MSW Admissions Information

MSW Admissions Information

Thank you for your interest in the MSW Program at UNC Charlotte. Applications are submitted through the UNC Charlotte Graduate School’s website.

Application Priority Deadline: January 15th Annually

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MSW Admissions Options

Advanced Standing Admittance

Advanced Standing admittance requires that applicants have earned a baccalaureate social work (BSW) degree accredited by CSWE (USA), CASWE (Canada), or ISWDRES-evaluated (International) within the last ten years.   

Advanced Standing programs are 39 credit hours.

Advanced Standing Options
1-Year Advanced Standing (Campus)
  • Details:
    • Graduated with BSW within the past 10 years
    • Full-Time Program
    • May to May (1 Year)
  • Course Times:
    • Primarily a daytime classes with some evening and online options
  • Practicum:
    • Fall and Spring Semesters
    • 16 hours per week (typically daytime hours and in-person)
1-Year Advanced Standing (Online)
  • Details:
    • Graduated with BSW within the past 10 years
    • Full-Time Program
    • May to May (1 Year)
  • Course Times:
    • Fully Online
    • 60-80% synchronous “live” courses on weekday evenings and some Saturday mornings
    • 10-20% asynchronous “self-paced” courses
  • Practicum:
    • Fall and Spring Semesters
    • 16 hours per week (typically daytime hours and in-person)
2-Year Advanced Standing (Online)
  • Details:
    • Graduated with BSW within the past 10 years
    • Part-Time Program
    • May to May (2 Years)
  • Course Times:
    • 60-80% synchronous “live” courses on weekday evenings and some Saturday mornings
    • 10-20% asynchronous “self-paced” courses
  • Practicum:
    • Fall and Spring Semesters (Year 2 Only)
    • 16 hours per week (typically daytime hours and in-person)

Standard Admittance

Standard admittance requires applicants with an earned baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association. 

Applicants who have earned a BSW within the past seven years and have opted for the full 60-credit MSW program rather than Advanced Standing will not be expected to repeat courses where they have demonstrated mastery. They can substitute courses. See the ​Course Substitution Policy in the MSW Student Handbook.

Standard Admittance Options
2-Year (Campus)
  • Details:
    • Full-Time Program
    • August to May (2 Years)
  • Course Times:
    • Primarily a daytime classes with some evening and online options
  • Practicum:
    • Fall and Spring semesters both years
    • 16 hours per week (typically daytime hours and in-person)
2-Year (Online)
  • Details:
    • Full-Time Program
    • May to May (2 Years)
  • Course Times:
    • 60-80% synchronous “live” courses on weekday evening and some Saturday mornings
    • 10-20% asynchronous “self-paced” courses
  • Practicum:
    • Fall and Spring semesters both years
    • 16 hours per week (typically daytime hours and in-person)
3-Year (Online)
  • Details:
    • Full-Time Program
    • May to May (3 Years)
  • Course Times:
    • 60-80% synchronous “live” courses on weekday evening and some Saturday mornings
    • 10-20% asynchronous “self-paced” courses
  • Practicum:
    • Fall and Spring Semesters ( Year 2 & 3 Only)
    • 16 hours per week (typically daytime hours and in-person)

Transfer Admittance

Transfer Admittance, also referred to as “Transfer of credit” refers to graduate course credits earned at UNC Charlotte or another institution either before or after admission to the MSW Program. The MSW program will accept a maximum of twelve (12) social work semester hours of transfer credit toward a master’s degree. Students cannot transfer credit for courses that counted toward another completed graduate degree. The UNC Charlotte Graduate School requires that transferred courses be no more than seven years old at the time of the student’s graduation (not acceptance into the program). Transfer credit will only be granted for courses taken at a CSWE-accredited university. Credits for Practicum Placement and Seminar cannot be transferred. 

The MSW Program does not give credit for previous work or life experiences.

Minimum Criteria Used for MSW Admission

  1. Accredited Undergraduate Degree:
    • Advanced Standing: Earned a baccalaureate social work (BSW) degree accredited by CSWE (USA), CASWE (Canada), or ISWDRES-evaluated (International).
      • Applicants in their final year of study in a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) ​and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
      • Applicants who have earned a BSW within the past ​ten years from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) ​and who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher​.
      • Applicants who have earned a BSW within the past seven years and have opted for the full 60-credit MSW program (traditional/campus-based and online/Distance Education) rather than Advanced Standing will not be expected to repeat courses where they have demonstrated mastery. They can substitute courses. See the ​Course Substitution Policy in the MSW Student Handbook.
    • Standard Admittance: Earned baccalaureate degree or its U.S. equivalent, from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body. See the Graduate Catalog Glossary for a list of accrediting bodies.
  2. GPA 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) as indicated by transcripts
    • If an applicant has earned or attempted a post-baccalaureate degree (i.e., a master’s, doctoral or other), grades in that program will also be taken into consideration. 
    • Applicants with undergraduate GPAs below 3.0 are rarely admitted. Those admitted typically present other strong indicators of academic success—such as a GPA close to 3.0, substantial professional experience, or completion of a graduate degree or certificate in a related field with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.   
  3. For non-native English language speakers: A minimum score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL or a minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS is required for admissions consideration.
  4. Three professional recommendations
  5. Resume
  6. Statement of Purpose addressing all of the following in no more than four (4) double-spaced pages:
    • Describe why you want to become a master’s level social worker.
    • Discuss how the MSW program at UNC Charlotte and the plan of study (program option) will help you achieve your career goals.
    • Describe the population(s) and/or social problems(s) you are interested in. Additionally, explain how a social worker might address these challenges at the economic, environmental or community level.
    • Using the principles outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics, describe how you think a social worker can bring about social change.

Overview of Application and Selection Process

The application process for the MSW program is competitive and not all applicants who meet the minimum criteria for admission will be accepted. Applications must be submitted through the Graduate School portal by the School of Social Work priority deadline of January 15th for full consideration. Applications submitted after January 15th will be reviewed by the School of Social Work on a space-available basis. Applicants that apply to more than one program option will be considered for their first option during the initial full application review. If not accepted to the first program option preference, applicants will be considered for their second choice on a space-available basis. 

Applications are reviewed by the MSW Admissions Committee which is composed of full-time social work faculty members who regularly teach in or administratively support the MSW program. Additional faculty members and staff may also review components of the application. The following materials are submitted: Application form, transcripts, Statement of Purpose, resume, three recommendations, and any additional materials required by the Graduate School. Standardized test scores are not required. Application elements (academic preparation, experience, recommendations, and Statement of Purpose prompts) are scored using a MSW Application Rating Rubric which is based on a point system. Competitive applicants (those with the highest scores) are selected until all seats are filled.  ​The committee’s recommendation is submitted to the Graduate School for a final decision. The process for decisions is outlined below: 

Acceptance

Applicants are notified of the acceptance decision via a letter in the Graduate School portal. Applicants for summer and fall admission are notified of final decisions no later than May 1st. Applicants must accept or decline throughout the Graduate School System by the outlined date. If the application fails to respond by the identified date the application will be withdrawn and the seat will be offered to another applicant.

Waitlist

Applicants are notified of the decision via a letter in the Graduate School portal. The letter informs students that they have been placed on the out waitlist and if a seat becomes available they will be notified up until August 1st.

Denial

Applicants are notified of the denial decision via a letter in the Graduate School portal. There is no other communication and/or follow-up.

See the ​Policy on Admission to the University (University Policy #207) for more information.

Additional Information for Applicants

  • The MSW Program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience toward the social work degree.  
  • Applicants with past convictions who are offered admission and opt to enroll would be doing so with the understanding that this background could be a potential barrier to graduation or future employment. The MSW Program does make every effort to assist students with a positive criminal background check in finding​ practicum​ placements.
  • Persons with disabilities who need assistance in the admission process must contact the School of Social Work to request such assistance a minimum of fifteen days prior to the application deadline. The applicant will be connected with the Office of Disability Services to request that a staff ​member​ assist ​the ​applicant ​with​ completing ​the ​application.
  • Students who leave the MSW program (in good standing, due to suspension, or due to termination) and wish to return can contact the MSW Program Director or the Graduate School for guidance related to readmission or reinstatement.

Post-Baccalaureate Information

Post-baccalaureate admission offers a flexible pathway for individuals to enroll in graduate-level social work courses without formally applying to or committing to the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. This option is ideal for those who:

  • Wish to begin coursework prior to the next admissions cycle.
  • Are exploring graduate-level social work education and want to experience a class before applying.
  • Seek to strengthen or establish their academic record (GPA).
  • Are pursuing School Social Work Licensure in Social Work.

Important Note: Admission through the post-baccalaureate pathway does not guarantee future acceptance into the MSW program. However, if formally admitted, students may transfer up to 12 credit hours of completed graduate-level social work coursework toward their MSW degree. Prospective students can apply for post-baccalaureate admission through the Graduate School website. For additional details, visit the Post-Baccalaureate information page. Once admitted please reach out to sswadmission@charlotte.edu to get registered for classes.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any additional questions about the MSW Program at UNC Charlotte or want to view some tips for applying, please view our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you still have further questions, please contact sswadmission@charlotte.edu

FAQS FOR prospective msw students
MSW Information Sessions

State Authorization and Licensure (Attending Out of State and Abroad Guidelines)

The Online MSW program is generally targeted toward those who live in the North Carolina region, but UNC Charlotte is authorized to offer online programs and courses in all US states and territories (Practicum Education availability may be impacted based on individual state, contact the School of Social Work Practicum Office (msw-practicum@charlotte.edu for more information). UNC Charlotte is not currently authorized to offer any of its online programs outside of the United States, according to the School of Professional Studies. If a student listed in their application that they live in the United States and they are admitted, then it is with the understanding they plan to live and stay in the US throughout the duration of the program. If a student plans to move out of the country region during the program, they should consult with the MSW Program Director, Practicum Director, and UNC Charlotte Online to further discuss the program as this may impact the ability to complete the program. Please review the State Authorization from the UNC Charlotte School of Professional Studies for more information.

Regarding licensure this program prepares MSW students to earn credentials for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Please review the Professional Licensure webpage for more information.