2024-2025 Academic Catalog

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Criteria for Admission to the Master of Social Work Program

  1. Evidence of a bachelor’s degree in any field from a U.S. or international regionally accredited post-secondary institution. For unconditional admission, an applicant's cumulative GPA over the last two years of undergraduate education should be no less than 3.00. We will, however, consider applicants with less than a 3.00 GPA for conditional admission. If an applicant's GPA is less than a 3.00, the applicant should submit a brief letter explaining their undergraduate performance and how they will maintain a 3.00 in Carroll's MSW program.
  2. Evidence of completion of the Background Curriculum for Master of Social Work. See below for a description of this curriculum.
  3. Graduate application and official transcripts per Carroll College Graduate Admissions.
  4. A professional essay that adequately responds to prompts provided in the application system.
  5. References supporting the applicant’s potential to complete graduate-level academic program. 
  6. Proof of English for those whose first language is not English: TOEFL (85) or IELTS (7.0). This requirement can be waived on a case-by-case basis or if the student has obtained a bachelor’s degree from a US regionally accredited institution and is otherwise admissible to the program.
  7. Students may enroll either full-time or part-time in the Master of Social Work program.
  8. The program offers an advanced standing option for applicants who possess an undergraduate degree in Social Work (BSW or BSSW) typically obtained within the last seven (7) years from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This option is consistent with the CSWE requirement that students should not repeat generalist content that had been achieved at the baccalaureate level when enrolling in a Master of Social Work program.

Background Curriculum for Master of Social Work

Applicants to the Master of Social Work program need to have completed 18 semester credits in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. These courses can be taken in disciplines such as anthropology, biology, general studies, history, liberal studies, psychology, or sociology. Note – these courses do not need to be completed when you apply, but must be finished prior to starting the program.