courses and Credits as of 9/1/99

Below you will find an outline of the School’s required and elective courses for all students.

Course Number Title Credit SSW 701 Social Welfare Policy & Services I 3 SSW 702 Social Welfare Policy & Services II 2 SSW 711 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I 3 SSW 712 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II 2 SSW 713 Human Behavior and the Social Environment III 2 SSW 751 or (754) Social Research I or (Advanced Research) 3 SSW 752 Social Research II 2 SSW 780 Administration of Social Agencies 3 SSW 719 Foundations of Social Work Practice 2   Major Method I 2   Major Method II 3   Major Method III 3   Required Minor Method I (II Optional) 2 or 4   Fourth Semester Required Method or Practice Elective 2 SSW 790 Professional Seminar 3   Two Free Electives at two credits each 4 SSW 761, 762, 763, 764 OR SSW 767 & 768 Field Practicum I, II, III, & IV OR Field Practicum I, and II for OYR Program Students 19 Total Credit 60

Two-credit elective courses meet for 10 weeks. Three-credit required courses meet for 15 weeks.

THE SCHOOL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO INTRODUCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE LISTED IF, IN THE JUDGEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FACULTY, THEY ARE WARRANTED.

Opportunities for waiver examinations may be available to newly admitted students each year in selected areas of the curriculum. Exemption does not carry credit; students receiving waivers must still complete 60 credits of academic work for the degree. Please note that we do not transfer the full research sequence from other institutions. Students must complete at least part of their research training and a practice-based research project.