MSSW Admissions — Kent School of Social Work

MSSW Admissions

We're here to guide you along the way to your MSSW!

Prospective Student Information Sessions Thursday, March 14th. 6:30 – 7:45pm EST. Virtual, online Session Saturday, March 30^th. 11:00am – 12:30pm. In person, on campus in Ekstrom Library. Tuesday, April 16th. 12:00pm -1:00pm EST. Virtual, online session. Tuesday, April 23rd. 5:00 – 6:45pm. In person, on campus in the Student Activities Center.

Spring, Summer, and Fall Starts! No Prerequisites! Day/Evening/Saturday Campus Courses and Online Courses

Admission to the Kent School of Social Work is competitive. The selection process includes an evaluation of each applicant’s demonstrated and potential abilities as a student, practitioner and leader in the social work field. Applicants to the MSSW program should utilize the Application Checklist to ensure that all application requirements and relevant deadlines are met.

An undergraduate GPA of 3.00 is recommended for you to be considered for admission to Kent School.

Applicants to the MSSW program must meet the following requirements:

(a) A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning;

(b) A minimum of 27 credit hours in the social sciences, i.e. communications (6), natural sciences(3), humanities(9), and social sciences (9)

The Kent School also accepts graduate elective credit from employees in the Protection and Permanency Division at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services who have completed Credit for Learning (CFL) courses.

Admission materials can be sent all at once to Graduate Admissions or one at a time as they are completed. Applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee only when complete, after which there is typically a 6-8 week turnaround time for an admissions decision. Please note that the Admissions Committee reserves the right to interview any applicant at their discretion. All materials must be received by Graduate Admissions by the deadline for your preferred Curriculum Plan.

Questions about our application process? Take a look at these "How to" videos.

GPA requirements: https://vimeo.com/196308482
Recommendations: https://vimeo.com/195310235
Applying for a Specialization: https://vimeo.com/195005520
Understanding MSSW Deadlines : https://vimeo.com/247170733
Applying for the Couple and Family Therapy Specialization: https://vimeo.com/194875302
Applying for Advanced Standing: https://vimeo.com/194680562
Writing Sample tips: https://vimeo.com/194677713

MSSW Program Deadlines

Click here for MSSW Program Deadlines

Exceptions to Deadlines

Applications submitted after December 15th for 30-hour Advanced Standing Specializations and 81-hour MSSW-CFT will be considered only if space in a specialization allows AND if an appropriate practicum site is readily available.
Applications for a Fall start submitted after May 30th will be considered on a case-by-case basis if space allows and only if the applicant is willing to choose a curriculum plan that delays practicum until the following year (Plans C-F for 60-hr, and plans EE/FF for 30-hour; 30-hour students must also be working at a social service agency in order to execute the year-long research project).

Click here for Admissions FAQs!