Master of Social Work in
Social Work
Online or On Campus

• Demonstrate a strong sense of professional self.
• Constructively use supervision and consultation appropriate to the area of practice.
• Are committed to and able to identify knowledge and skills for continuing personal and professional development. Integrate professional attitudes, values, and ethics in practice.
• Critically assessing and applying relevant practice theories and models for their differential application to varied clients and problems.
• Differentially applying practice knowledge and skills in varied settings. Working with clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures in a nondiscriminatory manner that maximizes client strengths and counters the effects of oppression.
• Using evidence-based practice and evaluating the effectiveness of the practice.
• Demonstrating knowledge and proficiency in human behavior and clinical practice skills to work with a range of clients.
• Integrating policy, organizational and community context in clinical practice that benefits the client.
• Demonstrate leadership skills. This includes taking responsibility and proactive action appropriate to the situation and engaging others in solving problems.
• Differentially applying practice knowledge and skills in varied settings. Continuing breadth and depth in basic interviewing, relationship building and intervention skills as applied to complex and advanced clinical practice situations.
• Work collaboratively with other disciplines in order to benefit clients.

Deadlines

Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: Not Available
Spring: Not Available
Summer: January 31 at 11:59 p.m.

No Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: Not Available
Spring: Not Available
Summer: January 31 at 11:59 p.m.

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Resume/CV
• Three letters of recommendation
  • One letter must be from a supervisor or liaison for the student's field placement experience.
  • Recommenders should have a professional relationship to you, such as a supervisor or a professor. They should NOT have a personal relationship to you, such as a friend or family member.
  • Recommenders should be able to speak to any one or more of the following areas regarding the applicant's: Potential for professional social work practice; Experience in human service (work or volunteer); or Academic ability.
• Statement of Background and Goals
  • INSTRUCTIONS:
    Please write a 3-5 page, double spaced essay in 12-point font that incorporates your responses to the three areas listed below. Do not write three separate responses. Overall, we are looking for you to show that you understand the social work profession, are committed to its mission, and are ready for graduate-level field education and coursework. 
  • Self Awareness in the Service of Others
    In the field of social work, one’s values, attitudes, and beliefs can influence our practice with clients. The experience of graduate social work education includes constant self-awareness and personal growth.  Describe a situation in which your values, attitudes, and beliefs were challenged. How did you respond?  How can challenging yourself to examine your values, attitudes, and beliefs improve your ability to provide services for clients, families, communities, and organizations as a social worker in the future?
  • Social Justice Values
    Describe how you have incorporated the social work value of social justice into an experience within one of the following areas: academic setting (e.g. classroom discussions, peer interactions); professional setting (volunteer or paid work); community setting (e.g. social group, self-identity group, family, hobby).
  • Readiness for Coursework and Field Education
    Identify your areas of strength and areas for improvement relevant to managing multiple responsibilities, receiving constructive feedback, and maintaining personal and professional boundaries. Discuss your plans for simultaneously managing the rigorous demands of graduate education and fieldwork.
  • OPTIONAL: Additional Information
    Note: This section only applies if you have any additional information that you would like to discuss in your statement of background and goals. 
    In one page or less, please include any additional information that you would believe would help us understand you as an applicant including, but not limited to: transcripts (e.g. undergraduate GPA lower than a 3.0, multiple graduate degrees, failed field internship); resume (e.g. gaps in employment, little or no paid work or volunteer experience, changes in career or major); recommendations (e.g. no academic or professional reference, use of a personal reference); goals statement (e.g. did not answer one of the questions); or any other circumstance you would like the review committee to take into consideration

Special Notes

To be eligible for the Advanced Standing program, students must have received a baccalaureate degree from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education within six years of matriculation in the MSW program. 

This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions.  If applicants have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of the intended academic program.

Deadlines

Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: January 31 at 11:59 p.m.
Spring: Not Available
Summer: Not Available

No Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: January 31 at 11:59 p.m.
Spring: Not Available
Summer: Not Available

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Resume/CV
• Three letters of recommendation
  • Recommenders should have a professional relationship to you, such as a supervisor or a professor. They should NOT have a personal relationship to you, such as a friend or family member.
  • Recommenders should be able to speak to any one or more of the following areas regarding the applicant's: Potential for professional social work practice; Experience in human service (work or volunteer); or Academic ability.
• Statement of Background and Goals
  • INSTRUCTIONS:
    Please write a 3-5 page, double spaced essay in 12-point font that incorporates your responses to the three areas listed below. Do not write three separate responses. Overall, we are looking for you to show that you understand the social work profession, are committed to its mission, and are ready for graduate-level field education and coursework.
  • Self-Awareness in the Service of Others
    In the field of social work, one’s values, attitudes, and beliefs can influence our practice with clients. The experience of graduate social work education includes constant self-awareness and personal growth.  Describe a situation in which your values, attitudes, and beliefs were challenged. How did you respond?  How can challenging yourself to examine your values, attitudes, and beliefs improve your ability to provide services for clients, families, communities, and organizations as a social worker in the future?
  • Social Justice Values
    Describe how you have incorporated the social work value of social justice into an experience within one of the following areas: academic setting (e.g. classroom discussions, peer interactions); professional setting (volunteer or paid work); community setting (e.g. social group, self-identity group, family, hobby).
  • Readiness for Coursework and Field Education
    Identify your areas of strength and areas for improvement relevant to managing multiple responsibilities, receiving constructive feedback, and maintaining personal and professional boundaries. Discuss your plans for simultaneously managing the rigorous demands of graduate education and fieldwork.
  • OPTIONAL: Additional Information
    Note: This section only applies if you have any additional information that you would like to discuss in your statement of background and goals.
    In one page or less, please include any additional information that you would believe would help us understand you as an applicant including, but not limited to: transcripts (e.g. undergraduate GPA lower than a 3.0, multiple graduate degrees, failed field internship); resume (e.g. gaps in employment, little or no paid work or volunteer experience, changes in career or major); recommendations (e.g. no academic or professional reference, use of a personal reference); goals statement (e.g. did not answer one of the questions); or any other circumstance you would like the review committee to take into consideration.

Special Notes

This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions.  If applicants have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of the intended academic program.

Deadlines

Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: January 31 at 11:59 p.m.
Spring: Not Available
Summer: Not Available

No Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: January 31 at 11:59 p.m.
Spring: Not Available
Summer: Not Available

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Resume/CV
• Three letters of recommendation
  • Recommenders should have a professional relationship to you, such as a supervisor or a professor. They should NOT have a personal relationship to you, such as a friend or family member.
  • Recommenders should be able to speak to any one or more of the following areas regarding the applicant's: Potential for professional social work practice; Experience in human service (work or volunteer); or Academic ability.
• Statement of Background and Goals
  • INSTRUCTIONS:
    Please write a 3-5 page, double spaced essay in 12-point font that incorporates your responses to the three areas listed below. Do not write three separate responses. Overall, we are looking for you to show that you understand the social work profession, are committed to its mission, and are ready for graduate-level field education and coursework.
  • Self-Awareness in the Service of Others
    In the field of social work, one’s values, attitudes, and beliefs can influence our practice with clients. The experience of graduate social work education includes constant self-awareness and personal growth.  Describe a situation in which your values, attitudes, and beliefs were challenged. How did you respond?  How can challenging yourself to examine your values, attitudes, and beliefs improve your ability to provide services for clients, families, communities, and organizations as a social worker in the future?
  • Social Justice Values
    Describe how you have incorporated the social work value of social justice into an experience within one of the following areas: academic setting (e.g. classroom discussions, peer interactions); professional setting (volunteer or paid work); community setting (e.g. social group, self-identity group, family, hobby).
  • Readiness for Coursework and Field Education
    Identify your areas of strength and areas for improvement relevant to managing multiple responsibilities, receiving constructive feedback, and maintaining personal and professional boundaries. Discuss your plans for simultaneously managing the rigorous demands of graduate education and fieldwork.
  • OPTIONAL: Additional Information
    Note: This section only applies if you have any additional information that you would like to discuss in your statement of background and goals.
    In one page or less, please include any additional information that you would believe would help us understand you as an applicant including, but not limited to: transcripts (e.g. undergraduate GPA lower than a 3.0, multiple graduate degrees, failed field internship); resume (e.g. gaps in employment, little or no paid work or volunteer experience, changes in career or major); recommendations (e.g. no academic or professional reference, use of a personal reference); goals statement (e.g. did not answer one of the questions); or any other circumstance you would like the review committee to take into consideration.

Special Notes

This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions.  If applicants have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of the intended academic program.

Deadlines

There is no assistantship option for online students.

Fall: January 31 at 11:59 p.m.
Spring: Not Available
Summer: Not Available
 

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Resume/CV
• Three letters of recommendation
  • Recommenders should have a professional relationship to you, such as a supervisor or a professor. They should NOT have a personal relationship to you, such as a friend or family member.
  • Recommenders should be able to speak to any one or more of the following areas regarding the applicant's: Potential for professional social work practice; Experience in human service (work or volunteer); or Academic ability.
• Statement of Background and Goals
  • INSTRUCTIONS:
    Please write a 3-5 page, double spaced essay in 12-point font that incorporates your responses to the four areas listed below. Do not write four separate responses. Overall, we are looking for you to show that you understand the social work profession, are committed to its mission, and are ready for graduate-level field education and coursework.
  • Self-Awareness in the Service of Others
    In the field of social work, one’s values, attitudes, and beliefs can influence our practice with clients. The experience of graduate social work education includes constant self-awareness and personal growth. Describe a situation in which your values, attitudes, and beliefs were challenged. How did you respond? How can challenging yourself to examine your values, attitudes, and beliefs improve your ability to provide services for clients, families, communities, and organizations as a social worker in the future?
  • Social Justice Values
    Describe how you have incorporated the social work value of social justice into an experience within one of the following areas: academic setting (e.g. classroom discussions, peer interactions); professional setting (volunteer or paid work); community setting (e.g. social group, self-identity group, family, hobby).
  • Readiness for Coursework and Field Education
    Identify your areas of strength and areas for improvement relevant to managing multiple responsibilities, receiving constructive feedback, and maintaining personal and professional boundaries. Discuss your plans for simultaneously managing the rigorous demands of graduate education and fieldwork.
  • Online MSW Program
    If you are applying to the fully Online MSW program, please describe your experience with asynchronous learning including skills, readiness and expectations for asynchronous learning.
  • OPTIONAL: Additional Information
    Note: This section only applies if you have any additional information that you would like to discuss in your statement of background and goals.
    In one page or less, please include any additional information that you would believe would help us understand you as an applicant including, but not limited to: transcripts (e.g. undergraduate GPA lower than a 3.0, multiple graduate degrees, failed field internship); resume (e.g. gaps in employment, little or no paid work or volunteer experience, changes in career or major); recommendations (e.g. no academic or professional reference, use of a personal reference); goals statement (e.g. did not answer one of the questions); or any other circumstance you would like the review committee to take into consideration.

Special Notes

This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. If applicants have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of the intended academic program.

Deadlines

Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: January 31 at 11:59 p.m.
Spring: Not Available
Summer: Not Available

No Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: January 31 at 11:59 p.m.
Spring: Not Available
Summer: Not Available

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Three letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
  The personal statement should address three areas:  (1) educational background and professional experience; (2) substantive areas of interest for research, evaluation, and/or teaching; and (3) professional goals, including how a doctorate in social welfare supports achievement of these goals. This statement should be no more than 4 double-spaced typed pages with 1 inch margins and a font of 12.
• CV/Resume

Special Notes

This program requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions.  If applicants have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of the intended academic program.

Deadlines

Fall: 2 weeks before start of semester
Spring: 2 weeks before start of semester
Summer: 2 weeks before start of the class

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts showing receipt of BA or BS
   

Special Notes

Non -degree students can take a maximum of 2 courses per semester in the School of Social Welfare. Unlike our matriculated program, applicants may apply to begin courses during the Fall, Spring or Summer. 

A maximum of 12 credits of graduate coursework taken as a non-matriculated student will automatically count toward the MSW degree if the credits fulfill MSW requirements at the time you matriculate and the courses were taken within 3 years of matriculation.