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Online Master of Social Work: Admission Requirements

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Degree and Minimum GPAFoundation Program:

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution

  • Cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5, or a 3.0 for the most recent 60 semester hours of undergraduate work.


Advanced Standing Program:

  • BSW from a CSWE-accredited (The Council on Social Work Education) program

  • Cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0*

TranscriptsOfficial transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities where degrees were conferred and official transcripts from all previous post-secondary work if applicable.
Official GMAT/GRENo entrance exams required
Additional Requirements
  • Three letters of recommendation from an employer, supervisor or professional colleague; an Academic reference recommended
  • Personal Statement: One to two pages, APA format encouraged addressing the following areas:
    • Foundation: Motivation for MSW degree, understanding of and identification of the Worden Student Code of Conduct, understanding of and identification with Worden School of Social Service’s mission.

    Advanced: Motivation for MSW degree, understanding of and identification of the Worden Student Code of Conduct emphasizing the growth and continued challenges from BSW to MSW student, understanding of and identification with Worden School of Social Service’s mission.

  • A complete and current resume with any social work experience in a licensure, professional or volunteer setting

* If you are an Advanced Standing applicant with a GPA below a 3.0, you may be considered for Conditional Admission. You will be required to submit an additional GPA statement and may be asked for supporting documents.

Request More Information

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International Students

In addition to the above, international students must reside outside the United States and meet the following requirements:

Proof of Secondary and Post-Secondary Graduation
  • Official copies or certified (true) copies or your original documents
  • If documents are not in English, a certified English translation must be provided
Official Credential Evaluation Report
  • OLLU does not evaluate international transcripts
  • Applicant must submit an official credential evaluation report from an OLLU-approved credential evaluation service
  • Please contact the International Admissions Office at international@olllusa.edu to receive a list of approved credentialing services.
Affidavit of Support
  • Must be filled out by account holder for the financial documentation
  • Must be dated within six months of the date of application
  • Applicant will be held personally responsible for all expenses incurred while in school at OLLU, even if sponsored by another person or agency
  • Applicant will be required to prove financial ability to the United States Consulate for visa approval
  • As mandated by law, OLLU has no federal or state funds available for foreign students
English Proficiency
  • Applicants educated in a primary language other than English must present a TOEFL score of at least 550 on the paper test, or 213 on the computer-based test, or 79 on the internet-based test (iBT)
  • Score reports cannot be more than two years old, and official score reports must be sent directly to OLLU from ETS
  • Contact international admissions at international@ollusa.edu for alternatives to the TOEFL

To learn more about application requirements for international students, please request more information or call us at 855-275-1082.

Transfer Credit

We accept transfer credits from programs accredited by The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

If you’re an Advanced Standing student, you can petition to transfer 3 credit hours of elective credit from a CSWE-accredited social work program in the place of taking SOWK 7371 Psychopathology.

If you’re a Foundation student, you can petition to transfer 6 credit hours from a CSWE accredited social work program into the Foundation curriculum if the courses are judged to be equivalent to the courses offered in the program.

To inquire about credit transfers, request more information or call us at 855-275-1082.

When to Apply

OLLU’s MSW program has multiple start dates per year. To ensure you’re enrolled in time for your start date, apply now or call us at 855-275-1082.