Master of Science in Social Work Program
MSSW Campus and Online Application Checklist
nnnnn
1
The MSSW Application Checklist is a guide to help prepare you for the submission of your application. The document includes
requirements for applying to the Advanced Standing (30-Hour) Program and the Regular (60-Hour) Program. An application is not
complete and unable to be reviewed until the Graduate Admissions Office receives the documents outlined on this checklist.
Advanced Standing Admissions (BSW Applicants Only) MUST meet the following criteria before applying:
►
BSW degree from the last seven (7) years earned from a CSWE accredited social work program.
►
Preferred cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
►
Preferred Social Work GPA of at least 3.25.
►
International Applicants please refer to additional requirements outlined on page 4.
Application Checklist:
Completed online application at uofl.me/grad-admission
►
$65 non-refundable application fee. For information on application fee waiver eligibility criteria, please contact the Graduate
Admissions Office at (502) 852-6495.
►
Admissions Essay -
Under
the
“Education and or Life Experiences Responses”
section in the online graduate application
applicants must respond to the
“Leadership”
and
“Resilience and Adaptability”
prompts.
Each response should be up to 300 words
and fully address each prompt.
Applicants should consider and address their values as it relates to their participation in
academics, community,
and
professional social work
. Responses should reflect graduate-level writing skills.
Additionally, all degree-seeking applicants at UofL are required to submit an up to 300-word response to the
“Diversity Statement”
section
in the graduate application. The response should reflect graduate-level writing skills.
Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities ever attended
►
Transcripts must be OFFICIAL. Faxed transcripts cannot be accepted.
►
Have transcripts sent directly to UofL Graduate Admissions.
Two (2) Recommendation Forms
List email addresses of two (2) recommenders in the recommendation section of the graduate application. Recommendation
forms will be emailed automatically to the recommenders. One of the two (2) recommendation forms MUST be from the director
of field education, practicum supervisor or practicum seminar instructor.
Copy of Final Practicum Evaluation (or most recent evaluation if currently in a BSW program).
Addendum to Admissions Essay (Required for applicants with incoming GPA under 3.0)
►
Provide an Addendum to your essay discussing gaps or deficiencies in your academic record, or explanation of any previous
academic review. Include planned strategies for maintaining the required 3.0 in Graduate School.
Important MSSW and Field Education Application Deadline Dates:
Applications submitted past the deadline may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact [email protected]
Send ALL application materials to Graduate Admissions by email (preferred): gradadm@louisville.edu, or by mail to:
Graduate Admissions, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
Application Deadline to Start Field/Practicum Placement:
Fall/Spring Placement: May 15
th
(Non-local) & June 30
th
(Local)
Spring/Summer Placement: Sept. 15
th
(Non-local) & Oct. 31
st
(Local)
Application Deadline to Start the MSSW Program:
Summer Start (May): April 1
st
Fall Start (August): July 1st
Spring Start (January): October 15
th
Master of Science in Social Work Program
MSSW Campus and Online Application Checklist
nnnnn
2
Regular 60-Hour Admissions: Applicants must meet the following criteria before applying:
►
Bachelor’s degree in any field of study from a regionally accredited institution.
►
Preferred cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
►
International Applicants please refer to additional requirements outline on page 4.
Application Checklist:
Completed online application at uofl.me/grad-admission
►
$65 non-refundable application fee. For information on application fee waiver eligibility criteria, please contact the Graduate
Admissions Office at (502) 852-6495.
►
Admissions Essay -
Under
the
“Education and or Life Experiences Responses”
section in the online graduate application
applicants must respond to the
“Leadership”
and
“Resilience and Adaptability”
prompts.
Each response should be up to 300 words
and fully address each prompt.
Applicants should consider and address their values as it relates to their participation in
academics, community,
and
professional social work
. Responses should reflect graduate-level writing skills.
Additionally, all degree-seeking applicants at UofL are required to submit an up to 300-word response to the
“Diversity Statement”
section
in the graduate application. The response should reflect graduate-level writing skills.
Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities ever attended
►
Transcripts must be OFFICIAL. Faxed transcripts cannot be accepted.
►
Have transcripts sent directly to UofL Graduate Admissions.
►
UofL transcripts are provided automatically.
Two (2) Recommendation Forms
List email addresses of two (2) recommenders in the recommendation section of the graduate application. Recommendation
forms will be emailed automatically to the recommenders.
Requirements for acceptable recommenders:
►
One recommendation form must be from a former professor. Applicants who have not been enrolled in classes within the past
two (2) years must substitute a professional reference.
►
Recommendation forms must be submitted from persons who have been directly responsible for supervising your
professional experience or academic performance.
►
Personal recommendations will not be accepted. These include co-workers, mentors, advisers, friends, clergy, personal
therapists, etc.
Resume
►
Include all current/past employment, volunteer, and internship experience.
Addendum to Admissions Essay (Required for applicants with incoming GPA under 3.0)
►
Provide an Addendum to your essay discussing gaps or deficiencies in your academic record, or explanation of any previous
academic review. Include planned strategies for maintaining the required 3.0 in Graduate School.
Important MSSW and Field Education Application Deadline Dates:
Applications submitted past the deadline may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact [email protected]
Send ALL application materials to Graduate Admissions by email (preferred): gradadm@louisville.edu, or by mail to:
Graduate Admissions, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
Application Deadline to Start Field/Practicum Placement:
Fall/Spring Placement: May 15
th
(Non-local) & June 30
th
(Local)
Spring/Summer Placement: Sept. 15
th
(Non-local) & Oct. 31
st
(Local)
Application Deadline to Start the MSSW Program:
Summer Start (May): April 1
st
Fall Start (August): July 1st
Spring Start (January): October 15
th
Master of Science in Social Work Program
MSSW Campus and Online Application Checklist
nnnnn
3
Title IX/Clery Act Notification
In submitting my application, I acknowledge the following statement: Sexual misconduct (including sexual harassment, sexual
assault, and any other nonconsensual behavior of a sexual nature) and sex discrimination violate University policies. Students
experiencing such behavior may obtain confidential support from the PEACC Program (852-2663), Counseling Center (852-6585),
and Campus Health Services (852-6479). To report sexual misconduct or sex discrimination, contact the Dean of Students (852-
5787) or University of Louisville Police (852-6111). For more information, see the Sexual Misconduct Resource Guide:
http://louisville.edu/hr/employeerelations/sexual-misconduct- brochure.
Disclosure to University faculty or instructors of sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence, or sex
discrimination occurring on campus, in a University- sponsored program, or involving a campus visitor or University student
or employee (whether current or former) is not confidential under Title IX. Faculty and instructors must forward such reports,
including names and circumstances, to the University’s Title IX officer.
Reasonable Accommodations for Applicants with Disabilities
For other accommodations that may be needed to successfully complete practicum, the applicant should consult with the Kent School’s
Field Education Office at [email protected] before applying to the MSSW program. The focus of the consultation is to assess the
likelihood of obtaining and successfully completing a practicum given the applicant’s unique accommodations. Successful completion of
900 hours in practicum is a required component of obtaining an MSSW degree. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis
and may require referral to and consultation/collaboration with the UofL Disability Resource Center.
Practicum Accommodations for Applicants Living Abroad
Applicants who live outside of the U.S. will need to consult with the Kent School’s Field Education Office at [email protected]
in advance of applying to the MSSW program to ensure the feasibility of meeting practicum placement requirements in accordance
with CSWE policies. Only U.S. citizens living abroad will be considered for MSSW Online study at this time.
International Applicants
All MSSW applicants with transcripts that are not in English, in addition to submitting official copies of native language records, must
also submit a notarized, verbatim translation in English prepared by an appropriate university or government official. The records must
show both the degree granted and all coursework taken during the of study. Applicants who are submitting transcripts from outside the
United States must verify their records by submitting them to one of the following organizations: World Education Services, Inc., at
http://www.wes.org, Educational Credential Evaluators at http://www.ece.org/, or other National Association of Credential Evaluation
Services approved evaluators found at http://www.naces.org/members. Any applicant may be required to participate in a brief
telephone interview as part of the admission process.
►
Applicants who are required to complete an I-20 form should note that they will be placed in a practicum program as part of
their education.
►
After applicants are admitted to the campus program, they must contact UofL’s International Center to determine if any other
immigration documentation is necessary to begin the practicum.
►
ALL applicants: If English is not the primary language:
o Must show English language proficiency by demonstration of level of proficiency, specified by the problem, on the
TOEFL examination (www.toefl.org), IELTS examination (www.ielts.org), Duolingo examination
(www.englishtest.duolingo.com) or demonstration of an accredited degree awarded by an acceptable institution
which uses English as the primary language of instruction. Scores must be sent to the Graduate School, Graduate
Admissions directly from the testing agencies. The school code is 1838.
o Minimum TOEFL score: 80. For more information, review the TOEFL website: http://www.ets.org/toefl.
o Minimum IELTS score: 6.5. For more information, review the IELTS website: https://www.ielts.org/.
o Minimum Duolingo score: 105. For more information, review the Duolingo website: www.englishtest.duolingo.com.
►
For more information:
o Campus program applicants may visit: http://graduate.louisville.edu/admissions/international-admissions-
requirements.html.
o Online program applicants may visit: http://louisville.edu/online/admissions/international-students.
Master of Science in Social Work Program
MSSW Campus and Online Application Checklist
nnnnn
4
MSSW Admissions Deadlines FAQ
Why are there different deadlines for online applicants that are local and non-local?
The availability of field practicum placements drive these different deadlines. There are more established field placements available
locally, so there are more options and opportunities for local residents to secure a field placement for their first semester. Non-local
students need significantly more time to locate an appropriate placement and secure the necessary legal agreements if they wish to
begin their field placement in their first semester.
I am an Advanced Standing applicant and I just started practicum. What should I do about my Field Evaluations?
If you have not yet completed at least a full semester of field practicum work, you are still eligible to apply for any available term. In this
case, you will need to 1) email MSSW Admissions at [email protected]du to let them know you are in this situation, 2) submit all
MSSW Application materials except for your field evaluation and your letter of recommendation from a field representative by your
deadline, and 3) submit your midterm field evaluation and letter of recommendation from a field representative as soon as you
complete your midterm evaluation. The Admissions Committee understands that midterm evaluations are not the same as final
evaluations and consider this when making admissions decisions.
I am not able to complete my application for my original term. Do I have to reapply for the next one?
No. All application fees and materials are valid for two years. If you miss a deadline or change your mind, you may email the MSSW
Admissions team at msswkent@louisville.edu to change your application to the following spring, summer, or fall semester at no cost.
Then, you can continue to work on your application toward your new deadline.
I will not complete my bachelor’s degree before my deadline. Do I still need to submit my transcript?
Yes. All applications must include official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. If you are currently attending school,
you will send for an official current transcript that lists all courses and grades, as well as your “in progress” courses. If admitted, you will
submit an additional final transcript after your degree is conferred.
Can I be admitted to the MSSW program if my official transcript(s) has not been received?
Yes. Any applicant who has not met all Graduate School and Kent MSSW admissions criteria for any reason can be admitted as
provisional status. Applicants admitted provisionally are typically missing an official transcript. The official transcript must be submitted
to [email protected] to move your classification from provisional to good standing. Failure to reconcile any requirements will
result in a hold on your account after the first semester preventing you from registering for future semesters. To obtain more
information contact [email protected].
Are there any exceptions to deadlines?
Yes. All applications completed past deadlines will be considered on case-by-case bases, but we cannot guarantee you can register
for the courses you want or will get a field/practicum placement after the deadline is past. Typically, the later an application is submitted
after a deadline, the more limited core curriculum courses and field/practicum options will be.
Exceptions to Deadlines
Applications submitted after a deadline will be considered on a case-by-case bases if space allows and only if the applicant is willing
to choose courses that are open and delay field/practicum start until the following semester if needed.
Send ALL application materials to Graduate Admissions by email (preferred): gradadm@louisville.edu, or by mail to: Graduate
Admissions, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
Important:
Admission materials can be sent all at once to Graduate Admissions or one at a time as they are completed.
Applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee only when all complete documentation is received. An admission
decision is typically made 10 working days after receipt of complete application packet.
