MSW Admissions
MSW Admission Requirements
The School of Social Work seeks to enroll students who are intellectually and emotionally capable of completing graduate education and practicing in the profession of social work. It is designed to help both the School and the candidate determine whether he or she has the essential intellectual and personal attributes necessary for admission. Assessment of this potential is made on the basis of academic performance and background, standardized test scores (for applicants who have GPA below 3.0 and for international students), social work and related work experience, personal qualifications, references, and indications of the applicant's commitment to the profession.
Policies governing admission requirements are determined by a process that includes input from faculty, administrators, alumni, and students. Recommendations for policy changes are considered by the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee and the faculty. Applications for admission are reviewed according to faculty-approved criteria, as outlined above.
Prior to enrollment, applicants must have or expect to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants should have a broad liberal arts background which includes study in the social, behavioral, and biological sciences. Coursework relating to diverse cultures, social conditions, and social problems is also expected. Believing that a strong liberal arts perspective promotes understanding of our mission—and in particular of the person-in-the-environment context—the School's faculty looks for indications of this perspective when reviewing applications. An applicant whose undergraduate record does not reflect a liberal arts perspective may be encouraged to take coursework in the liberal arts to strengthen his or her application.
