Social Work

MSW admissions requirements for traditional program students:

• Prior Degree: Students accepted for the MSW Traditional Program must have completed a baccalaureate (e.g. BA, BS) degree reflecting a liberal arts foundation from an accredited college or university.
• GPA: Applicants should have strong academic preparation as demonstrated by an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in the last 60 hours of coursework.
• Course Prerequisites: Applicants must have one college-level course in each of the following: statistics, sociology, and psychology before registering for the first semester in the MSW Program.
• References: Applicants must submit three reference forms with letters from people who can address the applicant’s academic abilities, interpersonal skills, and potential for graduate education and professional social work practice. It is required that at least one reference be an academic reference from an academic advisor or instructor.
• Professional Statement: Applicants must submit a well-written professional statement (no more than 1500 words) that addresses the following:
  a. What motivated you to decide to pursue a MSW?
  b. How do your personal values connect with the values of the social work profession?
  c. What are strengths and weaknesses that will impact you as a social worker?
  d. Describe any experiences and leadership opportunities that will help you be successful in this graduate program?
  e. Discuss any significant volunteer and/or work experiences related to social work.
  f. What are your professional goals and plans in social work?
• Resume: Applicants will submit a current resume or vitae with their application.
• Interview: Applicants may be asked to interview with the Admissions Committee prior to final decision.

Petition for Academic Exception:

• An applicant who believes that his or her individual circumstances warrant consideration for a waiver of the minimum university admissions requirement of an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 must petition the MSW admissions committee.
• The request should be a one page statement entitled “Petition for Academic Exception”. The petition should include a statement indicating how not meeting the minimum admissions requirement of a 3.0 GPA should be waived, as it does not adequately represent the applicant’s capabilities. The applicant should briefly discuss how he or she has demonstrated a capacity for successful achievement in a rigorous graduate program.

For example, an applicant might provide evidence of:

• Superior grades during the final 60 hours of undergraduate coursework indicating a trend toward improved performance;
• Competence through achievement in another graduate program;
• Outstanding work experience in human services (volunteer or paid).

The applicant should also discuss if granted admission to the program, how he or she plans to address obstacles to successfully complete the program (for example, if a low grade point average was viewed as the result of a “needing to work full time during my undergraduate studies” the applicant should discuss why that is not likely to be a factor during his or her graduate study).