SOCIAL WORK MSW – ADVANCED STANDING

Expand Your Reach

Social Work MSW - Advanced Standing Admission Requirements

Advanced Standing

• Domestic applicants who have received a BSW from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited program within the last eight years may apply for Advanced Standing.
• International applicants (on-campus program only) who have received a BSW from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited program, recognized through its International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Services, or covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors within the last eight years may apply for advanced-standing.

Admissions

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

• November 1 is the early decision deadline. Applications submitted by November 1 will receive an early decision notification and accepted applicants are eligible for scholarships provided through the School of Social Work.
• February 1 is the priority deadline. Applications submitted by February 1 will be eligible for scholarships provided through the School of Social Work.
• April 15 is the final deadline. Applications submitted between February 1 and April 15 will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

NOTE: International applicants living outside of the United States are not eligible to apply to the online MSW program.

* NOTE: Current WVU BSW students are eligible for an abbreviated application process. Please contact socialwork@mail.wvu.edu for more information

Application and Application Fee

• Complete the Online Application
• $60 application fee

Transcripts

• Submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework to the WVU Office of Graduate Admissions at WVU Hub, P.O. Box 6004, Morgantown, WV 26506. ( *NOTE: official transcripts for applicants who attended West Virginia University will be uploaded by WVU Graduate Admissions upon submission of the graduate application).
• Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded by applicants in their application for the purposes of review for admission. However, official transcripts are required before a formal acceptance to the MSW program is offered.

Resume

• Submit a current resume including employment, volunteer experience, including start and end dates.

Letters of Recommendation

Three professional letters of recommendation are required. Contact information for these individuals should be provided within the online Graduate Application. Please submit a recommendation from each of the following categories*** (see note below):

• Academic**(see note for advanced-standing applicants below)
• Social Work/Human Service Experience (volunteer or paid)
• Employer

**It is preferred that advanced-standing applicants submit a supporting recommendation from the director of their undergraduate program. Use this as the academic reference. A recommendation from a different BSW faculty member is also acceptable.

***The recommendation suggestions above are preferable, however, for applicants that have been out of school for many years or who have been working in the field, a combination of 3 professional recommendations that address your ability to handle the rigors of graduate studies and your experience and skills in the helping field are acceptable. For students right out of undergraduate studies with little work experience; a combination of 3 professional recommendations that include 2 academic references and a social work/human service experience recommendation are appropriate. Questions? Contact us at socialwork@mail.wvu.edu.

If you use recommenders other than the suggested academic, social work/human service experience, and employer, discuss your reasons why in the Addendum section of the admission essay.

Admission Essay

All applicants must submit an Admission Essay. Please see detailed guidelines for the essay on the WVU School of Social Work Admissions Requirements.

For more information, contact Master of Social Work Admissions & Recruitment at socialwork@mail.wvu.edu or phone (304) 293-3280.

Apply Now

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Learn more about the MSW at West Virginia University, the application process, and the student experience. Watch the video series.

Your future in Social Work

The demand for professional social workers has been steadily rising. Projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other research organizations indicate that this trend will persist, both in terms of increased numbers and the expansion of specialized programs. The curriculum of the WVU MSW program is carefully crafted to equip students for these growing career opportunities.

The Benefits to Choosing Our Program

The Advanced Standing degree plan is available to students who have either earned a baccalaureate degree in Social Work (BSW) within the previous 8 years from a program accredited by the Council of Social Work Education, that is recognized through its International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service, or that is covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors.

Career outlook for Social Work

Graduates of the MSW program are employed throughout the United States and internationally. They work as individual, family, and group treatment specialists, planners, community organizers, and social researchers. They also work as social work educators and as administrators in a variety of programs such as mental health clinics, hospitals, correctional institutions, courts, delinquency programs, aging programs, family counseling agencies, child protective agencies, public welfare departments, child development programs, drug and alcohol abuse programs, public schools, community action agencies, settlement houses, city governments, state government planning agencies, federal administrative agencies, and private research and development organizations concerned with human problems. Social workers are the largest group of mental health service providers in the country.