UConn’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program ranks in the top 12 percent of best graduate schools for social work, tied at no. 36 in the nation. We are no. 1 in Connecticut.
Situated on the UConn Hartford campus, the School of Social Work combines the convenience of easy access to a major urban center, ethnically and economically diverse populations, hundreds of human service agencies, and state government offices. The longest-standing MSW Program in Connecticut, we have more than 8,700 alumni who serve as national leaders and as mentors in our close-knit community.
Student Testimonial
“UConn is the best ranked social work program in the state of Connecticut. Many social workers that are in this area are UConn-educated. It’s a strong network of individuals to be part of both at the micro and macro levels of social work.”
--Kelly Sanchez, MSW Student
MSW Admissions Qualifications
Admission to the School of Social Work as a master's degree candidate is based on meeting the academic qualifications required of all students in the Graduate School plus an evaluation of the applicant’s potential for the profession of social work. The minimum qualifications for admission to the Master of Social Work program are:
Regular MSW:
- Must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, university or equivalent
- Must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the entire undergraduate record (emphasis given to last two years of undergraduate work)
- Must have a Liberal Arts foundation. See more details below.
Advanced Standing:
- Must have a BSW degree within the past six years from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
- Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. However, a 3.5 cum GPA is preferred.
- Must have a Liberal Arts foundation. See more details below.
There are no foreign language or entrance examination requirements. It should be emphasized that meeting the academic requirements or previous enrollment in the Non-Degree Program does not guarantee admission. If you are admitted to the School before completing a bachelor’s degree, the admission will remain conditional until receipt of the final transcript of any undergraduate work in progress at the time of acceptance.
Application Deadlines
| Program | Entry Term | Application Opens | Application Deadline |
| MSW Advanced Standing | Summer 2023 | Open Now! | Extended to April 1, 2023! |
| MSW Regular Admission | Fall 2023 | Open Now! | June 1, 2023** |
**Earlier applicants increase chances of receiving maximum Financial Aid, early course registration, and earlier opportunity to become compliant and placed in Field.
Applying for financial aid by UConn’s on-time deadline of February 15th allows for maximum aid consideration.
Once the deadline is reached incomplete applications are not considered; no exceptions are made.
Liberal Arts Requirements
Graduate education in social work at the UConn School of Social Work builds on a solid liberal arts foundation attained at the baccalaureate level. Applicants with a strong liberal arts foundation will have creative, analytical, and dialectical thinking skills gained from their undergraduate education in literature, the arts, politics, economics, history, philosophy, and the human and natural sciences. Entering students are expected to possess the intellectual and scholarly preparation needed for written and verbal communication, as well as for synthesizing and conceptualizing knowledge about advanced social work practice. They must also have knowledge about people, diverse cultures, social issues and problems. You must submit evidence of your liberal arts background in both your personal statement and official undergraduate transcript.
MSW applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or be close to completing their bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university demonstrating a liberal arts foundation. This coursework may include at least one course from each of the following categories: the Natural Sciences; the Social and Behavioral Sciences; and the Humanities and Arts.
Courses in each category may include the following; these lists are not exhaustive but should provide a guideline for determining whether the liberal arts requirement is met. Please note: You do not need a degree in one of these areas. The UConn School of Social Work encourages applicants from all academic programs as long as the liberal arts requirement is met.
Natural Sciences: Anatomy/Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Environmental Science, Geology, Marine Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics
Social and Behavioral Sciences: Africana Studies; American Studies; Anthropology, Economics; Geography; History; Human Development; International and Cultural Studies; Psychology; Sociology; Urban and Community Studies; Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Humanities and Arts: Communication, English, Foreign Language, Journalism, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy
Field Education Requirements
Field work is an integral and important part of the MSW program. Previous work or life experience cannot be considered for academic credit. However, current employment in social service agencies may be considered for field education requirements if approved by the Field Education department. Visit the MSW Field Education page for more details.
Apply for MSW
Applications are considered on the basis of breadth of background and experience or evidence of promise in the field of social work, as well as on academic preparation. Applicants should be intellectually able, emotionally mature, interested in working with people, and potentially capable of assuming the heavy responsibilities which are inherent in social work.
Application Process & Fee
UConn School of Social Work uses an online self-managed application process. This process places the responsibility on the applicant for the collection and submission of all documents.
A non-refundable $75 application fee is required at the time your online application is submitted.
Graduate School Fee Waiver Policy
The Graduate School has agreed to waive application fees for prospective students associated with certain organizations and partnerships. Please view their Fee Waiver Policy for more information.
Preparing Your Application
The application consists of:
- Submission of electronic application which includes:
- Personal Statement *
- Advanced Standing Essay (for Advanced Standing only) *
- Three Professional Recommendations (submitted by recommenders) *
- All three must be submitted by deadline for application to be considered
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- Copy of transcript(s) from each college/university that was listed for your bachelor's degree including after the bachelor's degree was earned. Do not include community colleges.
- TOEFL scores (for international students only)
- APPLICATION FEE: A non-refundable $75 application fee by credit card is due at the time your online application is submitted.
*View the PDF for specific instructions on the MSW application requirements.
Advanced Standing
Applicants will need their BSW degree conferred prior to the beginning of the advanced standing summer session which begins mid-July. All applicants will be considered for the regular MSW program if they are not accepted as an advanced standing student.
Reapplication Process
If a student delays matriculation or withdraws from the program, the student must reapply and complete a new application, upload all the required documents and pay the application fee of $75. It is suggested that applicants update their personal statement and consider updating recommendations.
For general application questions, contact:
UConn School of Social Work Office and Student and Academic Services at 959-200-3605 or at swadmission@uconn.edu
Begin Your Application
Please review the "Preparing Your Application" section above for specific instruction on application requirements prior to completing your application.
View the "Application Deadlines" section above for specific dates on the opening and closing of the application cycles.
Click here to begin an application to the UConn School of Social Work.
Financial Aid and Tuition
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid at the same time they apply for admission to the School. More information can be found on the Office of Student Financial Aid Services website.
You will most likely not hear back about Financial Aid at the time of acceptance.
All Financial Aid questions should be directed to the Office of Student Financial Aid Services at financialaid@uconn.edu or (860) 486-2819.
Important Information Regarding Financial Aid for MSW Students:
- Students who pursue the extended degree program (3 or 4 years) will see a decline in their aid after the 2nd year.
- Students who are enrolled part-time, regardless of their year in the program, are not eligible for grant money.
For tuition information pertaining to the UConn School of Social Work, please visit the UConn Bursar website.
Funding Opportunities
Applicants are encouraged to explore Internal Funding Opportunities and External Funding Opportunities on the Graduate School's website.
Decisions and Communication With Applicants
Communication with applicants regarding status of applications, requests for additional or missing information, and application decisions will be sent by email from both the UConn Graduate School and the UConn School of Social Work. It is important that all communication is reviewed and responded to in a timely manner. Please be certain to check your SPAM/trash folders.
Decision Notification
School of Social Work faculty review all completed applications and make admission decisions. You will receive an email notification to check your account once a decision has been made.
Decision Timeline
- Applications submitted for the Spring term:
- Applicants will hear back no later than mid-December or sooner.
- Applications submitted for the Summer and Fall terms:
- Applicants that submit their application earlier in the admission cycle (before January) will hear back by approximately the end of January or sooner.
- Applicants that submit their application during peak admission time (January and February) will hear back by approximately mid-April or sooner.
Information for Transfer Applicants
Once accepted students are matriculated into the program, a request for a transfer credit review should be sent to sswstudentservices@uconn.edu. It is preferred that students make the request prior to the orientation and advising sessions. Transfer credit requests are subject to final approval by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
Transfer Credit Guidelines:
A minimum grade of B- is required for transfer credit. There are three classifications of transfer credits:
- Students who transfer from a Council on Social Work Education accredited graduate social work program and have completed one full year including field education, within the last six years, may be granted up to 15 credits, with the possibility of being equivalent to one year of the MSW program. Due to different curricular patterns in MSW programs, it will be necessary to revise the second year course of study to ensure all requirements for the degree have been met.
- Students who transfer from a Council on Social Work Education accredited graduate social work program and have completed less than a full year, within the last four years, may be granted credit for MSW courses to be applied toward the MSW degree. The specific number of credits, no more than 12 credits, is determined by the Director of Student and Academic Services.
- Students transferring from a graduate program and have completed some graduate work closely related to social work within the past four years may be granted a maximum of nine (9) credits. These courses are generally applied toward elective credits as long as they were not already counted toward a completed degree.