Regular Standing Admission Standards
MSW Program Admission Standards
Students who meet the application criteria and show strong potential to succeed in advanced social work practice by demonstrating interest, commitment, interpersonal skills, relevant experiences, and academic ability are considered for admission into the UWSP MSW Program. Applicants are encouraged to have a strong record of relevant social service experience via internships, employment, and volunteer experiences. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to the values of the social work profession, as evidenced by their personal statement, service/employment record, and letters of recommendation. Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the MSW Program.
Regular Standing Standards
Regular standing students are those whose undergraduate degree is in a field other than social work or whose Bachelor of Social Work degree was earned more than 7 years ago.
Degree Requirement
Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. The baccalaureate degree must be conferred prior to the beginning of classes. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. baccalaureate degree.
Grade Point Average
Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants whose last degree earned GPAs are less than this standard will be considered on an individual basis and are encouraged to provide additional information related to the context of their GPA in the application. Such applicants may also wish to enhance their academic records by 1)taking the GRE and submitting minimum scores for Quantitative Reasoning of 150 and Verbal Reasoning of 153 and/or 2) completing 6-9 credits of post-undergraduate bachelor’s or master’s coursework, with grades of B+ or higher.
Social Science Courses
Applicants must have completed 18 semester credits of social science coursework by the time of application. Social science is a group of academic disciplines focused on the study of humans and their behavior as individuals and within communities, institutions, and social structures. Social science disciplines include but are not limited to sociology, psychology, political science, women and gender studies, and/or anthropology. Students without 18 credits of social sciences are encouraged to consult with the MSW Program Director for guidance on completing this requirement and for information on options available to do so at UWSP.
Statistics
Applicants must have completed a college-level introductory course in statistics, 200-level or higher, with a grade of C- or better. Ideally, this course is completed or in progress at the time of application but may be taken at UWSP in the summer before the start of the MSW program begins if needed.
English language proficiency
Non-native English speakers must demonstrate English language proficiency.