Master of Social Work - Advanced Standing

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at Western Kentucky University (WKU) prepares students for professional social work practice at the graduate level to meet the needs of increasingly diverse rural populations. It is particularly dedicated to addressing the work-force needs of agencies that serve families and communities. Moreover, the MSW curriculum emphasizes social work practice at the advanced level in rural communities., There are two program concentrations for students meeting the admission requirements outlined below. The Traditional Program concentration requires 60 semester hours for students with a baccalaureate degree in any field and may be taken full or part-time. The Advanced Standing Program concentration requires 33 semester hours for students who have earned a bachelor of social work (BSW) degree from an accredited social work program and who have fulfilled the additional admission requirements outlined below. The Advanced Standing concentration may be taken full or part-time as well. Both concentrations require students to complete SWRK 661 as a capstone course prior to graduation. This course integrates the entire curriculum in a comprehensive practice experience. Students are required to pass a comprehensive examination, the Practice Readiness Exam, prior to graduation.

Completion of a bachelor of social work (BSW) degree at a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution within the previous seven years with at least a 3.0 GPA based on the last 60 hours of undergraduate and/or graduate credit hours. Alternate Admissions is not an option for the Advanced Standing Program.
Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 400 hours of educationally based field instruction in direct practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities under appropriate social work supervision. A copy of the student's final field evaluation must be submitted.
Completion of courses from the following subject areas within an accredited social work program at the upper-division (junior and senior) level with a grade of C or better in each course: Human Behavior and the Social Environment - one course, Social Welfare Policy and Services - one course, Social Work Practice - two courses to include study of intervention methods with individuals, families, small groups and communities, Social Work Research - one course in research methodology.
The GRE is not considered for admission to the Advanced Standing Program.
A Western Kentucky University Master of Social Work program application, personal statement, and writing sample.
Three completed WKU Master of Social Work program reference forms.
Demonstrated competence in the use of basic statistical methods through completion, with a minimum grade of C, of an undergraduate or graduate course covering the portion of the research process involving the quantitative manipulation and analysis of data. This course should cover descriptive and inferential statistics. The student must submit documentation that this prerequisite has been met prior to program admission. Any course presented to fulfill the statistical competence requirement must have been completed within seven years prior to admission into the MSW program.
Liberal arts background - at least 30 hours in liberal arts coursework (social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, communications, mathematics, etc.), including at least one course in sociology, psychology, OR anthropology AND at least one course in American government, political science, OR economics. All courses counted towards the liberal arts requirement must have been completed with a final grade of C or higher. Applicants may be enrolled in liberal arts prerequisite courses while their MSW applications are being evaluated, but all of these courses must have been successfully completed before admission to the program. Offers of admission will be contingent upon the successful completion of all required courses.
An interview may be required.
Baccalaureate degree or higher, or equivalent international degree, from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or greater on baccalaureate degree or equivalent international degree or minimum GPA of 3.0 on a degree higher than a baccalaureate or equivalent international degree.
Official transcripts demonstrating completion of bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university & certified English translation
English proficiency requirements (one of the following):
TOEFL, IBT 79
IELTS 6.5