MSW Application Requirements

The application deadline for Fall 2025 is March 1, 2025.

  1. Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.85 for the two-year program and 3.25 for the advanced standing.  If a student is below these criteria, the GPA for the last 60 hours of their undergraduate work may be considered.
  2. Undergraduate transcript
  3. Resume or Curriculum Vitae (see below for details)
  4. Essay related to advanced social work studies (see below for details)
  5. Two letters of recommendation
    1. Please provide two letters of recommendation that speak to your character, integrity, maturity, and readiness for graduate Social Work training.
      1. At least one letter must be from an academic source such as a current or previous professor
      2. The other letter can be from an academic or professional contact
  6. No GRE or other test required

Resume

  • Use one-inch margins, 12-point type with Times or New Times Roman font.
  • Personal data: Name, address, phone number, email address
  • Educational experience: Institutions and the dates you attended; Academic degrees awarded, including majors and minors
  • Work experience: A list of all positions listed in chronological order, beginning with the most recent, with a 2-3 line job description for each
  • All beginning and ending dates for each position
  • Indication of whether the position was full-time or part-time
  • Volunteer experience: A list of all positions listed in chronological order, beginning with the most recent, with a 2-3 line job description for each
  • All beginning and ending dates for each position
  • Professional affiliations and honors from your school, profession, or community:
  • List of any memberships in professional organizations and service groups
  • List of honors or special awards received.

Personal Narrative Essay Outline

Limit your essay to 2,000 words with Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced, and number your responses to correlate with the questions below. Be sure to abide by the word limit and the above stated guidelines. 

  1. Describe your long-term goals upon completion of the MSW program. 
  1. What are your reasons for pursuing an MSW? Please describe your professional experience, other work-related or volunteer experience that contributed to your choice of social work as a profession. 
  1. The NASW Code of Ethics identifies six core values of the social work profession, describing them as “the foundation of social work's unique purpose and perspective.” How are your personal and professional values compatible with these six core values? (give specific examples) 
  1. It is imperative that social workers become culturally competent and exemplify sensitivity to ethnicities, religions, beliefs, and lifestyles that may differ from their own. Briefly describe your definition of diversity in our society. Describe any experiences you have had that will strengthen your ability to work proficiently with diverse clients. 
  1. Identify one social problem that interests you, and briefly explain how you think social workers might address this issue. 
  1. The admissions committee is seeking a diverse group of students who can enrich the overall classroom learning experience. What special attributes or personal characteristics do you have that you believe will advance the scholarship and professional experience of your peers in the social work program? 
  1. Signature and date _________________________________