Application Requirements
- Complete GradCAS application
- Transcripts from all schools attended
- Resume
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Personal Statement (prompts provided within the application)
- No application fee or GRE required
- Please see additional requirements for international applications within the application.
Application Deadlines
Below are application review deadlines for MSW Oakland, Johnstown, and Bradford campus applicants. Detailed instructions regarding application requirements are included when an applicant establishes a login username and password. Please do not start more than one application.
View a step by step guide on submitting an application.
| Application Review Deadlines for MSW Applicants | Deadline Date |
|---|---|
| Priority Review 1 | February 1, 2024 |
| Final Application Deadline-Oakland | June 30, 2024 |
| Final Application Deadline-Johnstown/Bradford | June 30, 2024 |
*Johnstown and Bradford campus students are part-time, direct practice students. The next application cycle for these campuses is fall 2026-2027.
Before we review your application, the application package must be complete with all components received by the above dates. Log in to GadCAS to monitor the status of your application after submission.
MSW Prerequisites
Applicants must fulfill the following requirements for admission into Pitt’s MSW degree program:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- A minimum average of a B (3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate work
All MSW applicants are reviewed holistically. Prospective students with a grade point average less than 3.0 may be admitted provisionally to the degree program; however, they may be required to interview with the School of Social Work’s admissions office. GRE scores are not required for admission to the MSW program.
Prospective students must earn a minimum of 60 undergraduate credits. It is recommended that a student’s undergraduate credits are divided into 30 credits in liberal arts and 30 credits in the social sciences.
Liberal arts classes include:
- Humanities—English, languages, literature, philosophy, religion and communication
- Fine arts—art, photography, dance and theater
- Natural sciences—biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and statistics
Social science classes include:
- Psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, social work, history and criminal justice
Advanced Standing Admission Qualifications
Students qualify for advanced standing if they have earned a social work bachelor’s degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Accreditation-accredited undergraduate program within ten academic years. Advanced standing students can complete their MSW degree with a minimum of 39 credits with full-time enrollment for both 12-month and 16-month options.
Those eligible for advanced standing can receive up to 15 academic credits based on how their undergraduate coursework compares with the MSW program’s generalist curriculum and the grades earned in their undergraduate courses. Grades must be “B” or higher to qualify for academic credit.
In addition to coursework credit, advanced-standing students can receive six practicum education credits based on their completed hours of practicum experience during their undergraduate program. To qualify, students must have received a “B” or higher and earned 400 practicum hours.
View a sample course of study plan for advanced-standing MSW students.
Admissions to Bradford & Johnstown Campuses
Top-ranked Master of Social Work program available in-person across rural PA! We are currently accepting Fall 2024 applications for our part-time Master of Social Work (MSW) program at our two regional campuses: the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (UPB) and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (UPJ).
Readmissions Requirements
The path to your MSW degree isn’t always straightforward. If a student was previously enrolled in Pitt’s MSW program and withdrew for more than one year, readmission is an option.
To be eligible for readmission, students should reapply to the program. They will also be required to submit a personal statement stating their reason for readmission and why they will be successful this time. Additionally, students should submit one new letter of recommendation from a reference not previously submitted during initial enrollment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about Pitt’s School of Social Work accreditation, MSW curriculum or post-graduate career opportunities? Read through our frequently asked questions to gather additional information.