Admissions

1. Only applicants with an earned baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting organization are considered for admission. Prospective students are required to submit transcripts from all undergraduate credit bearing institutions attended.
2. A minimum overall GPA average of a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) is suggested for traditional admission. Prospective students with a grade point average of less than 3.0 may be admitted to the degree program; however, they may be required to interview with a faculty member from the School of Social Work.
3. An undergraduate record that reflects a liberal arts perspective. There is no official prerequisite coursework required for admission to the MSW program, but it is suggested that students have successfully completed approximately 18 credit hours of courses such as psychology, sociology, statistics, biology, anthropology, economics, history, political science, government, and/or languages. Prospective students whose undergraduate experience does not include a liberal arts background may be admitted, however, they may be required to interview with a faculty member from the School of Social Work.

1. Experience related to human services is strongly suggested. This experience can be paid/professional, volunteer or internship based.
2. This experience should reflect intellectual and or personal qualities likely to lead to success in social work practice, as well as a commitment to engage in practice reflective of the mission of social work. This includes anti-racist social work roles, and associated efforts related to the pursuit of social, environmental, and economic justice.
3. Applicants are asked to submit a professional resumé or curriculum vitae.

In crafting their written statement, prospective students will submit responses to four prompts that call for them to speak to their understanding of Social Work values, their desire for an advanced degree, how their unique experience contributes to their perspective toward social justice, and lastly how they have developed awareness related to social injustices.

Recommendations should be submitted through SocialWorkCAS. Applicants will list their references within their application. More information on how to submit recommendations can be found here.

Applicants will be required to submit transcripts from every college/university they have previously attended. Transcripts should be submitted directly to SocialWorkCAS. More information on how to submit transcripts can be found here.

Recommendations should also be submitted through SocialWorkCAS. Applicants will list their references within their application. More information on how to submit recommendations can be found here.

Students with undergraduate course credit from a CSWE-accredited baccalaureate social work program – earned within the last seven years – are entitled to have generalist-equivalent course credit evaluated for waiver, regardless of the undergraduate degree they hold, or their ability to enter the advanced standing program.

Applicants requesting a transfer of credits must also meet specific criteria and provide additional documentation. Institutional policy holds graduate applicants can request the transfer of up to 15 graduate credit hours, while advanced standing transfer applicants can request up to 9 credits. Such applicants must have completed their previous coursework at a Council on Social Work Education accredited MSW program within the last seven years. The coursework must be equivalent to Belmont MSW coursework, and grades earned must be no lower than a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or a B). In addition to the application materials noted above, transfer applicants must submit a transfer request application, a letter of good standing from the administration of the previous program(s), a syllabus from each course they are requesting credit from. Course equivalency decisions are made via comparison of the courses’ learning outcomes/objectives, readings, assignments, and credit hours. All transfer course equivalency decisions are made at the discretion of the MSW admissions committee and are approved by the Chair for the School of Social Work.