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MSW | Admissions | Reinstatement to MSW Program

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How long does it take to complete the MSW program?

We offer a three-year, part-time evening study program that combines classroom and practicum experiences over a 75-credit program.

How is admission to the MSW program determined?

We look at all MSW candidates holistically. Application strength is based on your GPA, graduate level writing ability, essay responses, fit with Social Work, volunteer and/or paid experiences, and third party letters of reference.

How do you calculate my GPA for admission purposes?

GPA is calculated based on your 90 most recent credits (60 credits of a semester school).

May I use tuition exemption to enroll in MSW courses if I am an eligible University or state of Washington employee?

No, the UWT MSW program options do not permit tuition exemption for any graduate courses due to space restrictions.  Further information regarding tuition exemption can be found on the Office of the Registrar website.

Is there an application fee?

Applicants must apply to the UW Graduate School, which requires an application fee. See this UW Graduate School website for fee waiver information. A fee waiver request must be submitted at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the program application deadline and will be notified of the results via email from the UW Graduate School. If approved, the applicant will be instructed to return to the application and complete the submission process. If denied, the applicant must pay the application fee to complete the submission process.

Where can I find Financial Aid information? What kind of Financial Aid is available?

Obtain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://www.usa.gov/fafsa. Scholarships, grants, loans, and work study opportunities are available from public and private sources for qualified students. Submitting the FAFSA is independent of an admission decision and does not require notice of admission. The FAFSA is available in October and must be received by the UW Tacoma Office of Financial Aid by January 15 to be considered an "on-time" application. The institutional Title IV code for the University of Washington is 003798. Use the address "Seattle, WA" when entering UW school information. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for questions and additional information.

Please note that financial aid funding for part-time graduate students is typically limited to student loans and scholarships. No full-time MSW option is available at UW Tacoma. We strongly urge you to speak with one of our Financial Aid representatives so that they can give you an idea of what financial aid you would be eligible for. To schedule an appointment with Financial Aid, please contact their office at 253-692-4374.

Should I apply if my recalculated GPA is less than the 3.0 minimum?

Yes, you may still be offered admission based upon the overall strength of your application.

How do I submit my transcripts and GPA?

Applicants must report every undergraduate and graduate institution ever attended and provide unofficial transcripts from each institution, even if just one or two courses were completed, or none of the courses were successfully completed.

A set of transcripts from each institution must be uploaded to the 'Academic History' section of the online Graduate School application. Do not send copies of transcripts directly to the UWT MSW program. Physical copies should be scanned and saved as PDF or image documents, and copies retrieved off the web should be saved as PDF or image documents. 

  • To obtain copies of unofficial transcripts, contact the registrar's office at your previous institution(s) for assistance.

     
  • Be sure your first and last names and the name of the institution are included on the transcripts.

     
  • University of Washington students/graduates are not exempt from this step. All current or former students of UW Tacoma, UW Seattle, or UW Bothell, must upload their UW transcripts.

     
  • If you attended a school that does not use a traditional grade point system, but instead uses a summary and narratives system, be sure to include the complete narrative transcript. If you are unable to submit online, please email a PDF of your summary and narrative transcripts to swcj@uw.edu.

     
  • Admission to the UW Graduate School is contingent upon completion of all undergraduate requirements and conferral of a bachelor's degree. If accepted to the UWT MSW program, an official transcript from the institution that granted your baccalaureate degree must be submitted to the UW Graduate School (do not send official transcripts to the UWT MSW program).

You will be asked to enter your Major GPA and your Cumulative GPA as reported on your transcript in the 'School Attended' section of the online UW Graduate School application. If your institution does not issue a GPA, you will be able to indicate this on the online application.

Foreign Degree Transcripts

The following procedures apply to applicants residing in the United States who are not here on an educational visa (international student visa), such as the F-1 or J-1 visas.

During the admission process, applicants must upload foreign transcripts with degree statement, including date of graduation and title of academic degree awarded as part of the online UW Graduate School application for admission. All coursework with grades issued for each year completed must be submitted for proper evaluation. All international records are considered official if they have been certified or attested and must be submitted in the original language accompanied by an official English translation. Translations must be literal, complete versions of original records, and the documents must be translated by a university, a government official, or an official translation service. You may not do your own translation.

A review of your foreign transcripts will take place only after a UW Graduate School application and application fee are submitted online via the web application. Please note the review process can be lengthy, often taking months to complete.

Is admission competitive? How many applicants are accepted each year?

Typically, we have more qualified applicants than we have space for each year. Forty-six applicants are offered admission to the program annually.

Is there a statistics prerequisite?

The School of Social Work and Criminal Justice moved to drop the statistics requirement for admissions into the Master of Social Work program effective 2024. This will align admissions requirements on the Tacoma campus with admissions requirements on the Seattle campus and it will hopefully remove barriers to joining our program. A basic understanding of statistics is still highly recommended and we will make an information sheet with basic concepts and free resources available to everyone admitted to the program.

Can an advisor look over my application essay?

No, we are not able to review application essays before they are submitted.

When do students who are admitted get notified?

Applicants will be notified of an admission decision by email; some notifications for the 3-Year program begin to go out in February and no later than mid-May. Advanced Standing applicants will receive early notifications in late May and no later than early August.

Why do you only offer admission for autumn quarter?

Our program is a cohort model, so all students must begin the same quarter.

Can I work while I am completing my MSW?

The vast majority of our students are working full- or part-time during most of the program. You will need some flexibility in your workplace while completing your practicum. Most practicum sites will require students to work during normal business hours.

Full time work during the second, specialized practicum placement can be challenging as, similar to other MSW programs, most students spend 16-24 hours per week at the placement in addition to coursework.

When do classes meet?

Classes meet one or two evenings per week from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. In addition to classroom learning, students complete two practicums in community agencies to learn hands-on practical applications of social work in the real world. Occasionally, we will offer a Saturday class.

Will you accept credits from another graduate program? How do I transfer credits?

Our professional accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), prohibits us from accepting course work or credits from graduate programs that are not accredited by the CSWE.

MSW coursework earned for a master's-level work from another CSWE-accredited MSW program may be transferred after the review of transcripts and syllabi by the director and after acceptance to the Master of Social Work program. Restrictions apply; contact the School of Social Work and Criminal Justice office for more information.

What makes the MSW relevant?

The program prepares learners for the social work profession and:

  • Provides a broad perspective of the field of social welfare.
  • Provides a foundation of social work knowledge and skills.
  • Provides an ethics and values base.
  • Provides advanced and specialized knowledge of social work interventions.
Are there any benefits for Veterans?

Veterans, as well as the dependents of veterans, may contact the Veteran & Military Services at 253-692-5721 for information regarding VA educational benefits and how they might apply to a part-time Master's program.

What are opportunities for Graduate Non-Matriculated students?

Opportunities for GNM enrollment status are extremely limited. GNM enrollment is only available for T SOCW 501 and 502 in autumn quarter. Before application, applicants must contact the School of Social Work and Criminal Justice at swcj@uw.edu no later than August 15, and provide a current resume and an official transcript demonstrating a baccalaureate degree with a 3.0 GPA on the last 90 quarter/60 semester hours at a minimum.  If approved for application and if space becomes available in an eligible course, applicants will be notified in September and prompted to begin the application process.  GNM tuition policy will apply, and the Washington State Employee Tuition Exemption program cannot cover the GNM tuition cost for any MSW classes.

Do you accept International Applicants?

The UWT MSW programs are part-time, therefore international students are not eligible to apply. International students holding an F-1 or J-1 Student Visa may apply to the UW Seattle's Master of Social Work program, which offers a full-time study option.

How do I re-apply?

All applicants who applied in a previous admission cycle will need to submit all new application materials for each program start for which they hope to be considered. Application materials submitted in a previous application cycle cannot be released to the applicant to be reused for a new application. Applicants are encouraged to keep copies of all submitted materials for their records.