Admissions

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work seeks aspiring social work leaders to join our next cohort in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Our fully online modality provides a high-quality graduate education with the flexibility to earn your degree from anywhere, preparing you for impactful social work practice.

If you’re ready to take the next step toward your professional success, we’re here to answer your questions and guide you through the admissions process.

Information about our upcoming start term, application deadlines and information sessions can be found on this page under “Important Dates & Upcoming Events.” Please contact us if you are interested in applying for our next start, or have questions about a future term.

Depending on your educational background, admitted students will enter either the Traditional Online MSW Program or the Advanced Standing Online MSW.

If you are interested in the hybrid or on-ground Master of Social Work at USC, you can learn more here.

Traditional Online MSW Program Admissions

If you earned a bachelor’s degree, you may be eligible for our Traditional MSW program.

• Complete in as few as 16 months
• 48 graduate-level credits
• Offered full and part time
• No GRE required

Advanced Standing Admissions

If you earned a Bachelor of Social Work, you may be eligible to start classes at the second-year level with our MSW Advanced Standing program.

• Complete in as few as 12 months
• 24 graduate-level credits
• No GRE required

Admissions Requirements

Academic Requirements for All MSW Programs:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or foreign equivalent, with a minimum of 18 units of interdisciplinary liberal arts coursework, spanning both social and biological sciences
• Strong academic promise to perform successfully at the graduate level, typically evidenced by a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 grading scale)
• Experience in providing service to people preferred, such as 1-2 years of social work-related or volunteer experience

Special Admissions Requirements for Advanced Standing MSW Candidates:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited school of social work
• BSW degree earned within the past 5 years
  
• Strong academic promise to perform successfully at the graduate level; typically evidenced by a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 grading scale)
• Experience in providing service to people preferred, such as 1-2 years of social work-related or volunteer experience

The MSW Program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.

If you graduated from an undergraduate institution outside of the United States, and are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may be required to submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. 

Application Materials

Complete and submit your Graduate Admissions Application online. Within the application, you will need to provide the following application materials:

• Resume: Current professional resume highlighting your educational, professional and leadership experience and achievements, as well as your capacity to work effectively with a variety of populations. Experience in the field of social work is preferable but not required.
• Recommendations: Two (2) recommendations from academic instructors or professionals who have supervised you in a social work-related position or capacity (paid, internship or volunteer). Personal recommendations are not considered.
• Transcripts: Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution (undergraduate and graduate) you have attended.
• USC MSW Program Questions: Short answer questions specific to admission to the MSW Program. Responses should demonstrate your understanding and interest in social work, your problem-solving abilities, and your capacity to communicate effectively and professionally in writing.
• Application fee: Applications must be submitted with a $90 application fee. Fee waiver eligibility information is located here.

Licensure and Credentialing

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at USC is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and designed to help meet the eligibility requirements for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination to obtain licensure. The MSW program provides a pathway to licensure, but does not satisfy all requirements for licensure upon completion of the program.

Requirements for licensure, including levels of licensure, vary by state and students should review the USC Licensure and Certifications site for state-specific MSW course requirements and restrictions. Students interested in pursuing licensure should also contact the licensing board for the state in which they hope to become licensed to determine specific requirements for licensure, including any requirements that are beyond the scope of the MSW program.

How to Apply

Ready to start your application? Click here for detailed instructions.

Applicants should note that USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work does not accept applications from Mississippi, New York, North Dakota, or Virginia to the Online MSW program. Additionally, the school does not accept applications from Minnesota, New Hampshire, or Texas for the Advanced Standing MSW. Visit this page for more information on state authorization.

If you are applying for the Advanced Standing MSW and you currently reside in Kentucky, North Carolina, or Oregon, please reach out to your admissions advisor or contact us.

International students are ineligible to attend the online MSW program, and the program does not qualify to issue Form I-20 to international students. 

After You Apply

Applicants typically receive an admissions decision up to 6 weeks after submitting a complete application.

Check your email regularly, as you may receive important communications from the Admissions Office and/or our processing team regarding your application.

Contact our Admissions Office with any questions at 1-855-725-4-MSW or email us.