School of Social Work College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota

School of Social Work

FAQs for Admission to the MSW Program

Quickly link to questions about:

The Program

What are my options for completing the M.S.W. degree?
The School of Social Work offers several options for completing the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree program:

  • Full program of 50 semester credits at full-time and part-time study
  • Advanced standing program (available to students with an undergraduate degree in social work) – a minimum of 34 semester credits – at full-time and part-time study
  • Concentrations in direct practice and community practice
  • Attendance at the U of M Twin Cities campus, Minnesota State University at Moorhead or the University of Minnesota Rochester
  • Either Thursday/Friday/Saturday or weekend exclusive classes (Friday evenings and all day Saturday) on the Twin Cities campus

The same application is used for all program options. See Program Options for more information.

What is advanced standing and am I eligible?
Advanced standing is available to students who have earned a bachelors degree in social work from an undergraduate program that was accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the time the degree was awarded. To be eligible for advanced standing students must begin their graduate program within seven years of completing their undergraduate degree. A prospective student whose B.S.W. is more than seven years old can have her/his transcript evaluated for eligibility for the advanced standing program.

The advanced standing program is a minimum of 34 semester credits. Persons accepted for advanced standing may be required to take credits beyond the 34-credit minimum in some circumstances. See Program Options for more information.

I don’t have a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, but I have years of experience in the field. Can I apply for the advanced standing program?
No, our accreditation through the Council on Social Work Education stipulates that only those applicants from an accredited B.S.W. program can be eligible for advanced standing.

May I apply for advanced standing if I’ve already done graduate coursework in a social work related field?
Advanced standing is available only to applicants whose undergraduate degree was in social work and was earned in a program that was accredited by CSWE at the time the degree was awarded. Applicants who have credits or a Masters in a related field should consult our policies on transferring credits into the M.S.W. program.

Does the School of Social Work offer any dual degree Master’s programs?
The School of Social Work offers dual degree programs with two other departments of the U of M: the School of Public Health and the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Students receive an M.S.W. and one of the three degrees offered: Mater of Public Health, Master of Public Policy or Master of Urban and Regional Planning. These are the only dual degree programs we offer at this time. For more information on the dual degree programs visit the dual degrees page.

How long does the M.S.W. Program take to complete?
Students can complete the full program in two years of full-time study or three to four years of part-time. Students with advanced standing can complete the program in twelve months of full-time study or two to three years of part-time study. The dual degree option takes longer to complete.

Is your M.S.W. Program accredited?
Yes, the MSW program is accredited through the Council on Social Work Education.

How can I get more information about your curriculum?
The School of Social Work website offers a great deal of information about the M.S.W. curriculum including an outline of the foundation curriculum and two concentrations (one in direct practice and one in community practice). There are also links to course syllabi.

Foundation Curriculum
Direct Practice Concentration
Community Practice Concentration

Where are social work classes held?
Depending on your plan of study, social work classes are held on the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus, Minnesota State University at Moorhead campus, or University of Minnesota – Rochester Center campus.

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What to do Before Applying

Do I have to have an undergraduate degree in social work to apply for the Master's of Social Work Program?
What undergraduate majors do you recommend for students who want to get their M.S.W. in the future?
You do need to have an undergraduate degree that is completed by the start of the M.S.W. program, but it does not need to be in social work. We accept applicants with a variety of undergraduate degrees.

What are the minimum requirements to apply?

  • An undergraduate degree that is completed or can be completed by the start of the graduate program.
  • English language proficiency for international students whose first language is not English demonstrated by the following minimum scores on either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS):
    • TOEFL -
      • 550 on paper test
      • 213 on computer test
      • 79 on internet based test (iBT) with section scores of at least 21 on the writing section and 19 on the reading Section
    • IELTS - 6.5

The following items are not required for application, but the School gives strong preference to applicants with the following qualifications:

  • Potential for academic success as demonstrated by an undergraduate record with at least a 3.0 GPA.
    Note: You may apply if your GPA is under 3.0. Include an explanation of factors that influenced your undergraduate GPA and your potential for academic success in the graduate program as described in the PERSONAL STATEMENT section of the application.
  • A liberal arts background that includes coursework in history and social sciences, the humanities and the arts, physical and biological sciences and mathematics.
  • One year of work experience in human services is preferred. Work experience may include paid, volunteer and intern positions. Greater weight is given to length of time served, level of autonomy, and supervised direct client services or management.

My GPA is less than a 3.0. Will this bar me from getting into the MSW program?
You may still apply if your GPA is less than a 3.0, but keep in mind this will make your application less competitive. You should include an “Explanation of GPA” along with your personal statement as described in the MSW Application.

Will I need to take any entrance exams?
Most applicants are not required to take entrance exams. There are some exceptions. Read the following regarding the GRE and the TOEFL or IELTS to see if they apply to you.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
You are required to submit scores from the GRE if your undergraduate degree is from an institution where you did not receive grades, for example, you received competency-based grades or a narrative transcript. You also are required to take the GRE if more than 1/3 of your undergraduate credits are pass/fail grades. Scores may be no more than five years old. For further information regarding the GRE contact:

TOEFL and IELTS
International applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS). Scores must be less than two years old. The minimum scores required are:

  • TOEFL -
    • 550 on paper test
    • 213 on computer test
    • 79 on internet based test (iBT) with section scores of at least 21 on the writing section and 19 on the reading section
  • IELTS - 6.5

For more information on English language proficiency tests visit http://www.toefl.org or http://www.ielts.org.

Are there any prerequisites?
Before you enroll you must successfully complete (obtain a grade of C- or higher) a college-level statistics course and a college-level biology course that includes content on human physiological development. You may be accepted without the statistics and biology requirements, but, if admitted, you must complete them before you can enroll as a degree-seeking student.

The written materials you submit with your application allow us to assess your writing skills. On the basis of that assessment, some applicants are admitted to the program on the condition that they complete a writing course prior to beginning course work. This requirement will be communicated with the notification of admission to the program.

All applicants who are offered admission must pass a criminal background check administered by the State of Minnesota. This is done after the School of Social Work offers admission.

What classes will meet the biology requirement?
Introductory biology classes including “Human Biology” or “General Biology” or classes in human anatomy and physiology fulfill the biology requirement. You must have a grade of at least C-.

Biology classes that focus on human evolution or ecology do not have the required content and do not fulfill the biology prerequisite. If you are unsure, send a course description or syllabus with your application.

What classes will meet the statistics requirement?
Any college statistics class, including those from other departments, fulfills this requirement. You must have a grade of at least C-.

Research methods classes generally focus on design and methods of discovery and include only a brief review of descriptive statistics. Most of these courses do not have enough statistics to prepare you for graduate-level research methods and do not fulfill the statistics requirement. If, however, you feel your research methods class was essentially a class in statistics, we will review the class to determine if it meets the requirement. Send a course description or syllabus with your application materials.

Can I take master’s level social work courses before I apply or am admitted to the M.S.W. program?
Yes, you may take graduate Social Work classes prior to being admitted to the program by registering as a non-matriculated student. There are limits on how many credits may be transferred into the program depending on your situation. Taking classes as a non-matriculated student does not guarantee acceptance to the School of Social Work should you later decide to apply. See non-matriculated students for more information.

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The Application

What is the timeline for admissions?
The application generally becomes available in late August or early September for matriculation the following fall. The completed application is due in early January for most applicants. Students applying to the Rochester and Moorhead sites and students transferring from other M.S.W. programs sometimes have additional due dates in the spring. They can apply as late as these dates with the understanding that they are admitted on a space available basis. We do not accept late applications.

Letters of admission are sent out in March for most applicants, and in April for late applicants. The University of Minnesota fall semester always starts the day after Labor Day. See the Timetable for Application and Admission.

Where can I find the application?
Procedures for applying to the M.S.W. program changed in 2008. The entire M.S.W. application is completed through the University of Minnesota Graduate School on the Apply Yourself system. When completing the Graduate School application, there will be materials specific to the School of Social Work that applicants will need to upload. Please note that the M.S.W. program requires specific content for all of the supplemental information uploaded. Be sure to read all directions very carefully.

Is there an application fee?
There is a non-refundable application fee collected by the Graduate School. The application is not considered complete and ready for review until the fee is submitted.

Whom should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?
We require three letters and recommend that at least two be from professionals who have supervised or observed your work and have knowledge of professional social work and of your capacity and potential for beginning social work practice. Further instructions are on the M.S.W. Application.

What is the DOVE Fellowship, and am I eligible?
The DOVE Fellowship program assists graduate programs in enhancing diversity by recruiting and supporting students who are traditionally underrepresented in graduate programs and who otherwise might not have an opportunity for graduate education. Students awarded the DOVE fellowship receive tuition support and a living stipend. A complete description of the Fellowship can be found at http://www.grad.umn.edu/outreach/finances/fellowships.html

Applicants for the DOVE fellowship must submit all materials by an earlier deadline listed with the application materials.

How will I know if my application is complete?
A complete application means that you have submitted your application form to the Graduate School on the Apply Yourself system and they have received all required transcripts, applicable test scores and fees. When indicating that the application is complete, the Graduate School will not assess whether or not any supplementary statements have been submitted. There is a checklist in the application materials to help you. It is the applicant’s responsibility to be sure all required items are submitted. Because you put the materials together yourself, you will know your application is complete.

Do you admit students for spring or summer?
No, in the Twin Cities we start a new cohort of students in the fall semester only. In Rochester and Moorhead, a new cohort of students matriculates only every other fall.

How does the school arrive at a decision to admit or not admit an applicant?
All complete applications are reviewed independently by two faculty reviewers. For more information on selection criteria, see Requirements for Admission.

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Transferring

What are your policies for enrolling transfer students?
A “transfer student” is an applicant who applies for transfer to the School of Social Work while actively enrolled in or on a temporary leave from status as a graduate degree-seeking student in a CSWE-accredited school of social work.

  • Transfer students follow the same application procedure as all other applicants to the M.S.W. Program.
  • Transfer students may choose full- or part-time study, Twin Cities or Distance Education options, Thurs/Fri/Sat or weekend-exclusive classes.
  • A transfer student must complete at least 51% of all credits toward the M.S.W. at the U of M.
  • A transfer applicant with advanced standing is subject to the same restrictions on advanced standing eligibility as other applicants.
  • A transfer applicant to the full program must include the field evaluation from the first placement with the application. Admission may be contingent on review of the final field evaluation.
  • A transfer applicant must include a letter from the Director of Graduate Studies of the program from which she/he is transferring that indicates the applicant is a student in good standing at the time of transfer to the U of M.
  • Transfer applicants have an initial and extended deadline, however, admission after the first deadline is on a “space available” basis only.

What are your policies for transferring credits into the M.S.W. Program?
A full program (50 credit) student may transfer a total of 8 semester credits into her/his MSW degree program. A student with advanced standing may transfer a total of 6 semester credits into her/his degree program. All transferred courses must have a grade of B (3.0) or higher.

Transferred credits may be from the following sources (all credits expressed as semester credits):

  • Up to 6 or 8 credits (depending on status as full program or advanced standing) of graduate level course work from non-degree seeking student status at the University of Minnesota or from a graduate program to which the student was admitted at another accredited college or university. These credits are generally completed before a student enrolls in the MSW program.
  • Up to 3 graduate credits from another college or university's graduate social work or related program, without admission to that program, with permission from the MSW Program Director. Courses transferred from another school of social work must offer material in a perspective not available through the curriculum offered by the University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work. These credits can be completed after a student has matriculated in the MSW program.
  • The total of 6 or 8 semester credits can be from a single source or from different sources, as identified above, but may not exceed the limit of 6 or 8 credits, depending on the student’s status.

Courses from the following sources cannot be transferred to the MSW program:

  • No more than 3 credits of graduate courses from other schools or universities unless the student was admitted to a graduate program at that school or university and the course was part of that program.
  • Credit from undergraduate courses (if the student takes social work courses as an undergraduate and therefore credit is not transferable, waiver of core course and substitution of an elective to meet the MSW credit requirement may be possible after approval of and discussion with adviser and MSW Program Director)
  • 5000 – level courses that have not been approved for graduate credit.
  • Courses with grades below B (3.0).

In accordance with accreditation guidelines from the Council on Social Work Education, the School of Social Work does not give academic credit for life experiences, including field.

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The Distance Program

Why do you start a new group of students at the Moorhead and Rochester sites only every other fall?
In order to make the Rochester and Moorhead sites viable, each new cohort of students needs to be at capacity. In order to ensure that there are enough students to form a full cohort, we start a new group of students every other year, rather than every year. Distance students start the program on even years (2008, 2010, etc.).

Can I apply for the Rochester or Moorhead sites on the “off” year of the program?
If I am not admitted during the off year, am I allowed to reapply the following year?
Yes, you may submit an application on an off year (odd years when we will not be starting a new cohort), but your matriculation will be delayed a year. You may reapply the following year if you are not admitted the first time you apply.

If I am interested in applying to Rochester or Moorhead, should I contact those sites for more information?
Should I send my application to those sites?
All admissions inquiries and the MSW application should be submitted to the Twin Cities site.

While the Rochester and Moorhead sites do have their own offices and staff, the majority of administrative work for the distance sites is done through the Twin Cities office, including processing of applications for admission. We do offer information sessions at each of our distance sites. A calendar of these sessions can be found at MSW Information Sessions.

Will I be able to complete my field practicum in the Rochester or Moorhead area, or will I need to come to the Twin Cities for my placement?
There are a variety of field placements in Rochester and Moorhead and throughout Minnesota and surrounding states. Our field staff make every effort to place students in settings that provide excellent training for professional social work and that are in locations that are convenient for the student. The school also administers Title IV-E Child Welfare Scholarships through the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare. More information on the Title-IV-E Scholarship can be found here.

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Financial Aid and Scholarship Information

What kind of financial aid is available?
The School of Social Work administers some fellowships, stipends, and other grant-in-aid funds for graduate student support. Research and teaching assistantships may be available in the School of Social Work and elsewhere in the University and are considered and handled as job/employment opportunities.

For more information on financial aid awarded by the School of Social Work see our Financial Aid webpage.

Student loans are available through the University’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. We encourage you to contact that office directly at (612)624-1665 or visit OneStop

Graduate School fellowship information can be found online.

How do I apply for the Title IV-E Child Welfare Scholarship?
If you are admitted into the program, you will receive a letter with instructions on how to apply for scholarships offered by the School of Social Work, including the Child Welfare Scholarship.

Is financial aid available to non-degree seeking students?
No, you must be enrolled in a degree granting program to receive financial aid.

Is financial aid available to students who are not US citizens?
While all students are encouraged to apply for financial aid at the U of M, there are no continuous funds to assist international applicants. All such applicants must provide assurances, in writing, to the U of M Graduate School of their ability to provide full financial support for their entire program of study. More information for international students can be found here.

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Licensure

Once I complete the MSW program, am I automatically licensed to practice social work in the state of Minnesota?
No, completing the MSW program does not automatically make you a licensed social worker. In order to become licensed, you must pass the Association of Social Work Boards national licensure exam offered through the Minnesota Board of Social Work. Licensure requirements vary from state to state. More information about licensure in Minnesota can be found on the Minnesota Board of Social Work website.

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Information Sessions and Contact Information

What if I have more questions?
We offer several information sessions where M.S.W. applicants can learn about the School of Social Work, the M.S.W. program, and the application process. A calendar of these sessions can be found at Information Sessions.
You can also contact the Admissions staff at swadmis@umn.edu or (612)624-4704 or toll free 1-800-779-8636 with questions.

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