MSW Frequently Asked Questions
Considering WVU’s MSW program? The FAQ page walks you through what to expect, how the program works, who it's designed for, and what you’ll need to apply.
Considering WVU’s MSW program? The FAQ page walks you through what to expect, how the program works, who it's designed for, and what you’ll need to apply.
A. Yes, our specialization is advanced integrated practice. The advanced integrated practice curriculum offers an integrative approach to social work, preparing students for both direct practice and administrative roles. This curriculum prepares WVU MSW graduates to be well-rounded, advanced practitioners who can respond to the complex realities of practice in a variety of roles and settings. Additionally, students have opportunities to focus on a topic or population of interest to them through their field placements, electives, and class assignments.
Q. Do I need to reach out and find a research supervisor before applying?
A. While there are numerous research opportunities both within the school and the university, students are not required to have a research supervisor lined up while applying. If you have a research interest, once admitted, speak to your advisor, who can help you find a faculty research opportunity.
A. An Advanced Standing student is someone who already has a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited university within the last 8 years. They skip the foundational courses and their generalist placement and go straight into higher-level courses and their advanced field experience. Regular Standing students hold a bachelor’s degree in something other than a social work degree. They first take foundational social work courses and complete their generalist field placement and in their second year, move on to higher-level courses and the advanced field placement.
A. No. Social Work Field Instruction experience is based on specific Competencies and Practice Behaviors, which correlate with the many varied social work roles, interventions, and practice settings in compliance with the CSWE accreditation standards. Therefore, internships/practicum from non-social work degree programs may not be substituted for field instruction components.
A. To be considered for admission, students must have an overall undergraduate or graduate GPA of 2.75 or higher, a 3.0 GPA is preferred . Students with an overall GPA below 2.75 may 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. Applicants will need to complete an online application and submit the following documents: official transcripts, resume, two letters of recommendation, and their admissions essay. Those applying for Advanced Standing must also have a 3.25 GPA or higher in their social work classes. Full guidelines are on our website.
A. November 1st is the early decision deadline for students applying to Summer and Fall starts. Applications submitted by November 1 will receive an early decision notification, and accepted applicants are eligible for graduate assistantships and scholarships provided through the School of Social Work. Details can be found on this page of our website.
A. Yes, applicants will need to pay a $75.00 application fee to apply to WVU before the application can be submitted.
A. West Virginia University provides application fee waivers to all WVU full-time employees, Active and Retired US Military members, and members of AmeriCorps or Peace Corps. Advanced Standing applicants with a BSW from WVU may also be eligible for an application fee waiver. If this applies to you, contact our admissions department for details. If you do not meet one of the qualifications, you are not eligible for an application fee waiver.
Q. Is there any financial assistance available?
A. Yes. There are a number of financial resources for students. You will find more details on funding, including a list of School of Social Work scholarships, on our website. Also, we highly encourage students speak to the WVU financial aid office, known as the WVU HUB, to discuss options. Mr. Brian Bollinger (brian.bollinger@mail.wvu.edu) is a knowledgeable resource at the WVU HUB.
Q. Are scholarship opportunities available?
A. Yes, students applying for Summer or Fall starts, must apply by the priority deadline (January 15 for on campus, February 1 for online) to be eligible for School of Social Work scholarships for their first year of school. Although these awards are helpful, they do not cover full tuition costs.
Q. What is the Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training program?
A. The funding provides $25,000 in stipend support for advanced field placement to 15 MSW students per year to focus their studies on integrated behavioral health practice across the lifespan. Students apply for the RIBHT program in January prior to their start in advanced field placement, which occurs during their last year of the MSW program.International students are not eligible to apply for the RIBHT program.
Q. What is the Title IV-E Child Welfare Training program?
A. The grant provides in-state tuition/fees and monthly stipend support for students accepted into the program. In exchange, students must do their field practicum(s) at the WV Department of Human Resources (DoHS) while in the MSW program AND work for the DoHS in a child welfare job following graduation for the same amount of time as they received Title IV-E assistance. International students are not eligible to apply for the Title IV-E program.
Q. Is there any other financial aid information?
A. Students can apply for Financial Aid by completing their FAFSA application by the March 1st deadline. WVU's Federal Code is 003827.
A. After notification of acceptance, you will need to submit your official transcripts to Graduate Admissions at graduateadmissions@mail.wvu.edu through a service such as eScrip-Safe, the National Student Clearinghouse, or Parchment. Official copies can also be mailed directly to Graduate Admissions. Find more information on the Graduate Admissions website.
You can transfer a maximum of 12 credits toward your MSW degree. After acceptance into the program, you will need to submit a syllabus and course transcript for each class taken to the MSW Program Director. The Curriculum Committee will review these and decide which MSW requirements can be satisfied by these courses. Recommendations are then sent to the registrar’s office, who will apply the approved credits toward the degree requirements.
Q. Will I be eligible to pursue licensure in my state?
A. Graduates of the WVU MSW program are typically eligible to pursue social work licensure at their degree level in all states of the United States andare eligible to work towards a clinical license after graduation if desired. Since each state has specific licensure requirements, applicants are encouraged to research these requirements on the website of the board for the state in which they wish to practice. For information about state-specific licensing, please see the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) licensing and regulation website.
Q. How many hours of field experience do I need to complete the program?
A. Regular standing students complete 300 general field placement hours and 600 advanced placement hours. Advanced standing students complete 600 advanced placement hours. Students will be matched and supported by our Field Placement Director according to their interests. For more details, look through our MSW Student Handbook .
Q. Can my employer also be my field placement site?
Maybe. Requests for Employer-Based Placements are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must meet specific criteria to ensure that the placement site will satisfy both the CSWE and SSW field requirements. Students submit a proposal and identify the specific activities that contribute to competency development. Supervision by an approved MSW Field Instructor must also be available. Employer-based placement applications are submitted as part of the field placement application process. Students approved for the employer-based placements will move through placement at the same pace as other students; they may not log more hours in a week than would be typically completed in a non-employer-based setting.
Q. Do you offer any dual degree programs?
A. We do not offer any organized dual programs for the MSW.
A. Yes! You can contact the WVU Center for Veteran, Military and Family Program online or at this number: 304-293-8825. We really appreciate the knowledge and experience veterans bring to our program.
A. An Advanced Standing student attending school full-time will complete the program in 12 months; those enrolled part-time will complete the program in 2 years. A Regular Standing student attending full time will complete the program in 2 years; those enrolled part-time will complete the program in 3 years. All degree plans require completion of courses during the summer terms as well as fall and spring.
Q. How much does it cost?
A. Tuition varies depending on your residency and if you complete the program full or part time. For the 2026-2027 school year, one credit hour costs $746 for in-state students and $1,942 for out-of-state students. Detailed tuition costs can be found on the WVU Tuition website.
A. The Priority Deadline is January 15th. The Standard Deadline is March 1st. Students who apply by the January 15 deadline will be eligible for School of Social Work scholarships and graduate assistantships. Applicants applying for the full-time Advanced Standing Program must apply by January 15th to be considered. Details can be found on the MSW Admissions Requirements webpage.
Q. Are there Graduate Assistantship (GA) positions within the School of Social Work or elsewhere in the university?
A. The School of Social Work offers several GA positions for full-time on-campus students. Students must apply by January 15th to be eligible for GA positions in the School GA positions cover university tuition and include a small stipend in exchange for 10-20 hours of work per week. Students may apply once admitted. Students may also search for GA positions outside of social work by contacting departments individually and using Handshake. The Eberly Dean’s office must provide approval for tuition waivers for all Graduate Service Assistant (GSA) positions. Approval is also required for any Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) and Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) positions in departments outside of Eberly College. The supervisor hiring the graduate student should fill out the Graduate Assistant Tuition Waiver Pre-approval form for the Eberly College before filling out the form on the Office of Graduate Student and Life website. NOTE: the approval process requires a job description, typically the one placed in Handshake.
A. The School has a limited amount of merit-based and hardship tuition waivers that they can provide to on campus MSW students. On average, 1-3 credit tuition waivers are awarded. Incoming students who apply by the priority deadline may be eligible for tuition waivers based on the quality of their application and/or prior GPA. Current students must have a 4.0 GPA to apply for merit-based tuition waivers. For students who are facing severe financial difficulties that are impeding their ability to continue in the program, the school may award hardship waivers. These are awarded on a case-by-case basis. Students enrolled in the online MSW program are not eligible to apply for tuition waivers.
A. Part-time Advanced Standing students can complete the program in 5–6 semesters (21–24 months).
A. New for 2027, we will offer a pilot full time advanced standing online program for students that have received their BSW from a CSWE accredited program within the past 8 years. Full time online students will start in May 2027 and graduate in May 2028 after 12 month of class and field placement. For more information, complete a short survey to register your interest and contact us at socialwork@mail.wvu.edu.
A. No. All courses are offered online and are asynchronous.
A. See the chart below for the application deadlines. Details can be found on the MSW Admissions Requirements webpage
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Advanced & Regular Standing (Part-Time) |
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Spring 2027 (January) |
October 15 (Final) |
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Fall 2027 (August) |
November 1 (Early Decision) |
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February 1 (Priority) |
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May 1 (Final) |
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Advanced Standing (Full-Time Pilot Cohort) |
Summer 2027 (May) |
November 1 (Early Decision) |
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February 1 (Final) |
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A. An “asynchronous” course refers to an online course that is conducted without any synchronous (or real-time) activities. No campus visits are required, and the instructor and students are not required to be logged into the course at the same time. Much like a face-to-face course or synchronous online course, an asynchronous online course includes significant structure, deadlines, and course learning outcomes that must be met in a set period as outlined on the course syllabus. These courses also include substantive instructor-initiated interaction with and among the students.
Q. How is an asynchronous course different from a correspondence course?
A. Correspondence courses are typically self-paced, have little to no student-to-student interaction, and have limited interactions between the student and instructor. Interaction with an instructor in correspondence courses is usually initiated by the student. An asynchronous online course, however, is not self-paced and includes substantive instructor-initiated interaction with and among the students. Courses in the Online MSW program are asynchronous. However, MSW Orientation, Advising Meetings, and Field Placements CANNOT be completed asynchronously.
A. Tuition is paid by the credit hour. All students are eligible for in-state tuition no matter their state of residency. The tuition rate for the online social work program for the 202-2027 school year is $768 per credit hour. The total program cost depends on the number of credit hours required for completion (36 for advanced standing, 60 for regular standing). Students typically take 6 to 9 credit hours (2 to 3 courses) a semester. Detailed WVU tuition costs
A. Our part-time online program is designed with full-time work in mind. All the classes are asynchronous and 100% online. The field placements, however, are completed in person, near your place of residence. We recommend sharing your graduate school plans with your employer as you will likely need some flexibility once you start your field placement hours. It’s always helpful to have their support. For some students, employer-based placements are also an option.
A. Students must have regular access to a desktop or laptop computer (PC or Mac) that meets the minimum specifications outlined by WVU Online (see the WVU Online Technical and Readiness Requirements webpage). They must also have reliable internet access; a high-speed internet connection (400 MBPS+) is strongly recommended. Although some tasks may be completed on mobile devices and tablets, these are not compatible with all elements of the required learning management systems. A desktop or laptop computer should be the primary device used to complete course-related tasks. Students should also have access to a PDF Reader (Adobe Acrobat Reader or similar), an internet browser (Chrome or Firefox are recommended), Microsoft Word (Office 365 is free to all WVU students), and a functional sound card, speakers, and microphones. Students must also have access to a second device (cell phone or other mobile device) for multi-factor authentication. For more information about technology and technical readiness requirements, visit the WVU Online Technical and Readiness Requirements webpage.
A: Policy changes about travel and international student visas can change rapidly. Prospective or admitted students should contact WVU’s International Students and Scholar Services at isss-students@mail.wvu.edu for advice and information about their unique situation.
A. International students are required to pass an English Proficiency Test before they will be admitted, unless you have citizenship or a bachelor’s degree from one of the exempted countries.
Tests: TOEFL iBT through January 2026 (Home Edition is accepted): 79, TOEFL iBT after January 2026 (Home Edition is accepted): 4.0, Academic IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL Essentials: 9.0, Duolingo English Test: 105, PTE Academic: 53 Tests: Academic IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL iBT: 79 (WVU accepts MyBest scores), PTE Academic: 53, or Duolingo English Test: 105
A. WVU accepts electronic score delivery for TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo scores. WVU also accepts TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo scores that can be verified through the testing agency.
Q. Does WVU accept HND's and/or 3-year bachelor's degrees?
A: WVU considers Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) from Nigeria or Ghana to be comparable to US bachelor’s degrees if the HND is a 2-year program that followed a 2-year National Diploma (ND) or Ordinary National Diploma (OND) program, for a total of at least 4 years of post-secondary study.
Applicants with 3-year bachelor’s degrees may be reviewed for admission to graduate programs. We recommend asking your program contact if your coursework meets their expectations before you apply.
A: With a bachelor's degree in social work outside the United States, you will need to have it evaluated by the Council for Social Work Education (CSWE) for you to be considered an advanced-standing graduate social work student at WVU. This is the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States. CSWE degree evaluation services can be found on this website.
Regarding the CSWE review, this isn't mandatory. If you want to bypass this, you can apply to our program as a regular standing student. This would require you to spend another year in our program, but it makes the application process easier and less costly.
Q. How can I reach out to an International Student Advisor?
A. To request to speak to an international student advisor, please e-mail our ISS team at: isss-students@mail.wvu.edu
E-mail is monitored daily, and it is the best way to reach an experienced advisor to see if an appointment is needed. In your e-mail, please include:
An advisor will then review the e-mail, conduct the proper research and review of your record, include any individuals who also need to be aware, and follow up within 1-3 business days with a response. We do monitor and assess for urgency. Please note that response times may be longer if additional research or inquiries to other offices or government agencies are needed.
A. There are a variety of campus resources available for international students to help make the transition to WVU easier. From English Language learning programs, VISA support, community building, and writing support, WVU has a little something for everyone.
International Students & Scholars Services : A community dedicated to serving all international students, enriching their experience while at WVU. Located in the Purinton House on the downtown campus, ISSS is a link to students and research scholars from over 100 countries around the world. They provide mentorship, seminars, and social activities for international students. They also provide VISA assistance.
Intensive English Program: Designed for students who want to improve their English to feel prepared academically, or those simply wishing to improve their conversational English. As an IEP student, you will receive a strong orientation to living in Morgantown. Topics include English instruction, banking, counseling, healthcare, and legal matters.
Career Services Center: Provides professional advice and instruction by providing resume reviews, practice job interviews, job search coaching, professional dining etiquette events, and more!
Eberly Writing Studio: Trained consultants who provide guidance and review of writing projects and presentations!
And so much more: Other campus resources include an on-campus food pantry, Student Legal Services, Office of Student Accommodations, Carruth Counseling Center, WVU Student Health, Collegiate Recovery, Library Services, and WellWVU!