Master of Social Work Application Process

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MSW Foundation Admission Requirements

• Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Meet CMU graduate admission 3.0 GPA requirements.
  • Applicants who do not meet the standard GPA requirement may be considered based on additional evidence of readiness for graduate study in accordance with CMU graduate admission policies.
• Submit complete MSW Application Packet (transcripts, resume, two letters of recommendation, and personal statement).
• Submit $50 non-refundable application fee.
• Admitted MSW students may be required to complete background checks or other agency-specific requirements for participation in some practice education settings

 MSW Advanced Standing Admission Requirements

• Hold a bachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program within five years of application.
  • Applicants whose qualifying degree was completed more than five years prior to application may be considered for Advanced Standing based on additional evidence that their knowledge, experience, and professional development support readiness for advanced social work education.
• Provide documentation of successful completion of at least 400 hours of practice education experience from their CSWE-accredited BSW program.
• Meet CMU graduate admission 3.0 GPA requirements.
  • Applicants who do not meet the standard GPA requirement may be considered based on additional evidence of readiness for graduate study in accordance with CMU graduate admission policies.
• Submit complete MSW Application Packet (transcripts, resume, two letters of recommendation, and personal statement).
• Submit $50 non-refundable application fee.
• Admitted MSW students may be required to complete background checks or other agency-specific requirements for participation in some practice education settings.

Resume

Applicants must submit a current resume. Applicants are encouraged to include experiences that demonstrate knowledge, skills, responsibilities, or contributions relevant to social work, including experiences that may not have occurred through formal employment. Please ensure that all information is accurate and up to date.

Official Transcripts

In accordance with CMU graduate admission policies, applicants must submit official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended for application review. Transcripts should reflect completed coursework and, when applicable, degree conferral.

Applicants currently completing a bachelor's degree should submit their most recent available transcript. Once coursework is completed, a final official transcript that includes the final grades and the date the degree was conferred is required. 

Letters of Recommendation (Two required)

Letters of recommendation should be current and come from individuals who can speak meaningfully to the applicant's strengths, experiences, readiness for graduate education, and potential for professional social work practice. Recommenders may know you through academic, employment, volunteer, community, leadership, advocacy, service, or other relevant experiences.

Applicants are encouraged to select recommenders who can provide specific examples of qualities relevant to graduate social work education, including curiosity and willingness to learn, self-reflection and growth, persistence, communication, collaboration, reliability, responsiveness to feedback, and engagement with people or perspectives different from their own. Recommenders may also speak to strengths, abilities, and ways of learning that may not be reflected through traditional academic or professional measures.

Recommendations should come from individuals who know the applicant in a substantive capacity. Letters from family members, close friends, or individuals who know the applicant primarily through a personal or social relationship should not be submitted.

Personal Statement

The personal statement provides an opportunity for the Admissions Committee to learn about the applicant's experiences, interests, goals, and readiness for graduate social work education. Responses should demonstrate thoughtful self-reflection and use specific examples where appropriate.

Please respond to the following prompts in a combined statement of no more than 1,250 words:

1. What draws you to social work and to pursuing an MSW at Colorado Mesa University? Describe experiences, interests, values, or goals that have shaped this decision.
2. What personal, lived, community, academic, and/or professional experiences have shaped how you understand people, communities, or social issues? How might these experiences inform what you bring to social work while also influencing your perspectives or assumptions?
3. Graduate social work education requires engagement with perspectives and experiences different from one's own. Describe an experience that challenged your thinking, required you to reconsider your perspective, or contributed meaningfully to your growth.
4. The MSW is a full-time graduate program requiring students to balance substantial academic work with required practice education hours. How do you approach time and task management and competing responsibilities? What strategies, resources, relationships, accommodations, or supports do you currently use or anticipate seeking to support your learning and success?

After a comprehensive review of applications, selected individuals will be invited to a faculty panel interview.  Applicants will be notified via email about the MSW admission decision by March 1.