Admission Criteria
Fall deadline: December 1
- An MSW or related master’s is required. Applicants without the MSW must take a minimum of 12 credit hours of MSW course work. This requirement may be waived for applicants with additional graduate work.
- Minimum of two years post-master’s practice experience encouraged
- TOEFL or IELTS required for applicants who’s second language is English
These criteria are used flexibly to assess the applicant’s potential for study and research in this program.
Minimum Language Requirements
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Social Work Program (submitted via the Graduate School online application system)
- Three letters of recommendation: two letters from professors who have known the applicant in an academic capacity. Please do not include personal, pastoral and relative references.
- Current curriculum vita or resume. A minimum of two years’ postmasters practice experience is preferred.
- Writing proficiency sample (e.g., previous publication, book chapter, master’s thesis, unpublished research paper, etc.)
- Personal statement (see department instructions)
- A personal interview is required, and if possible, will be arranged at MU. A Skype interview may be utilized in some cases.
Note: This program offers a MSW/PhD joint degree. Information about the MSW/PhD Joint Program is available at https://healthprofessions.missouri.edu/social-work/masters-degree/msw-phd-joint-degree/.