Snapshot |
|
Quarter Units |
90 |
Avg Completion Time |
|
2 Year Option |
2 Yrs (Fall - Spring) |
3 Year Option |
3 Yrs (Fall - Summer) |
Base Cost |
|
2 Year Option |
Approx $8,750.00* |
3 Year Option |
Approx $16,000.00* |
Accreditation |
CSWE, WASC |
* State tuition subject to change without notice |
|
Effective immediately the GRE is no longer required
Thank you for your interest in the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program at California State University, Los Angeles. Our mission is to prepare BASW and MSW students for skilled professional practice in socially, culturally and economically diverse urban communities. Our strength-based program educate generalist social workers who are committed to social and economic justice and are able to facilitate change and growth at all levels of practice. The benefits of our program are as follows:
- The Urban generalist focus, which prepares students to provide service across the spectrum of practice.
- Excellent education at an affordable price.
- One of the most ethnically diverse colleges (students and faculty).
- Individual attention to students by faculty and staff.
- Opportunity to make a contribution to social work research with the completion of thesis.
Our program offers three concentrations in advanced social work practice: Aging and Families (AF), Children Youth Women and Families (CYWF), and Forensics Social Work (FSW).
Please be sure to read the entire admissions packet as it provides important details and deadlines regarding the program and the admissions process. This packet contains the following: MSW application information and instructions, grade point average (GPA) computation instructions, instructions for the personal statement, one letter of reference form, a listing of prerequisite equivalencies, and more specific information on the MSW program at Cal State L.A.
Please read the entire packet carefully. Then, thoroughly complete the MSW application form, collect all required information and documents, and send all the material together in one mailing. Letters of reference and official transcripts need to stay sealed. Because you may not have access to your application materials once you have submitted them to the School of Social Work, please be sure to retain a copy of all materials for your personal file.
The School of Social Work application is revised every year. If you have an older version of the application please discard it and use the revised application for the year to which you are applying. One major change is the addition of the Forensic Social Work concentration for the two year option. Another change is that the human biology requirement is no longer required. The human biology requirement has been replaced with a research method and statistics course as one of the prerequisites, the other two prerequisites are two upper division social science courses.
If you applied for a previous term but were unable to complete your application, please call us (323) 343-4684 or email Michelle Lightburn as there maybe a possibility that you can reactivate your application. Applications are kept on file for one year. To formally re-activate your file you must submit your request in writing. When you contact the MSW admissions office we will provide instructions on how to formally re-activate your file and what material may be transferred from your previous file to the current admissions cycle.
In addition, you will need to submit the CSU Post-baccalaureate and Graduate Admission application simultaneously but separately to the Office of Admissions and University Outreach. You may also apply through the University on-line Admissions Page, but be sure to note that you are requesting admissions for the Fall Quarter.
You will be notified in writing of the decision on your application. For those admitted into the program, you will be asked to sign a statement of your acceptance and intention to commit to the program and attend a mandatory orientation in June and a mandatory field placement orientation in September.
Because of the high volume of applications received, please keep all telephone inquiries to a minimum. Please advise the School of any additions, changes, or delays to your application, in writing so it can be officially added to your file. You may also fax the information to (323) 343-5009 to the attention of the MSW Admissions Coordinator, School of Social Work.
Again, we appreciate your interest in our graduate program and look forward to reviewing your application.
Sincerely,
Karin Elliott Brown, Ph.D., Professor and School Director
MSW Admission Requirements
Applications are accepted for Fall Quarter only. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the School of Social Work has received all application information.
Admission to the Master of Social Work Program is based on meeting the academic qualifications required of all graduate students in the College of Health and Human Services in addition to an evaluation of the applicant's potential for advanced practice in the profession of social work. Please keep in mind that the application process is highly competitive so you may wish to focus on more than just the minimum requirements. For example, an applicant with two years of work experience and a 3.25 grade point average (GPA) would be seen as a stronger applicant than one with one year of work experience and a 2.75 GPA.
- A bachelor's degree with a liberal arts background from an accredited college or university. All applicants must have a liberal arts background, although a specific degree in this area is not required. We define this broad orientation as knowledge in which critical thinking is developed through studies of social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities. For example individuals applying for the program could come from among the following areas:
- Social Work or Human Services (e.g. Child Development, Nursing, Rehabilitation, Home Economics)
- Liberal Arts (e.g., Human Biology, Physiology, Political Science, History, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Human Development, Anthropology, Ethnic Studies, Women's Studies, Humanities, Philosophy, Literature, Art, Music)
Students from more technical areas may be considered for admission. The decision will depend on the applicant’s particular qualifications and background as described in the application.
- A grade point average of at least 2.75 in the last 90 quarter units or last 60 semester units (4 point scale). This is not the cumulative GPA (see enclosed guidelines for calculating GPA). If your courses are from colleges or universities that use non-traditional grading (i.e., pass/no pass for all courses--no letter grades), please submit your transcripts early with the narratives so that we may assist you in calculating your GPA.
***Note: Courses taken after your initial GPA is calculated by the University, including prerequisite courses, may be counted in the final GPA so please be sure that courses taken after this calculation is done will not place you below the minimum 2.75 GPA requirement and disqualify your admittance into the program.
- Completion of three prerequisites-one course in research methods and statistics, and 8 quarter units, or 6 semester units, of upper division social science courses (such as social work, psychology, sociology, ethnic studies, political science, anthropology, history). The following describe the nature of appropriate course work:
Research Methods and Statistics
An applicant must receive a passing grade in order for it to count as one of the prerequisites. A passing grade is defined as either a letter grade of "C" or better or "credit/pass" in a pass/fail or credit/no credit system. The Research Methods and Statistics prerequisite may be taken at a community college, state college, or university, and units do not need to be transferable You may submit your application while completing these prerequisites as long as you have completed at least 2 of the 3 prerequisites by the time your file is to be reviewed and you have documented your specific plans to complete the last (listing the term the course will be taken, the institution, and the exact course title and description). If an applicant is admitted into the program, he/she must complete all prerequisites before entering the program in Fall.
If you have taken a course you believe covered the appropriate content, you will need to submit a course syllabus to the MSW Office for further review. You do not have to obtain the actual syllabus from when the course was taken. You may submit the current syllabus by contacting that department/school and asking them to fax or mail the current syllabus for that class to you or the MSW Admissions Office at (323) 343-5009 with your name and telephone number on it. The School will make a decision on whether the course will count for the specified prerequisite. If a decision is made that the course will not count, you will be required to take the appropriate class to fulfill the prerequisite. Do not wait until the last minute to complete prerequisites because applicants admitted into the program will not begin the program if they have not successfully completed all prerequisites by early September. The School will not allow incoming students to take outstanding prerequisites concurrent with MSW coursework.
Syllabi for the two upper division social science courses are not necessary if course titles and numbers on the transcript(s) reflect social science content and course level.
- Good academic standing at the last college or university attended
- Work experience in social services or human services is not required but highly desirable.
- Submit a complete and signed MSW application form, your personal statement, three references (References should include one academic and one professional reference; the third can be either academic or professional. If an academic or professional reference is not provided, then a detailed explanation for this missing information should be provided otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete.) on the Reference Form, and official transcripts before the admissions period closes (see "Admission Procedure" for more detailed information). Also, if a letter of good standing, field evaluation, and/or syllabi are required if you were admitted into a previous masters program must be submitted before admission closes.
Applicants are accepted on the basis of their academic preparation, breadth of background and professional experience and evidence of promise in the field of social work. Applicants should have a demonstrated ability to successfully complete graduate level academic work, including the ability to write clearly and professionally; the ability to locate, absorb, categorize, and use information from disparate sources; the ability to critically analyze theoretical concepts; and the ability to merge theory with practice. Applicants should be intellectually able, emotionally mature, interested in working with people and potentially capable of assuming the significant responsibilities which are inherent in professional social work practice.
Meeting the academic requirements alone does not guarantee admission to the graduate program in social work; maturity, experience and professional promise are equally important. Professional promise includes social consciousness and commitment to the values of the profession and the specific mission of the program, personal readiness, motivation and ability to relate as an effective helping person to individual, organizational and societal needs. The autobiographical statement, letters of reference and the oral interview (if so requested) should give evidence of the applicant's personal suitability for the profession of social work.
The applicant must complete all forms and submit required documentation for items 1-7 listed above as a complete packet. Send application material to:
MSW Admissions Office
School of Social Work
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032-8164
MSW Information Meetings
We encourage interested and prospective applicants to attend one of the information meetings held by the School of Social Work Admissions Office. These meetings are available on the dates listed below and provide an overview of the social work profession, the discipline of social work, the MSW Program at CSLA and the application process. No advanced reservations are needed to attend. There is no need to reserve a place at the meeting. Visitors to the University can click here to obtain Directions and Parking information or by calling (323) 343-3704.
For available dates, click on the link below:
http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/soc_work/SW_PDF/MSW_Information_Meeting.pdf
Should you need additional clarification of admissions requirements please contact Michelle Lightburn, School of Social Work Admissions Coordinator.
