wsucgce@westfield.ma.edu
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All applicants should follow the following process and meet the described requirements (Specific additional requirements for Advanced Standing applicants are identified)
- Applicants should obtain an application packet from the MSW Program or the College of Graduate and Continuing Education.
- Applicants must have a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university. To apply for Advanced Standing the candidate must have a BSW from a CSWE accredited program.
- Applicants must have an undergraduate degree that included a clear liberal arts base and a firm foundation in the social sciences, government, and human biology. (Applicants should identify their social science, government and human biology courses on the application. Students who do not meet this requirement may be accepted into the program but will be required to take courses to meet these requirements prior to starting the program.)
- Applicants need a 2.8 overall undergraduate GPA. For Advanced Standing candidates, the applicant should also have a 3.0 social work GPA. In extraordinary circumstances both requirements can be waived by the Admission Committee.
- Applicants need to complete the Graduate Admission form, specifying Traditional MSW program or Advanced Standing MSW Program and whether they would like to be full-time or part-time.
- Applicants must submit three references forms with accompanying recommendation letters, including one academic reference. Advanced Standing applicants need to have one of their letters of reference from their BSW Program Director (or his/her designee). A letter from their Field Placement Supervisor is highly recommended.
- Applicants need to submit a current resume.
- Applicants need to complete a professional statement that describes:
- reason(s) for interest in entering the field of social work
- assessment of personal strengths and limitations related to the profession;
- examination of life experiences and relationship of these experiences to career choice. Discuss here evidence of your commitment to aiding people who are oppressed and/or members of vulnerable populations (good examples are prior work, civic or volunteer experiences); and
- assessment of personal values and congruence of these beliefs with the social work profession's value system. (We suggest that you review the NASW Code of Ethics prior to writing the professional statement.)
The professional statement will be evaluated regarding the above material and also will be considered a writing sample to evaluate your ability to express yourself in written form. Applicants who believe that they have extraordinary circumstances regarding the GPA requirements must include their rationale for their request to have the GPA requirement waived.
Though human services experience is not required, applicants are strongly encouraged to describe any prior volunteer or work experience in their professional statement. Professional experience is viewed positively and considered when making decisions regarding waiving GPA requirements.
The MSW Program does not require standardized testing (GRE or MAT) for admission to the program.
Deadlines and Notice of Decision:
Our Master of Social Work Program is available to begin in Fall semesters only. The application deadline is February 1st of each year.
Notice of acceptance will occur on or around April 15th for study beginning the following September.
Due to the competitive nature of this program, we require a nonrefundable “competitive program deposit” of $150.00 within 10 days of acceptance. This deposit is used to ensure your space in the program. The deposit is applied to your first registration as a matriculated student in the Fall semester immediately following your acceptance. If we do not hear from you within 10 days, we will assume you have selected an alternative direction, and we will close your matriculation.
