Admissions

MSW Admissions

If you wish to apply for admission to our program, please follow the guidelines outlined below. You will note that all materials are to be sent to the USF Graduate Admissions.  Early submission of all application materials is strongly recommended.

Gaining admission to the MSW program is a competitive process. Applicants who meet the minimum criteria will not necessarily be accepted into the program. Each applicant to a graduate program at the University of South Florida is required to meet the following minimum requirements.

 An applicant must have one of the following:

  1. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with "B" average or better in all work attempted while registered as an undergraduate student working for a degree. 
  2. A graduate degree with a "B" average or better from a regionally accredited institution.
  3. The equivalent bachelors and/or graduate degrees from a foreign institution.

NOTE: "B" average is equivalent to a 3.00 GPA

All applicants must meet the pre-requisites of an undergraduate liberal arts background.  We define this as 12 credits including 3 credits biology with human content, and minimum 3 credits of social and behavioral sciences.  The remaining 6 credits may be completed through additional social and behavioral sciences, humanities and/or fine arts classes.  (One statistics course may also be used in completing this requirement).

It is preferred, but not required that all applicants to the Master's Degree program in Social Work have completed one year of post-undergraduate work in a social service agency (in a service capacity) or its equivalent as determined by the MSW Graduate Admissions Committee. Experiences that might be considered as equivalent to one year's work include supervised field practicum hours, extensive volunteer experience, or other professional work experiences.

All MSW applicants will have their undergraduate transcripts evaluated in relation to a set of liberal arts course pre-requisites.

All Admission materials must be received by the Graduate Admissions Office by the specified deadlines of the year for which admission is being sought.

Deadlines

Full-Time Traditional MSW Program - Tampa Campus

August 2024 Enrollment (fall start 2024): February 15, 2024 deadline 

Part-Time Traditional MSW Program - Tampa Campus

January 2024 Enrollment (spring start 2024) - October 15, 2023 deadline

Part-Time Traditional MSW Program - Sarasota-Manatee Campus

January 2024 Enrollment (spring start 2024) - October 15, 2023 deadline 

For more information about how to enroll in the Sarasota-Manatee campus please contact  Dr. Sarah Guadalupe at gs10@usf.edu (phone: 941-359-4464).

Part-Time Online Traditional MSW Program 

January 2024 Enrollment (spring start 2024) - October 15, 2023 deadline 

For more information about how to enroll in the Online MSW part-time program please contact Tiffany Young (phone: 813-974-7899)

Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW Program - Tampa Campus

January 2024 Enrollment (spring start 2024) - October 15, 2023 deadline

May 2024 Enrollment (summer start 2024) - February 15, 2024 deadline

Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW Program - Tampa Campus

January 2024 Enrollment (spring start 2024): October 15, 2023 deadline

Application Procedures

Applicants are required to apply to the USF Graduate Admissions and the USF School of Social Work. The procedures and required materials are outlined below.  

USF GRADUATE ADMISSIONS APPLICATION

1. The USF Graduate Admissions Application 

2. Unofficial Transcripts: Upload unofficial copies of transcripts with the online application to expedite the processing of your applications. If accepted, you will be required to submit official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended to the Admissions Office.

Mail an official transcript of all undergraduate & graduate coursework attempted and/or completed to:


USF Office of Graduate Admissions
4202 E. Fowler Ave. SVC 1036
Tampa, FL 33620-2910

3. Resume  or Curriculum Vitae

4. Essay 1 (Statement of Purpose - Life Experiences) 

5. Essay 2 (Writing Sample - Social Problem) 

6. Three Recommendation Letters

References should include at least one academic source and one professional source (preferably from a human services experience), and an additional source of either type. However, applicants who are unable to obtain an academic reference may substitute a work (volunteer or paid) or a personal reference. Personal references DO NOT include relatives.

7. Department Application

A personal interview with members of the faculty may be part of the admissions process. This interview will cover all matters relevant to the candidate's qualifications. Arrangements may be made for the interview to be held elsewhere when traveling distance poses a hardship for the applicant. 

If you have any questions regarding the Graduate Admissions application, call (813) 974-3350 (option 5) or send an e-mail to gradadmissions@usf.edu You can also visit the USF Graduate Admissions website here.

Early submission is strongly recommended. All credentials must be received prior to the deadline. 

All inquiries regarding our On Campus MSW programs are to be directed to Lianna "Lou" Hernandez, MSW, RCSWI.

All inquiries regarding our Online MSW programs are to be directed to Valentina Zambrano. If you have any questions about the admission process to our Online MSW Program you can contact Tiffany Young. 

For more information about how to enroll in the Sarasota-Manatee campus please contact  Dr. Sarah Guadalupe (phone: 941-359-4464).