MSW in Social Work
Minimum requirements to apply for the MSW program include:
- An earned an undergraduate degree (in social work if applying for Advanced Standing program; in any other field if applying for Regular Program)
- 2.7 or higher cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale (or submit GRE taken within past five years with scores at 29th or higher percentile), and
- Completed classes in three of the following areas: psychology, sociology, political science, human biology, statistics, or economics.
In addition to the admission criteria established by the College of Graduate Studies at The University of Toledo, applicants to the MSW program must submit
- Personal Statement of up to 1000 words, addressing the following topics:
- Factors that influenced your decision to become a social worker and pursue an advanced degree. How will this degree help you achieve your professional goals?
- A pressing social and economic justice issue, what makes this issue particularly salient, and ways you might address it as a masters-level social worker.
- Your experience in the area of social and economic justice, and any of your goals in this area beyond those addressed in the first bullet point.
- Accomplishments you believe are relevant, including ways in which you have demonstrated leadership in areas such as employment, volunteerism, Peace Corps/AmeriCorps/VISTA, and/or military service.
- Resume/CV
- Three recommendations from people who know you in academic and/or professional settings
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended except the University of Toledo
Prospective applicants are urged to review information on the program website for additional information and/or application requirements.
The personal statement and references from both employers and prior faculty members will be evaluated for a “fit” with the social work profession and our program’s focus on social and economic justice. Applicants must convey their valuing of and adherence to the values and ethics of the profession. Applicants with no evidence of the above will not be admitted to the program.
The Council on Social Work Education does not permit programs to provide course credit for work experience. It is our hope that the student body of our program will include a mixture of students who have experience as well as those without extensive professional experience. We welcome diversity among applicants applying to the MSW program. This includes diversity of gender, age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability and experience in the profession, etc.
The MSW Program requires 60 semester hours for graduation, which is consistent with MSW programs across the country. Foundation (5000 level) course work is offered in the first year of the program and advanced (6000 level) course work in the second year.
Students must enroll in 16 credit hours of field education to obtain the minimum required by CSWE. Six (6) of these credit hours are taken during the foundation year and ten (10) credit hours during the advanced year. While every effort is made to accommodate students with full-time jobs, applicants to the program must be aware that field placements primarily take place during business hours and on week days. We are unable to guarantee a night or weekend field placement.
Students who are awarded admission with advanced standing must complete 33 credit hours to obtain the MSW degree. The advanced standing program focuses on advanced generalist and specialty courses and field placements. Only courses at the 6000 level are required for the advanced standing program.
Foundation students are required to complete 60 credit hours (First year, 27 credit hours are listed below, in the second year students are required to take the 33 credit hours listed below the advanced standing section).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOCW 5010 | Social Work Research Methods And Analysis | 3 |
| SOCW 5110 | Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SOCW 5120 | Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SOCW 5130 | Social Work Practice III | 3 |
| SOCW 5210 | Micro Social Work Perspectives In Human Behavior And The Social Environment | 3 |
| SOCW 5220 | Macro Social Work Perspectives In Human Behavior And The Social Environment | 3 |
| SOCW 5330 | Policy Issues And Analysis In Social Work | 3 |
| SOCW 5900 | Foundation Field Experience and Integrative Seminar I | 3 |
| SOCW 5910 | Foundation Field Experience and Integrative Seminar II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Advanced standing students are required to complete 33 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOCW 6030 | Research Methods For Macro Social Work Practice | 3 |
| or SOCW 6040 | Research Methods For Micro Social Work Practice | |
| SOCW 6110 | Advanced Generalist Practice I | 3 |
| SOCW 6120 | Advanced Generalist Practice II | 3 |
| SOCW 6130 | Advanced Generalist Practice III | 3 |
| SOCW 6140 | Advanced Social Work Assessment | 3 |
| SOCW 6200 | Disparities, Diversity and Social Justice | 2 |
| SOCW 6410 | Social Work Micro Practice with Children and Families | 3 |
| or SOCW 6510 | Social Work Micro Practice in Mental Health | |
| SOCW 6430 | Social Work Macro Practice involving Children and Families | 3 |
| or SOCW 6530 | Social Work Macro Practice in Mental Health | |
| SOCW 6900 | ADVANCED FIELD EXPERIENCE AND INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR I | 5 |
| SOCW 6910 | ADVANCED FIELD EXPERIENCE AND INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR II | 5 |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
- PLO Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
- PLO Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
- PLO Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
- PLO Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
- PLO Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
- PLO Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- PLO Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- PLO Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- PLO Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities