Admission Requirements

• A bachelor´s degree from an accredited college or university is required for admission to the Master of Social Work program.
• Applicants should have earned an undergraduate grade point average (on a 4-point scale) of either 3.0 for all undergraduate work or 3.5 for the last two years.
• Applicants with undergraduate records below these standards, but who otherwise give indication of strong motivation and potential to succeed in graduate study in the field of social work, may still be considered for admission.
• Applicants are also expected to have had an undergraduate course of study reflecting a broad liberal arts foundation, including a minimum of two courses in the social and/or behavioral sciences, two courses in the humanities, and at least one course which includes content in human biology. An applicant admitted to the program without having met the human biology requirement will be required to do so prior to orientation for new students. Typically, this requirement can be met in the summer at one of the community colleges. An applicant whose undergraduate record does not reflect a liberal arts perspective may be encouraged to take coursework in the liberal arts to strengthen his/her application.
• Assessment is made on the basis of the applicant´s academic performance and background, social work and related work experience, personal qualifications, references, and indications of a commitment to the profession. Additionally, applicants should have interests or life experiences appropriate to the practice of professional social work.
• Academic credit is not given for life experiences and previous work experience in lieu of field education or course requirements.
• Desirable qualities include a capacity for developing self-understanding, a concern for persons in distress, a respect for personal differences, a commitment to social work goals, a desire to function in the role of a change agent, and a career intent that is consonant with the School´s curricular offerings.

Letters of Reference

Three (3) references are required in support of an application for admission. These may be academic or professional with the following applications:

• Applicants who have graduated from college within the last five years should submit at least one reference from a professor or official of the college.
• Applicants seeking advanced standing status should obtain two references from their college, one of which must be from their senior seminar professor. (If this is not possible, contact the School for further instruction.)
• Applicants with employment experience in the social services or a related field should submit at least one reference from a supervisor or administrator at their place of employment.

Statement of Professional Plans and Goals:

• Your Educational and Professional Goals: We would like to know why you are seeking graduate education at this time and, specifically, where your educational and career interests lie. We would also be interested in learning something about your experience with people of different ethnic, religious, or racial backgrounds other than your own. Please tell us about any area of practice, in which you have a special interest (e.g., children and youth, aging, health/mental health, developmental disabilities, etc.). In what type of position or organization would you like to be working in the future? If you have matriculated in another master´s degree program, please tell us about your experience: where you attended; the type of program; the number of courses completed. We would like you to include the reasons you did not continue.
• Your Interest in Social Justice: The mission of the School of Social Administration reflects a strong commitment to the elimination of human suffering and social injustice and to the promotion of human rights and social equality. Our educational programs are therefore centered on intervention strategies on behalf of those populations and persons who are under served, victimized, or denied full access to social opportunities and resources. With this in mind, we would like you to identify and discuss a specific instance or issue of social injustice about which you have some concern. Explain what knowledge or experiences have contributed to your interest and understanding of this. Please limit this part of your statement to no more than three pages.
• Financing Your Studies: Please discuss plans for financing your education. To what extent will you be relying upon personal assets and earnings, help from family, loans, and other sources? If you would like to be considered for scholarship or other aid from the School, tell us why you believe you deserve, merit or should receive such an award.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Interview:

While the interview is not a requirement for admission, some applicants may be invited for an interview. The School will schedule individual interviews when indicated.

Standardized Tests:

Applicants are not required to take any standardized exam to be considered for admission to the program.

Admission with Advanced Standing

Applicants who will have received a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a C.S.W.E. accredited undergraduate program within five years of the date of enrollment in the MSW program may be considered for advanced standing status upon admission if they meet the following criteria:

• the overall undergraduate and junior-senior year grade point averages must be at least 3.0;
• the applicant must have received grades of "B" or better in all undergraduate social work courses (No more than 1 "C" in the major);
• the applicant must have 2 favorable recommendations from the undergraduate program in addition to 1 professional reference from someone who can speak to the applicant´s ability to do graduate level work.
• Advanced standing status may be awarded to applicants currently enrolled in a BSW program, pending receipt of the final college transcript reflecting all of the above criteria.
• Advanced standing may also be awarded to applicants who have successfully completed a full year in an accredited MSW program and who wish to transfer to Temple University.

Transfer Applicants:

Students seeking to transfer to the School of Social Administration from another CSWE accredited social work program are required to meet the criteria for admission and follow the application procedures. Additionally, one of the academic/professional references must be from the current academic/faculty advisor in the program from which the applicant is transferring and must address the academic standing in that program. If not currently enrolled, the reference must be from the former academic/faculty advisor.

Financial Aid:

The School of Social Administration awards a substantial amount of aid each year to assist meritorious applicants and continuing students in meeting the cost of their educational program. Awards include partial scholarships, research assistantships, government training grants, and stipends provided by local public and voluntary agencies.

Awards are made on the basis of academic merit and the overall promise shown by an applicant for contributing to the School and to the profession. Additional considerations include interest in particular areas of practice for which special funding is available and the School´s commitment to maintaining diversity in the student body.

Most awards made by the School will ordinarily meet only part of a student´s total educational expenses. All students are therefore expected to make use of available family and other resources as well as Federal grant, loan, and work-study assistance to help meet the cost of their education. The University´s Financial Aid Office provides assistance with the Federal grant / loan / work-study application process.

Notification of awards is generally made at the time of admissions.