General:

Do I need a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) to enter this program?
Is there a difference between an MSW and an MSSW degree?
Are specializations or dual degrees available to MSSW Online students?
Will there be any synchronous class requirements for online students?
What do I need to know to be a successful online student?

Admission:

How do I start my application to Kent School?
What admissions materials are needed to complete my application?
Where do I send my admission materials?
What is the deadline for admission?
How long does it take for a decision to be made on my application?
Do I need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) for admission to Kent?
Are there any prerequisites for admission?
Are there any special requirements for admission for international students?

Financing:

What are the options for financial aid?
Are there scholarships available?

For answer to questions not covered below, please contact the MSSW Online admissions office at msswkent@louisville.edu.

To learn more about the MSSW Online program and/or about Kent School, you may request a Skype meeting with our MSSW coordinator of admissions (email: msswkent@louisville.edu)

Do I need a BSW to enter this program?

The MSSW Online program is designed for those who have not yet attained a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW). If you currently hold a BSW from an accredited institution please contact us to receive notification when the “Advanced Standing” (for those who have a BSW), online program launches. It is anticipated that this program will be offered in the fall 2014.

Is there a difference between MSW and MSSW degrees?

Not really, a Masters of Social Work and a Master of Science in Social Work have similar required coursework as mandated by the accrediting body, CSWE (Council on Social Work Education).

Are specializations or dual degrees currently available to MSSW Online students?

No, specializations and dual degree programs are not available to MSSW Online students.  However, some specialization electives do have online course offerings.

Will there be any synchronous class requirements for online students?

MSSW Online applicants may be required to particiapte in synchronous "real time" learning at designated times in some or all of the online courses. MSSW Online instructors will identify any required synchronous classes and/or coursework on the course syllabus, which can be accessed during the registration process, in order to aid students in scheduling and planning.

What do I need to know to be a successful online student?

For keys to successful online learning please visit our page about keys-to-successful-online-learning.

How do I start my application to Kent School?

Apply online at: http://graduate.louisville.edu/ The fee is $60, payable by credit card or check. Note that paying by check delays your application by 8 days. Recipients of certain government assistance programs may be eligible to waive this fee. For details, go to: http://louisville.edu/admissions/apply/application-fee-waiver.html.

What admissions materials do I need to complete my application?

The required documents include: official transcripts of all college coursework, three letters of recommendation (at least one must be academic) and a personal statement, as well as acceptable test scores if the GPA is below 2.75. The School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies’ standards require a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5, therefore students applying to the Kent School with a G.P.A. of 2.5 or less will rarely be considered.

Where do I send my admission materials?

Send all admission materials to our Graduate Admissions office at the following address:

Graduate Admissions
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
OR gradadm@louisville.edu

What is the deadline for admission?

The preferred deadline is February 15. To meet this deadline, you should apply first and then send all admission materials to Graduate Admissions by February 15.  The earlier an applicant is admitted, the more options there are available for scholarships. For more details about the preferred deadline, please refer to the MSSW Online Application Checklist.

How long does it take for a decision to be made on my application?

When all admission materials have been received at Graduate Admissions, the applicant’s file goes before the Kent Admissions Committee for a decision, starting in January. The applicant is notified of the decision by mail. From the time the application is complete, the process usually takes 8 or 9 weeks. Applications are reviewed as soon as they are complete.

Do I need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) for admission to Kent?

If your cumulative undergraduate GPA is 2.75 or above, no test score is required for admission to Kent School. Otherwise, applicants need to submit an acceptable score on either the GRE or the MAT. The School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies standards require a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, therefore students applying to the Kent School with a GPA of 2.5 or less will rarely be considered.

Are there any prerequisites for admission?

The three prerequisites are Human Biology, Statistics and Research Methods. Applicants who need to complete any of the prerequisites now have the option of taking the courses online at Kent School. For details and other options, see Prerequisites Info.

Are there any special requirements for admission for international students?

For admission to Kent School, international students may be required to have transcripts evaluated by a transcript evaluation service and students whose native language is not English are required to submit a TOEFL score. Fore more details see the Application Checklist. Additionally, students must contact the International Center http://louisville.edu/internationalcenter/international-students-scholars in order to become knowledgeable about the various requirements for international students who wish to be admitted to the University of Louisville.

What are the options for financial aid?

The University of Louisville’s Financial Aid Department http://louisville.edu/student/services/fin-aid/ keeps a list of various other U of L Scholarships and is also available to assist with financial aid for Kent students.

Are there scholarships available?

Most scholarship funds are awarded primarily based on need with a strong commitment to support minority students to insure a diverse student body. Some scholarships are designed to support students with various interests, for example: plans to practice in rural Kentucky, an interest in working in gerontology, or an interest in macro practice with an aging, policy or legislative focus. Scholarship Application and Information at http://louisville.edu/kent/students/future-students/future-students-information