Admissions Deadline

Our MSW program is a two-year, full-time program, with courses beginning only in the fall semester. Deadline for the application is February 1 for the following fall semester admission.

The UNCW MSW degree program requires 62 hours of course work beyond the bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. The full time program takes two years to complete. Admission is competitive, admitting approximately 25 students each year. Basic admissions requirements include a bachelor’s degree in a suitable social work or social science field, a satisfactory score on the GRE examination, and evidence of suitability and motivation for a social work professional career. "No credit given for life experience."

North Carolina and all other states provide for the licensing and/or certification of masters level social workers. The N.C. Social Work Certification and Licensure Board was established by the North Carolina Legislature to provide a standard of practice for the social work profession. Graduates of the UNCW MSW Program qualify for State Licensure/Certification at three levels: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Master Social Worker and Certified Social Work Manager. In all of these cases, graduates must pass a state exam. The LCSW requires, in addition, evidence of two years of post-master’s clinical practice with LCSW supervision.

MSW Program Admissions Requirements

• Graduation with a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university (or equivalent for non-U.S. students)
• 3.0 undergraduate GPA (on 4.0 point scale)
• A liberal arts base of undergraduate study which is defined as at least 18 credit hours
  of courses from the following categories: logic or analytic thinking; behavioral science (psychology, human development, life cycle, etc.); social science (social problems, culture, social conditions, etc.); human biology
• Satisfactory score on verbal and quantitative components of the Graduate Record Examination
• Acceptance to UNCW Graduate School
• No credit is given for life experience.

Students seeking admission should submit to the Graduate School:

• A UNCW Graduate School Admission Application
  https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=uncw-grad
• Three letters of recommendation
• Resume detailing work experience; to include any human services experience, whether through employment, volunteerism, or internship
• GRE Scores
• Official transcripts from each institution attended should be sent directly to the Graduate School.

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