Admissions

Online MSW Admissions

Program deadline is June 1, 2024 for Fall 2024 start.

Program deadline is October 15, 2024 for January 2025 start.

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

Gaining admission to the Online MSW program is a competitive process. Applicants who meet the minimum criteria will not necessarily be accepted into the program due to space limitations. 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 3.0 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.

Application Procedures

1.  Applicants are required to complete an online application. 

2. Upload the following documents to your online application (Please note all forms for the supporting documents listed below can be found as part of the USF Graduate School Application.) 

  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • Online MSW Program Application
  • Two Essays
    • Essay 1: Life Experiences (500 words maximum)
    • Essay 2: Social Problem (500 words maximum)
  • Three References: Applicants to the MSW Program are required to submit three references. 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

3. 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

Please note: 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.

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

For admissions information on the online MSW program, click here.

To request more information on the Online MSW Program click here or contact Tiffany Young at 813-974-7899 or via e-mail tyoung6@usf.edu