Social Work (MSW)

CU Degree Requirements (Effective Fall 2023)*

*Please see the CU degree requirements effective Fall 2023. All enrolled students can also review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion in Degree Works.

Core Courses (51 credits) 
SOWK 502 - Foundations of Social Work
SOWK 506 - Social Identities and Inequalities
SOWK 511 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
SOWK 512 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
SOWK 516 - Social Welfare Policy and Services I
SOWK 521 - Generalist Practice with Individuals and Families
SOWK 522 - Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities
SOWK 526 - Research Methods
SOWK 531 - Integrated Field Experience I
SOWK 532 - Integrated Field Experience II
SOWK 551 – Advanced Practice with Individuals, Couples, and Families
SOWK 552 - Advanced Practice with Groups and Communities
SOWK 556 - Social Welfare Policy and Services II
SOWK 560 - Advanced Practice with Organizations
SOWK 566 - Advanced Research Methods
SOWK 597 - Integrated Field Education Experience III
SOWK 598 - Integrated Field Education Experience IV

Electives (9 credits) 
Three Elective Specialty Courses

Total = 60 credits

Curriculum Worksheet

Core Courses (24 credits)
SOWK 500 - Advanced Bridge Standing
SOWK 551 - Advanced Practice with Individuals, Couples, and Families
SOWK 552 - Advanced Practice with Groups and Communities
SOWK 556 - Social Welfare Policy and Services II
SOWK 560 - Advanced Practice with Organizations
SOWK 566 - Advanced Research Methods
SOWK 597 - Integrated Field Education Experience III
SOWK 598 - Integrated Field Education Experience IV

Electives (12 credits)
Four Elective Specialty Courses

Total = 36 credits 

Curriculum Worksheet

General Admission

• Applicants must have an earned baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized U.S. regional accrediting association or an equivalent degree from an institution outside the U.S.
• Grade Point Average: A minimum GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required. Following Bloomsburg University guidelines, applicants with a GPA of 2.7 to 2.99 may be considered for provisional acceptance.
• Application Statement: Applicants must submit a statement that addresses the following. The statement should be no more than five, double-spaced, pages and address each item. This statement will be reviewed for content and writing quality:
  • Why have you chosen social work as a profession?
  • What are your goals in pursuing an MSW?
  • How are your values consistent with the ethical principles of social work as articulated by the National Association of Social Workers?
  • What is your experience working or volunteering in a helping capacity?
  • What is your experience working with diverse groups of people?
  • What will be your greatest challenges in pursuing a master’s degree in social work?
• Resume: Applicants will provide a resume that includes both volunteer and paid experience.
• References: Applicants will provide the names and contact information of three professional references who will then be contacted to provide letters of recommendation. One reference will be from a current or recent employer, and one will be from an educational setting. References from personal relationships will not be accepted.
• Life Experience: As per the guidelines of our accrediting body, the Bloomsburg MSW program does not give academic credit for life experience.
• Criminal Record: A criminal record will exclude potential students from some areas of social work practice. Applicants with a criminal record should consult with the Program Director as part of their application process. All students will be required to complete criminal background checks after being admitted to the Program.
• Credit for BSW Classes: Prospective students who have completed undergraduate social work coursework, but do not qualify for advanced standing, may apply for exemption to first year equivalent MSW classes that they earned at least a B in.
• Transfer Credits: Students who are accepted to the program may transfer primary social work courses from a CSWE accredited MSW program. Electives may be transferred from other applicable graduate programs. These credits must have been earned in the past five years while the student was in good standing in the academic program. Only grades of a B or higher will be accepted for transfer. Pass/fail grades are not accepted. Workshop or otherwise condensed courses will not be accepted. CU-Bloomsburg policy limits the transfer of graduate credits to nine. However, this limit may be increased with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies. If you wish to apply for a waiver, please inquire with the MSW Program Director.

Advanced Standing Admissions

Students who are accepted into the advanced standing program will complete only the Specialized Curriculum (second year) in order to earn an MSW. All general admissions criteria apply with the following changes:

• Undergraduate degree in social welfare or social work: Applicants must have an earned undergraduate degree (BSW, BA, BS) from a CSWE accredited baccalaureate program. Additionally, BSW programs recognized through CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Services, or that are covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors will be accepted. All applicants must have earned a 3.2 in their major (on a 4.0 scale) in order to be eligible for advanced standing. Applicants without a 3.2 GPA but with unusual circumstances may be considered for admission for advanced standing when they provide a written argument for exception to this requirement in the admissions essay.
• References: Applicants will provide the names and contact information of three professional references who will then be contacted to provide letters of recommendation. References from personal relationships will not be accepted. One reference must be from a BSW field supervisor, liaison, or field faculty. At least one reference must be from a BSW faculty member.
• Advanced standing applicants will also submit a copy of their final BSW field internship evaluation.

Admission Process

• Application Materials: Prospective students will submit materials via the School of Graduate Studies application portal. Information on how to apply can be found there. Application materials include: transcripts from undergraduate work; personal statement; resume; references, and admissions fees.
• Application Dates: Application materials will be evaluated on a rolling basis with a final deadline of June 7 for summer start date of the program. Applications will be accepted until this date, or until the program is full. Both regular and advanced standing students begin the program in the summer term
• Evaluation of Material: The Social Work Admissions Committee will evaluate completed admissions packets on a rolling basis. Students will be informed of the outcome of their application in a timely fashion via their provided email address.

There are three outcomes to the application:

• Accepted Students are applicants who are approved to begin the program at the next starting date. Accepted Students who wish to defer beginning the program, should consult with the program director.
• Provisionally Accepted Students are applicants who meet most, but not all, admissions criteria and must agree in writing to the terms of provisional admission (e.g. maintain GPA, complete missing undergraduate coursework) and timeline for completion (e.g. by the end of the first semester, by the time the program begins, etc.) in order to begin the program. Provisionally Accepted Students understand that they will not be allowed to begin or continue in the program if they do not meet the specific requirements set out by the Admissions Committee. Once the provisional requirements have been met, the Provisionally Accepted Student’s status will be updated to Accepted Student.
• Applicants who are not accepted for admission may reapply after consultation with the program director.

• Q: Do I need a degree in social work to be admitted?
  A: No - it’s an excellent fit for students from any undergraduate major. Some of the more common applicant majors are psychology, sociology, education, and criminal justice.
• Q: How are classes offered?
  A: Courses are primarily delivered in person at the Bloomsburg campus. We are committed to providing accessibility to returning students and offer classes in the evening to accommodate work, family, and life commitments.  Beginning Spring 2024 – online options for starting the program.
• Q:  What is the requirement for field practicum?
  A: In the first year of the program, students complete 400 hours of field work over two semesters in the same agency.  Second year students complete 450 hours during that year in a different agency.  Students may be approved for an employment based practicum if they are already working in a social service agency.  Graduate assistantships are also available through the Social Work Program.
• Q: What are my career options with an MSW?
  A: Social workers are needed in a variety of different professional settings, including mental health, child welfare, criminal justice, community development, healthcare, and education.
• Q: What is the job outlook for social workers?
  A: With the renewed emphasis on social support and mental health, both regionally and nationally, the demand for social workers is estimated to continue to grow at a faster rate than other professions.
• Q:  What is the Advanced Standing Program?
  A:  This is for applicants who have an undergraduate degree in social work.  If accepted into this option, they are essentially eligible to waive the requirements of the first year of the program and complete the MSW in about 11 months (BSW + 36 credits).
• Q: When can I start? 
  A: Applications are accepted for the Spring and Summer semesters.
• Q: Do I need to take the GRE in order to apply? 
  A. No - the GRE is not required for admission.