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Master of Social Work Degree Program

Admission Requirements

Our graduate curriculum rests on three general requirements:

  1. Successful completion of a liberal arts undergraduate program (defined below);
  2. Advanced competency in areas necessary for graduate work (e.g. critical thinking, communication skills, information literacy);
  3. Commitment to working within the values, perspectives and practice arenas of advanced generalist social work (please refer to the MSW Overview Booklet included with this application for further information).

Students may apply for admission to either the Standard Program, full-time or part-time; or the 34 credit hour Advanced Standing Program, full-time or part-time (see Overview Booklet for further information on each of these programs).

All applicants are expected to have:

  • A baccalaureate degree from a nationally accredited college or university that reflects a broad liberal arts preparation. The Division of Social Work defines a broad liberal arts preparation as having completed at least 21 semester hours in social and behavioral sciences and 6 credits in each of the following: the natural sciences, the humanities and visual and performing arts, and quantitative reasoning;
  • A course with human biology content and a course in statistics, in which they have received a grade of C or better;
  • An undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0, on a 4 point scale (provisional admission may be offered to otherwise outstanding applicants with GPAs below 3.0).

To qualify for the Advanced Standing Program, applicants are also expected to have:

  • A bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited social work program.
  • An undergraduate social work GPA of 3.25.

Application process

The Division of Social Work will begin reviewing applications for the 2007 year on January 17th and will have rolling admissions. You should realize that this is a highly competitive program. Therefore, you are encouraged to apply early. Completed applications will be reviewed as they are received until the program is full. Application packets must be complete before the admissions committee will review an applicant's file. We will attempt to complete the review process and provide you with our decision within two weeks of receipt.

Applicants for admission to the Master of Social Work Program must fulfill the general admission requirements established by the University of Wyoming, as well as the requirements specific to the Division of Social Work.

Application to the Graduate School

The following materials should be sent to the Graduate School:

  • The graduate school application, to be completed on-line at http://grad.uwyo.edu
  • A check or money order for the amount noted on the Graduate School application form in U.S. dollars payable to Graduate Admissions, University of Wyoming. (This is a non-refundable fee.)
  • Official transcripts (one set) of all previous academic work, undergraduate and graduate, sent directly from the Registrar of each institution attended, whether or not credit was earned. You do not need to submit transcripts from the University of Wyoming.
  • International applicants must also send the following information:
    • TOEFL scores forwarded directly from the Educational Testing Service
    • Confidential financial statement form, certified, with supporting documentation.

Send the above materials to:
Graduate School Admissions
Department 3108 (108 Knight Hall)
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY 82071-3108

Application to the Division of Social Work

  • Division of Social Work MSW Application Face Sheet.
  • Photocopies of all transcripts (or a second set of originals).
  • Photocopies of GRE scores (optional).
  • TOEFL scores for international applicants.
  • Three letters of recommendation. (Please see additional information regarding the letters of recommendation).
  • A Personal Statement (please see additional information regarding the personal statement).
  • An Academic Essay which addresses an issue relevant to advanced generalist social work (please see additional information regarding the Academic Essay).
  • An updated academic resume (please see additional information regarding the format for the academic resume).

Send the above materials to:
Admissions, MSW Program
Division of Social Work
Department 3632
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY 82071-3632

Admissions Review Process

Applications for admission to the MSW program are carefully reviewed in accordance with our admissions requirements and our division's mission. Decisions are not based solely, nor even primarily, on GPA, but rather on the Admissions Committee's review of the application materials as they reflect the applicant's commitment to practice excellence, social and economic justice and the values and ethics of the social work profession, and their potential as a graduate student, social work practitioner, and leader in the social work field.

Initial review of applications is performed by administrative personnel. This review determines that the application is complete and that the applicant has received, or will receive, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with a broad liberal arts preparation. Failure to complete application procedures in their entirety will delay the processing of applications. Any falsification of information on this form may be cause for immediate dismissal from the program or rejection of the application.

All items in the packet are carefully reviewed by graduate faculty members. The applicant's GPA, number of years of work experience, numerical ratings on the letters of reference, and coursework completed are evaluated. The reviewers also closely evaluate the application materials for evidence of a commitment to the social work profession and its value system, an understanding of diversity, and a commitment to a career that is compatible with our advanced generalist concentration (refer to the Overview Booklet for more information on the profession and the advanced generalist concentration). Communication skills and critical thinking abilities are also assessed. For those applicants to the Advanced Standing Program, understanding of theoretical perspectives that are the foundation of social work are also evaluated. This information is determined by examining the personal statement, the resume, academic essay and the information provided in the letters of reference.

The MSW Admissions Committee, composed of members of the graduate faculty in the Division of Social Work, reviews each application, and a decision regarding admission is made. The committee may choose to interview applicants in order to obtain additional information. The Division of Social Work makes their recommendation regarding admission to the Graduate School. The final decision and notification letter originates from the Graduate School.

Admission Status Categories

Students admitted to the MSW program may be admitted into any of three categories.

  1. Admitted Graduate Student
  2. Provisional Admission: Under special circumstances, applicants whose undergraduate performance falls below admission requirements may be considered for provisional admission.
  3. Administrative Provisional Admission: Under special circumstances, applicants who do not meet Divisional course requirements may be admitted with an individualized plan to complete the missing coursework.

See the UW Graduate Bulletin for more information about Admission Status Categories, notification of admission, and Regulations Common to All Graduate Degrees. The Graduate Bulletin is available on line at http://grad.uwyo.edu.