Students who have received a social work degree within the past seven academic calendar years from a CSWE Board of Accreditation-accredited undergraduate program (or one recognized by the Council on Social Work Education’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service, or covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors) are eligible for advanced standing. Applicants to the MSW Program who have a social work degree from a college or university outside the United States and who wish to have their transcripts evaluated for advanced standing credit should contact the Council on Social Work Education's International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (swdres@cswe.org).
Those students who are granted advanced standing during the admission process can receive up to 15 academic credits. The number of advanced standing credits granted depends on the comparability of the student’s undergraduate courses to this Program’s generalist courses and on the grades they earned in those undergraduate courses (i.e., must be a “B-” grade or higher). Such students also may be granted an exemption from a diverse populations course. Eligibility for a course exemption is contingent upon the comparability of the student's undergraduate course(s) to this Program’s generalist course and on the grade(s) obtained (i.e., “B-” grade or higher). If an exemption is granted, the student must fulfill the three academic credits through additional coursework, typically by enrolling in another elective course. In addition, students entering with advanced standing can receive six (6) practicum education credits. The six (6) credits of practicum education are granted based on the number of hours of practicum experience completed at the undergraduate level, provided that the undergraduate social work practicum totals a minimum of 400 clock hours and the student has achieved a passing grade or at least a “B-“ grade or better.
Students who enter the MSW Program with advanced standing begin their studies in the Fall Semester and can matriculate through the program using a 12 month or 16 month course sequence. Full-time advanced standing students, not provisionally admitted, typically register for three (3) academic courses and six (6) credits of education education in both the Fall and Spring Semesters.
In the Summer Semester, students who are eligible and elect the 12-month advanced standing course sequence, register for their remaining three courses. They graduate in August at the end of the summer term.
Advanced standing students who elect the 16 month course plan, in the Fall Semester of their second year, can register for their remaining four courses and graduate in December of their second year.
Students who have been granted advanced standing at the point of admission are also allowed to pursue their MSW degree on a part-time basis. As described above, part-time students must register during at least two of the three academic terms each calendar year and must take an approved number of academic and/or practicum education credits during each term of enrollment. Part-time students with advanced standing must complete all of the requirements for the MSW degree in four years.