Who is eligible to apply for the MSW program?

• Applicants must have a 3.00 GPA in the last two years of work leading to a bachelor's degree. Students who have below a 3.00 GPA can only be admitted with special permission from the Graduate College
• Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements can take up to 9 credit hours as a non-degree seeking graduate student ( no more than 6 hours may be electives). Provided the applicant does well (A's and B's), the odds of being admitted to the program increase significantly. The 9 credit hours will be applied to the MSW degree if the student is admitted.
  

What materials are required to apply for the MSW program?

• The applicant must complete a School of Social Work application that includes a resume, three letters of reference (academic and professional references only), and a statement of educational and career goals.
• The applicant must provide a GRE or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) score if GPA is below 3.0.
• The applicant must also apply to the Graduate College (apply online at http://www.asu.edu/graduate/). Because of the volume of applications received by the Graduate College, it is wise to apply online very early, even as early as January. There is a required $45 application fee payable to the Graduate College. Applicants will also be required to provide an official copy of all transcripts to the Graduate College.
  

When is the School of Social Work application deadline?

The priority deadline is February 1st and the final deadline is March 1st. Students who make the priority deadline will have their review process expedited. Students are only accepted once a year and begin in the Fall semester.

Is there someone I can talk to about the MSW Program?

Yes, click here to view the dates and RSVP for an MSW Information Session.

When will I be notified of an admissions decision?

If you submitted your application by the priority deadline (February 1st), the earliest possible notification date will be early March. If you submitted prior to the March 1st deadline you will be notified by mid-April.

Is there a minimum score requirement for the GRE or MAT?

No, there is no minimum score requirement. The GRE and MAT test score are most important for students who have low GPA's. If you have a low GPA and a high GRE score, it demonstrates that you are capable of the analytical skills needed to complete a master's degree. If you have a high GPA, the GRE and MAT score becomes less important.

Where and when can I take the GRE or MAT?

Call University Testing at 480-965-7146 for test dates on campus. The cost is $50 for the MAT and $99 for the GRE. Request Official Test Scores - The Institution Code for ASU is 4007. Either the GRE or MAT is acceptable.

The only option for the GRE is the computer version which is offered at two sights in the valley (ASU and Goodyear) Monday thru Saturday. To make arrangements to take the GRE at any location other than ASU, call 1-800-473-2255. Test scores are available upon completion of the exam. Self report the scores on the School of Social Work application.

Can I take Graduate Social Work courses before I am admitted to the program?

Yes, you can take up to 9 credit hours of graduate work as a non-degree student (no more than six hours may be electives). You must be admitted to the Graduate College as a non-degree student. Apply on line at http://www.asu.edu/graduate/. There is a required $15 application fee. Students born after December 31, 1956 will not be permitted to register without proof of TWO vaccinations of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella). Then contact the School of Social Work at 480-965-6081 to find out which courses you are eligible to take and to register for those courses. These credit hours will count towards your MSW degree.

Do I have to take 15 hours each semester to be a Full-time student?

No. Graduate students are required to take 9 credit hours per semester in order to maintain full-time status. Some course work is offered during the summer which allows students to lighten their load during the Fall and Spring semesters.

What are course deficiencies?

All applicants must demonstrate that they have completed a statistics course and a course in human biology. If you have not completed these courses, you would be admitted with a deficiency. Deficiencies are not part of the admissions process - they do not count against you when considering an application.

• Human biology must be completed prior to the start of the Fall Semester and the statistics deficiency must be completed prior to December 31st
• Courses to fulfill deficiencies may be taken at ASU or at a community college
• Human Biology (SWU 302/394, BIO 156, BIO 160)
• Statistics (SWU 321/394, PSY 230)
  

In addition, applicants who do not have a bachelor's degree in social work or liberal arts must demonstrate that they have completed 30 hours as follows:

• 18 hours social and behavioral sciences
• 6 hours in humanities
• 6 hours in natural sciences
  

What financial assistance is available for MSW student?

The School of Social Work has three opportunities for financial assistance: scholarships, tuition waivers and the Child Welfare Specialization program. More information about the School's scholarships can be found on the web page. Tuition waivers are allocated to the School of Social Work each year, including in-state and out-of-state waivers. An out-of-state waiver allows the student to pay the in-state tuition rate. These waivers are very precious because we receive only a few each year. They are used to recruit new students with very high undergraduate GPAs or student who already have another graduate degree.

The child welfare specialization offers financial assistance to full time students. Selection is competitive and is based on a student's demonstrated interest, experience and compatibility with the specialization. For more information on the Child Welfare Specialization, please contact Jan Shore at 602-496-0800.

What are course exemptions and waiver exams and when can I take them?

Applicants who graduated with a BSW degree from an accredited program no more than 5 years prior to the date of admission may be exempt from a total of 15 semester hours:

• SWG 501 Human Behavior
• SWG 501 Human Behavior II
• SWG 531 Social Policy
• SWG 533 Diversity and Oppression in a Soc Wk Context
• SWG 519 Research Methods in Social Work
  

To be exempt you need to have earned an "A" in the equivalent undergraduate course. However, to be exempt from policy you must have an "A" in two undergraduate courses: Introduction to Social Work and Policy (SWU 271, SWU 432). If you graduated from ASU Main or West campus, you do not need to submit a course syllabus.

All non-ASU BSW graduates must submit a copy of their course syllabus at the time that they request a course exemption.

Credit hours for course exemptions do not have to be made up.

Waiver Exams:

All admitted students are eligible to take waiver exams - you do not need to have a BSW degree.

• Waiver exams are administered in May and August prior to enrollment in the program. This is your only opportunity to take waiver exams
• Students admitted to the program will receive a packet of information regarding the exams and suggest a reading list for review
• Waiver exams are available for all required first year courses (24 credit hours) other than field. The format varies from multiple choice to essay
• Again, if you are successful in passing a waiver exam, credits do not have to be made up.
  

What does the part-time program look like?

• The part-time program is normally 6 credit hours per semester. Most students will finish the part-time program in three years by utilizing summer school.
• However, once you start as a part-time student, you are committed to a minimum of three years because of course sequencing.
• Sections of all foundation year (500-level) courses are offered during evening hours. Advanced Direct Practice courses also have evening sections. Planning, Administration, and Community classes are not offered in the evening. Field Practicums also may not be available in the evening.
  

Can I take courses through a distance learning program?

ASU's School of Social Work does not have a distance learning program. However, a few electives are offered online.

Is a "C" Grade considered a Passing for Graduate Course Work?

A grade of C is passing, however a 3.00 cumulative grade point average is required of graduate students. Therefore, it is necessary to earn an "A" for each "C" to meet the minimum GPA of 3.00. Students cannot graduate without a GPA of 3.00 or above. Students who fall below a 3.00 GPA are placed on probation and can be terminated if they fail to raise their GPA.

What is the School of Social Work's policy on Incomplete grades?

If an instructor or faculty member agrees to an Incomplete grade, the School of Social Work policy states: " ...an Incomplete in a pre-required course will preclude registration in the course for which that prerequisite is needed until that Incomplete is removed." For example, SWG 501 Human Behavior I is a prerequisite for SWG 502 Human Behavior II. If you receive an "I" in 501, you cannot take 502 until the 501 course is completed.

What is the comprehensive exam or thesis requirement?

Every student must pass a comprehensive exam or complete a thesis before graduating from the School of Social Work. The comprehensive exam may be multiple choice, true/false, short answer, essay questions or some combination of all the above. The exam covers material from all required courses for the foundation year and the advanced practice year. The exam is offered Spring, Summer & Fall.

If I choose to do a thesis, what is the process?

Your first step is to pick a topic area. Once you have decided on a topic area, you select a faculty person to be your Thesis Chair (preferable someone who has an interest or experience in your topic area). The Chair's job is to mentor you through the process. If you choose the thesis option, you will register for 3 hours of independent research and 3 credit hours of thesis. These 6 credit hours count as elective credit. To register for these credit hours, you will need to obtain a form from the School of Social Work Academic Services Office. Fill it out, have your chair sign it, and then return it to Academic Services (West Hall 135).

The thesis must be original research, meaning you must collect and analyze date or do a secondary data analysis. There are Graduate College deadlines that have to be followed (e.g., the date by which the thesis must be completed to be eligible for graduation ) and you should visit the Graduate College in Wilson Hall to get that information. The Graduate College also provides a format manual. There is no page limitation. A thesis could be 25 pages long or 100 pages long; it depends on your topic and the type of research you are doing.

In addition to your chair, you must have two readers, at least one of which must be a faculty member in the School of Social Work. Upon completion, you must defend your thesis to your thesis committee.