Bachelor of Social Work Admissions

BSW Admissions

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Lower Division BSW applicants please check with University Admissions office for University application deadlines. 

Upper Division applicants:  The BSW Upper Division program will be accepting Upper Division applications starting January 15th. 

PRIORITY DEADLINE:  February 15th   -   FINAL DEADLINE:  May 15th.

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Thank you for your interest in applying to the Bachelor of Social Work Program. All students who enter the BSW program begin in the Lower Division where they will complete the Cardinal Core requirements, then apply to the Upper Division of the BSW program. 

Admission into the Lower Division of the BSW program does not guarantee acceptance into the Upper Division.  Students must apply to the Upper Division for acceptance. Please review the steps in the application process and information that needs to be submitted. Specific details are below on how to apply for Lower and Upper Division applicants.  To learn more details about admissions visit the UofL Office of Admissions website: Admissions Requirements — Office of Admissions (louisville.edu) 


Lower Division Applicants

**Admission into the Lower Division of the BSW Program does not guarantee admission into the Upper Division of the BSW Program. 

To be admitted to the Lower Division, beginning freshmen must meet the following requirements:  

High School

High School Applicant

High School Students – automatic admission with ACT/SAT scores:

  • Graduation from an accredited high school, have a GED or equivalent by petition (for example, home school educations)
  • Composite ACT score of not less than 20 or SAT not less than 1030

High School Students – minimum requirements without  ACT/SAT scores:

  • Grade Point Average of 2.5 or higher
  • Comprehensive review of high school transcript, including grades and courses particularly college preparatory courses

 

Transfer Applicant

External University Transfers

General Education Certifications from KCTCS for Full Certification

  • Students who have earned the Associates of Arts or Associates of Science (AA and AS) degree will be "fully certified" if they have completed the full 60-hour program described under the General Education Block Transfer Policy.
  • The KCTCS college will certify the outgoing transcripts of AA or AS degree recipients.
  • Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree students do not receive a full certification; this degree is not geared towards a Bachelor’s degree.
  • Transfer applicants with 24 hours or more must have a college grade point average of 2.5 or higher to be admitted in good standing to the Lower Division BSW Program. 

Internal University Transfers (Major Changers)

Students who have completed at least one semester in another school of the university with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 may apply for an intra-university transfer (change major) to the Lower Division Bachelor of Social Work Program. 

Transfer admissions website: louisville.edu/admissions/apply/transfer.  How do I know if my coursework will transfer?  Click here for information on transfer coursework.

APPLY TO UOFLlouisville.edu/admissions/ 

Conditional Admission

Students who meet University minimum academic standards may be conditionally admitted (see Undergraduate Catalog, Admission to the University of Louisville).

Please note: You must also apply to the University of Louisville, Office of Admissions to be accepted to the University, while concurrently applying directly to the Kent School BSW Program.



Upper Division Applicants

The BSW Upper Division program will be accepting Upper Division applications starting January 15.

BSW Upper Division application process
Submit Form

Please submit a Pre-Admissions Sonia Form: This notifies the BSW Program that you are applying for our Upper Division.  Please note: once you submit the Pre-Admissions Sonia Form a link to apply to the Upper Division will be sent to you to apply via Sonia Software. 

Watch videos

Please watch the following videos before applying to the Upper division:

1. Thank you for your interest to the BSW Program, Upper Division

2. How to Apply to Sonia

3. How to submit the letters of recommendation

Admission Requirements

Admission into the BSW Upper Division Program requires:

  • Minimum of 45 earned college credit hours
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Work Experience
  • Two letters of recommendation

    Letters are required from:

    1. Academic recommendation from college/university instructor who you have taken a class with
    2. Employer or Volunteer Supervisor that can attest to your work ethic

    *References from family, friends or friends of family are NOT accepted

Required Reading

Title IX/Clery Act Notification (must read for application process)

National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics

Prerequisites

It is preferred that students who are applying for the Upper Division have completed a majority of their Cardinal Core general education requirements and the BSW supporting requirements, including the following Social Work courses (or their equivalents):

  • BSW 201 Introduction to Social Work (3 hours)
  • BSW 203 Human Biology for the Social Sciences (3 hours)
  • BSW 204 Introduction to Social Statistics (3 hours)

Please note:  If you are applying from outside of the University of Louisville, you must also apply to the University of Louisville, Office of Admissions to be accepted to the university, while concurrently applying directly to the Kent School Upper Division BSW Program.  APPLY TO UOFL:  louisville.edu/admissions/


Application Deadline: 

The Upper Division BSW application deadline for Fall is:

  • PRIORITY DEADLINE:  February 15th
  • FINAL DEADLINE:  May 15th 

 Transfer students new to UofL will be accepted after May 15th on a case-by-case basis, please contact the BSW Department for approval to apply late: BSWKent@louisville.edu.