Admissions Requirements
Requirements for admission to the MSW program are outlined in detail on the School of Social Work's MSW Admissions Process webpage.
Admission decisions are decided jointly by the MSW Admissions Committee on a yearly basis. Decisions are based on a holistic assessment of the student’s undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) GPA(s), quality of admissions essay, prior human/social services experience, and letters of recommendation. Just because an applicant meets minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee acceptance.
Per university policy, applicants to the graduate MSW program must have a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 for admission. Students with an overall GPA below 2.75 can be considered for provisional admission, based on a review of the applicant’s transcript(s) and the strengths of the other elements on the application. All provisional admission recommendations are reviewed and approved by the dean’s office. Because of student Visa requirements, international applicants are not eligible for provisional admission.
* Provisionally admitted students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all courses during their first semester of the program in order to have their provisional status removed. Failure to meet this requirement will result in dismissal from the program per WVU Policies, which are outlined at the .
Process for Applying to the MSW Program
Instructions for submitting an application to the MSW Program and application deadlines can be found on the SSW Admissions Website.
All applicants must submit the required elements of the application, including the $60 application fee, by the deadlines specified at the SSW MSW Admissions website listed above in order to be considered for admission.
Applicants who apply by the priority deadline are given priority for SSW graduate assistantships and scholarships. The on-campus and online programs typically have different application deadlines each year. Please remember that all required materials must be received and processed by the required deadline dates. Keep in mind transcripts, references, and test scores often take longer than anticipated to arrive.
Information for International Applicants
General information for international applicants, as well as testing requirements for international applicants whose first language is not English, can be found at the Graduate Admissions Website for International Students.