MSW Admission Requirements
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK ADMISSIONS
| MSW Track | Completed Application Deadline | Cohort Starting Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Generalist | March 15th | May Cohort (summer) |
| Specialization | June 15th | August Cohort (fall) |
| November 15th | January Cohort (spring) |
Accredited Program
Limestone University’s MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation. For more information about social work accreditation, please visit the CSWE website, https://www.cswe.org/accreditation.
Candidates for admission are evaluated based on ability and achievement. A requirement of an earned baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association SACS or other regionally accredited programs. Applicants from all academic backgrounds who meet the liberal arts requirements for the Generalist MSW program may apply. They must demonstrate strong interest and motivation, and commitment to social work values such as the appreciation for cultural and ethnic diversity; belief in the dignity and freedom of the individual; promotion of social justice and equal access to resources; and institutional responsiveness to human needs and social change.
Personal qualifications such as professionalism, sensitivity and responsiveness in relationships, capacity for self-awareness, concern for the needs of others, ability for abstract reasoning, conceptual thinking and strong communication skills are also core requirements. Admission is competitive and only applicants with fully completed applications will be reviewed. Candidates must be a SC resident or have ability to complete the field education requirement in SC only. The MSW Admissions Committee will consider all components which include of the application in its admission decision. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis for full admission to both Generalist and Specialization programs.
M.S.W. - Master of Social Work Degree page
Each applicant must provide the following to be considered for admission into the MSW program:
Official undergraduate and any graduate degree transcripts from each regionally accredited college or university attended; if applicable, your foreign transcript must be sent through World Education Services or International Education Evaluations for evaluation;
Two letters of recommendation, preferably one related to work experience and one to academic experience. Personal/character references from family members, friends, co-workers, and clergy are not admissible.
Current/Updated resume.
Personal narrative answering the following prompts:
Please reflect on your motivation and decision to pursue your MSW. Describe how attending Limestone University's program will enable you to meet your immediate and long-term goals as a social worker.
Please describe how you have incorporated a social work mindset in your human service experiences and interactions with others.
Think about a problem in society that promotes inequality. Now, how would you, as a Social Worker, address that problem? If you use scholarly research to complete this, be sure to properly cite your source.
Resident of SC or have the ability to complete all field education requirements in SC only.
Testing requirements:
No GRE or GMAT is required
Students whose native language is not English must submit scores from either the IELTS of TOEFLiBT. A score of 6.0 or higher is required for the IELTS. A score of 79 or higher is required for the TOEFLiBT. This requirement may be waived if the student provides evidence of having completed an accredited ESL program or holds a degree from an accredited US college or university.
If applicable, your foreign transcript must be sent to Limestone through one of the credit evaluation agencies listed on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) page. While Limestone does accept transcript evaluations from any organizations listed on the NACES page, the University’s preferred credit evaluation agencies are International Education Evaluations or World Education Services.
For Admission into the graduate program:
To be considered for full admission into Limestone University's online MSW Generalist or Specialization Program, candidates will need to submit the following:
GENERALIST PROGRAM:
- Official Transcripts (undergraduate and any graduate) with a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Two letters of recommendation
- Current/Updated Resume
- One-page narrative
SPECIALIZATION PROGRAM:
- Official Transcripts – obtained a bachelor’s degree from a regionally and CSWE accredited college or university with either a BA, BS or BSW degree in Social Work with a minimum 3.00 overall GPA
- Two letters of recommendation
- Current/Updated Resume
- One-page narrative
Students are also informed that work and lifetime experiences are not counted toward any credit or grade outcomes, upon application to the Limestone University – MSW program.
