Questions about life in the MSW Program
The program begins in the summer term. Depending on your specific program track, you will enroll in either one or two summer classes. The modality of summer courses includes three face-to-face intensive weekends. If you are taking a second class during the summer, it will be asynchronous online or live sessions via Zoom. Note that we do not schedule any classes during the evening hours in the summer.
The advanced-standing program is for those with a bachelor's of social work (BSW). The standard program is for those with any other bachelor's degree.
You will absolutely fit in! Our program values the diverse perspectives and skills that students from various academic backgrounds bring to the table. While many of our students do have backgrounds in fields such as psychology, history, sociology, family and consumer science, and public health, we also warmly welcome and embrace students from different paths, including STEM fields. Your unique experiences and insights can enrich the learning environment for everyone.
The MSW program is a hybrid model. We offer a combination of face-to-face, Zoom and online classes. While we offer some online courses, our program is not an online program and does have a required in person component.
There is no requirement to live at either UW site (Casper or Laramie), but in-person attendance is required during intensive weekends – so you must be able to travel to the site of your program. For classes held during the week, students can Zoom into classes.
Our MSW program is designed to accommodate both full-time and part-time students with classes scheduled during nights and weekends. Nightly classes occur 1-3 times per week from Monday through Thursday, between 4-7 pm. These sessions are delivered via Zoom, allowing you to participate from wherever you have a reliable internet connection.
Intensive weekend classes are a key component of the program and are scheduled periodically throughout each semester. In the full-time program, you will attend intensive weekend classes three times in your first summer semester, and five times during the fall and spring semesters each year. In the part-time program, you will attend intensive weekend classes three times per semester. While the specific schedule may vary from semester to semester, students in both the full-time and part-time programs should expect to be in class both Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm during intensive weekends. Full-time students should also plan for one Friday afternoon in both the fall and spring semesters.
Attendance at these intensive weekend classes is mandatory for all students in both the full-time and part-time programs and requires in-person participation.
For those enrolled in the full-time MSW program, we highly recommend only working part-time if necessary. The program's demands are such that full-time work can significantly hinder your academic success and lead to burnout. For students who need to maintain full-time employment, our part-time MSW program may be a better fit. This option provides greater flexibility, allowing students to successfully balance work commitments with their studies.
You can find the curriculum for each program option and more in the Current Students portion of our website.
Questions about Admissions
Applications are generally due in the fall prior to the summer you want to begin.
When you submit your application to our MSW program, think of it not merely as a collection of documents, but as a narrative that tells us who you are. Your academic records and resume lay the foundation, while your personal statement, academic essay, and letters of recommendation add depth, color, and life to your story. We look for a solid academic base, indicated by a GPA of 3.0 or higher, as a sign of your readiness for graduate study.
However, we recognize that numbers don't always tell the full story. If your academic path has been challenging, your personal statement offers a chance to illustrate your resilience and ability to overcome obstacles. Our core mission is to foster a commitment to social justice and support for underserved communities. Therefore, we seek individuals with a passion for social justice and a history of service, whether it's directly in human services or through other avenues of community involvement. Your academic essay should offer insight into your thought processes, showcasing your ability to think critically and communicate clearly—skills essential for effective social work. Your essays and recommendation letters should collectively convey your readiness for a career in social work.
No. Instead of the GRE, applicants are required to write an analytic essay.
A: If you are a resident of a country whose official or co-official language is English, you do not have to submit a TOEFL/IELTS score.
If you are not a resident of a country whose official or co-official language is English, you will have to submit a copy of your TOEFL/IELTS exam results with your transcripts. We will have your transcripts evaluated by the International Students and Scholars Office, and we will be in touch regarding any further documentation you need to provide or steps you need to take.
All completed applications are reviewed by at least two faculty. The faculty reviewers recommend whether the applicant should be admitted or not. Faculty reviewers do not know the recommendations of other reviewers. If the two faculty reviewers do not agree on whether to admit or not, the packet is reviewed by a third faculty member. Once the initial reviews are completed, the MSW committee meets to review all files and make final decisions. Full-time applicants are generally notified of decisions by January. Part-time applicants are generally notified of decisions by March.
Absolutely. If admitted, your admission is contingent upon successful completion of the bachelor's degree by the beginning of the program. If graduating from a school other than University of Wyoming, please have final transcripts submitted to UW after all your grades are in, and the degree is reflected on your transcripts.
Questions about Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fee estimates can be found on Financial Aid's website.
Please note, their estimate is for 9 credits per semester. Standard program students will have 3 credits during summer, 16 their first fall and 15 their first spring. Students in our advanced-standing program carry 6 credits in summer; all students in their second/advanced year of the program carry 16 or 17 credits in fall, and 16 or 17 in spring (the 16 or 17 depends on whether you choose a Portfolio or Thesis as your final project).
The University of Wyoming participates in the WICHE program. If you are a resident of a WICHE state, you will be eligible for in-state tuition as a graduate student at the University of Wyoming. Please contact Financial Aid for more information.
If you are not a resident of Wyoming and not a resident of a WICHE state, you must pay out-of-state tuition.
The Division of Social Work benefits from the generosity of our friends and alumni, which enables us to offer financial assistance each year. Scholarships are awarded based on various criteria and contribute towards tuition and fees. We also have several graduate assistant positions in Casper and Laramie that are available on a competitive basis. Graduate assistantships typically cover a portion of your tuition, mandatory fees, health insurance, and provide a monthly stipend in exchange for 10–20 hours of work per week. For more detailed information on financial aid options, including how to apply, please visit our website.
Questions about Field Education
This is a possibility, but it is the exception, rather than the rule. You will need to petition the Field Committee to allow your employment placement.
We understand the importance and potential impact of paid field placements for our students. While we would love to offer these opportunities regularly, our resources are currently limited in this area. As such, paid placements are infrequently available and arise under special circumstances. We continuously strive to enhance our partnerships to possibly increase the frequency of such opportunities in the future.
Due to limited faculty availability and administrative resources during the summer, the opportunities for summer field placements are exceptionally rare. We prioritize ensuring that each student receives adequate supervision and support, which we can more readily provide during the regular school year.
If you have questions about any of the above information, or if you have questions that are not listed above, please don't hesitate to contact us at sowkmail@uwyo.edu. We understand that pursuing a graduate degree can be a daunting process, and we're here to help!
