MSSW: Review Process
Admission Requirements | Application Process | Checklist
All complete applications are independently evaluated by members of the graduate faculty and are then sent to the MSSW Program Director for final review and recommendation. The Associate Dean/Graduate Advisor then forwards recommendations to the Vice President and Dean of Graduate Studies.
Applicants are admitted on a competitive basis, considering GRE scores, GPA, letters of reference, employment and volunteer history, and the applicant's personal narrative statement. Although a GPA of 3.0 and a GRE score of 1000 is desired for admission, the average scores of our admitted applicants are significantly higher.
Acceptance or denial of applications is based upon expert faculty judgment, reflecting the relative ranking of the applicant among applicants in the following areas: human service motivation, academic potential, interpersonal effectiveness, capacity for sustained effort, communication skills, contribution to diversity. Therefore, denial of admission does not necessarily mean that the applicant could not have successfully completed the program; rather, that there were stronger applicants in the pool.
Program Status
All students are admitted to the program status for which they applied, full-time, extended full-time, or part-time. Once an applicant has confirmed his or her intent to enroll, changes in program status may only be made by petition to the Associate Dean/Graduate Advisor. Changes in program status will be considered only on a space-available basis.
Notification
All applicants are notified by letter of admission decisions as soon as they are made. No admission decisions are given by telephone.
No applicant files are reviewed until they are complete. Applicants may check the receipt status of their Graduate School application by calling TEX, the University's automated information system, at (512) 495-9950 or online. TEX cannot give status checks on School of Social Work applications.
MSSW Enrollment Deposit
Beginning in the 2009 spring semester, applicants admitted to the UT School of Social Work MSSW Program will be required to submit a $150 (non-refundable) enrollment deposit to indicate acceptance of the offer of admission.
The deposit will be applied to the payment of tuition and fees when the student enrolls. Details regarding payment deadlines and processing will be included in admissions materials.
Admission with Conditions
Most students who enter the Graduate School are admitted as regular students and have qualifications equal to or higher than the usual standards. A limited number of exceptions to these standards may be granted to applicants demonstrating the capability and qualifications for master's level study in social work.
The Graduate Studies Committee may recommend that a student be admitted with conditions. The Associate Dean/Graduate Advisor may require that a student maintain a certain grade point average, take a certain number of hours of course work, or remedy deficiencies in undergraduate preparation. A student who does not fulfill the conditions within the specified time may be barred from subsequent registration in the Graduate School.
Admission to Post BSW Track
To be eligible for this admission status, applicants must possess a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program and must request consideration at the time of application. This admission status is a two-step process. First, applicants are considered for admission to the MSSW program; then, if accepted, their materials are reviewed for admission to the post BSW track. Students admitted to this program begin their study in the spring or summer session and are able to earn their degree in one to one and a half calendar years.
Admission to an Extended Program of Study
Part-time students must follow the sequenced curriculum plan appearing in this bulletin and should not assume that courses will be offered in any other sequence. The School will offer required academic courses during evening hours but cannot guarantee that the program can be completed only at night or only during the day. Also, the field experience cannot be completed only at night. At least eight hours must be completed during the work week, as a full day or two half-days. Because the program is highly structured and course work must be completed in sequence, students considering extended enrollment should plan carefully to ensure successful completion.
Admission as a Transfer Student
Students wishing to transfer into the School of Social Work MSSW program must meet all admission requirements and must be transferring from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Prospective transfer students complete the same application process as other applicants. Applicants must also provide a letter stating that they are in good standing from the Director of any social work program attended.
Transfer students must complete a minimum of 36 hours toward the degree at The University of Texas at Austin to receive the MSSW from the University of Texas School of Social Work. Beyond these 36 hours, a maximum of 24 hours of waiver credits may be granted. Students requesting waivers should submit to the MSSW Program Coordinator a transcript showing the completed course work, and a syllabus for each course he or she wishes to be considered for waiver. Consideration of exceptions to required courses for transfer students with doctoral degrees in other disciplines is also the responsibility of the MSSW Coordinator. Waiver credits do not appear on the student's official University record.