Preparing You for Success in the Online MSW

Before beginning your application, we recommend reviewing the Master of Social Work (MSW) program requirements outlined below. Ensuring you have all required documents and letters will help expedite the application process. If you have any questions regarding the admissions process or application requirements, please contact an admissions outreach advisor.

• Completed application
• A GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Applicants with a GPA less than 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) will be reviewed on an individual basis and considered for provisional admission; an interview and additional writing sample may be required.
• One personal statement:
  
  • Write a personal statement on what qualities and skillset you possess that would help you succeed in this program and ultimately as a social worker. It should be 500 words maximum in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced. Please focus on quality over quantity.

• One letter of recommendation from an academic or professional reference
• Official transcript(s) of all previous colleges attended
• Unofficial transcripts from academic institutions where nine or more credits were earned can be submitted via the online application to start the review process. If admitted, unofficial transcripts provided directly from academic institutions where nine or more credits were earned must be submitted no later than one month prior to the first day of class via email to onlinemsw@online.yu.edu. We recommend this option as it is the quickest and easiest way.
• We will only require official transcripts from institutions where you have earned a degree (associate's, bachelor's, master's) prior to the first day of classes. If you are looking to transfer in coursework from another MSW program that you have not completed, we will also require the official transcript from that institution.
  
  • Transcripts from Yeshiva/seminary study in Israel are NOT required for the application; YU students will need to indicate they attended on the application but will NOT need to upload their transcripts
  • If your academic institutions can only submit the transcript via mail, please have the sealed copies of official transcripts sent to:

• Addendum: If you wish to provide additional information to the admissions committee, please upload your document as a PDF under the "Additional Information" section of "Supplemental Items & Documents" once you have submitted your application. Topics can include: addressing academic discrepancies, additional qualifications/accomplishments highlighting your candidacy, etc.
• $50 non-refundable application fee submitted by credit card. Fee may be waived by the university; talk to an admissions outreach advisor for more information

For students applying for Advanced Standing, the following additional requirements must be met:

• A minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and a bachelor of social work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program.¹ Applicants with cumulative GPA lower than 3.0 will need to have a 3.0 or above in their social work coursework and will be reviewed on an individual basis
• Submit a field evaluation from your bachelor of social work program, signed by the agency and program director
• Provide a letter of recommendation from the program director or academic advisor of the bachelor of social work program

Students transferring from an accredited MSW program can receive up to 12 transfer credits for courses with a B average or above. Each student transcript is reviewed on an individual basis and credits will be awarded accordingly. In addition to the above application requirements, transfer students must submit their final practicum evaluation.

International applicants must meet the following additional requirements:

• All transcripts and letters of recommendation must be translated and evaluated by an accredited provider
• Applicants who have been awarded a bachelor’s and/or graduate degree from an international higher education institution outside of the United States or a non-English speaking Canadian institution will need to submit a course-by-course NACES transcript evaluation including all official transcripts confirming the degree is equivalent to U.S. standards. An applicant’s international credentials will not be reviewed for admission consideration until a transcript evaluation is completed. All transcripts will need to be submitted from each institution where nine or more credits were earned. If admitted, all official course-by-course transcripts, official transcript evaluations and unofficial transcripts are due before the first day of class
• TOEFL: Non-native English speakers at the 11th-grade level or above should take the TOEFL test to provide evidence of their English proficiency before beginning academic work. Students must earn, at minimum, 90-91 on the internet-based test, 233 on the computer-based test, or 577 on the paper test