Admission Requirements:
Admissions Coordinator
Julie Harkema
School of Social Work
317 Marshall Bldg
(734) 487-0393
jharkema@emich.edu
Bachelor Degree (Full Program)- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university must be completed prior to matriculation. Candidates may apply while their degree is in progress, but degree completion demonstrated by an official transcript is necessary prior to beginning coursework in the MSW Program. In addition, a course in Human Biology with a grade of C or better is required or can be met in the first semester of the program under a conditional status.
Advanced Standing - A Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE accredited college or university must be completed prior to matriculation. Candidates may apply while their degree is in progress, but degree completion demonstrated by an official transcript is necessary prior to matriculation into the MSW Program.
Grade Point Average (Full Program) -A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required at the time of application. This GPA can be attained with a cumulative undergraduate or a completed graduate degree. A cumulative undergraduate GPA includes all college courses taken prior to receiving a bachelor degree.
Advanced Standing - A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required at the time of application. This GPA is attained with a cumulative undergraduate degree. A cumulative undergraduate GPA includes all college courses taken prior to receiving a bachelor degree. In addition, a 3.0 in the last sixty credits of the bachelor degree is required.
Conditional Status - In select cases, some applicants will be admitted on a conditional basis to the Full Program if they do not have the minimum overall GPA of 2.75. A limited number of exceptional applicants who have been working in the social work field for a substantial amount of time may be considered for conditional admission.
Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) - The GRE is not required for admission.
Personal Statement - Applicants complete a personal statement that speaks to their readiness for graduate studies and connection our mission.
Reference Letters - Professional reference letters are required. Strong letters would be from professional that could speak to the applicant’s academic strengths, professionalism and/or readiness for master level social work. Three reference forms along with letters on professional stationary are required.
Experience - Professional experience in the human services field, both paid and unpaid, is weighed in the decision-making process. This includes paid work experience, volunteer experience and internships.
Admissions Process:
- Once a complete application (Graduate Application, all transcripts, personal statement, volunteer/work form, and three recommendation forms with attached letters) is received, the School of Social Work verifies, processes, and reviews the application.
- GPA is verified and calculated.
- Last 60 credits GPA is calculated.
- Work and volunteer experience is verified and calculated.
- Each application is sent out for two reviews. Reviewers from the School of Social Work read the application and respond using a formal rubric which includes the applicant’s connection to the EMU School of Social Work mission, evaluation of personal and professional characteristics, and academic ability.
- If the point spread between the two reviews is more than ten points, the application is sent out for a third review
- Once the reviews are completed, the application is sent to the Admissions committee for a decision.
Notification of Decision
All applicants are notified of a decision by written, mailed letters from the School of Social Work. No decisions are given by email or phone call.
Transfer Applicants
If an applicant is currently in another EMU graduate program and interested in an MSW, the student must complete the formal application process as outlined above to be considered for the MSW program. If accepted, some classes may transfer as electives dependent on the date the class and relevance to the social work curriculum. Discretion for transfer credits lies with the Director of the MSW program.
If an applicant has been accepted into and attended another MSW program, the applicant must complete the formal application process as outlined above to be considered for the EMU MSW program. In addition, the applicant must submit a letter from their current/previous MSW program stating that they left the program in “good standing”. Only students in “good standing” will be considered for the EMUMSW program.
Appeal of Decision of Acceptance/Denial into the EMU MSW Program
There is no appeal process. Decisions are final. If applicants are interested in re-applying for a future year, they are encouraged to do so by reapplying to the Master of Social Work program and updating their application materials.
Note:
Official scores must be sent by the testing agency directly to the University.
Click here to apply!
School of Social Work
The EMU School of Social Work offers a sequence of three elective courses that have been approved by the State of Michigan required to become a school social worker. Consultation should be made with a social work graduate advisor or the M.S.W. office about this opportunity.
School Information:
School of Social Work - College of Health and Human Services
Course Requirements:
The length of time required to complete the M.S.W. depends upon undergraduate preparation. Students admitted to the M.S.W. program begin course work in the fall semester immediately following their admission. Students are admitted as a cohort with a structured, approved Plan of Study.
Full Program:
Students applying to the M.S.W. program who did not obtain a B.S.W. in their undergraduate studies are considered for the Full Program. Full Program students complete 63 hours of foundation and advanced-level courses. Full Program students can successfully matriculate through the Master’s program in four years while attending part-time. Students may petition to attend full-time.
Advanced Standing:
Students with a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree from an undergraduate program accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) will be considered for advanced standing admission. Students not approved for advanced standing admission may be reviewed for full program admission. Advanced Standing students are required to complete 35 approved credit hours of course work. Students can successfully matriculate through the Master’s program as an Advanced Standing student in two years while attending part-time. Students may petition to attend full-time.
Length of the Program:
The Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) mandates that all M.S.W. requirements must be completed within four years of the date of entrance into the program. Exceptions to this requirement may be requested by students who need an extension due to extraordinary and/or unavoidable extenuating circumstances. Only petitions from students who have a consistent outstanding academic performance history with no “incompletes,” withdrawals,” “stop-outs,” or “fail” grades will be considered for this extension. Under no circumstances will students be allowed more than six years to complete their M.S.W. program.
Field Placement:
All M.S.W. students must complete field placements that are authorized and arranged with affiliated public and nonprofit social service agencies through the field placement office. Generalist Field Placement (SWRK 595 and SWRK 596 ) requires 400 hours of supervised field work. Advanced Field Placement (SWRK 695 , SWRK 696 and SWRK 690 ) requires 500 hours of supervised field work in a student’s chosen concentration. M.S.W. students admitted to the full program must complete both placements. Students admitted to the advanced standing program complete only the advanced level placements. In accordance with our national accreditation standards, no credit can be given for past or present work experience.
Foundation Level Courses: 32 hours
Master of Social Work: 35 hours
Advanced Level Courses: 22 hours
Select one from the following three concentrations:
I. Family and Children’s Services (SWFS)
II. Mental Health and Chemical Dependency (SWMH)
III. Services to the Aging (SWAG)
Elective Courses: 9 hours
Nine hours selected in consultation with a graduate advisor.
Extended Program:
This graduate program is available at an EMU off-campus location. For a list of locations, please click here .
Undergraduate Courses for Graduate Credit: School of Social Work
These upper-division undergraduate courses may also be taken for graduate credit and applied on the department’s certificate or degree programs. A maximum of nine hours of approved 400-level course work may be permitted in the earning of any graduate degree.
If you intend to enroll in any of the following undergraduate courses for graduate credit, you must submit a request form to the Graduate School to receive permission before enrolling in the course; otherwise, you will receive undergraduate credit.
