MSW Admissions
Application Deadlines
- MSW Program - February 1 for admission in September
- Advanced Standing MSW Program (BSW required) - December 1 for admission in May
All applications and supporting materials must be received by deadline and we encourage you to apply well before deadline due to the volume of applications. Your application cannot be reviewed until we receive all of the required materials and it is your responsibility to ensure that your file is complete.
Application Checklist
MSW Program
- Online graduate admissions application
- $50.00 application fee
- Professional statement. You can upload your professional statement into the online application.
- 3 letters of reference. Your references will be asked to fill out a form and provide a narrative online via the online application.
- Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate programs. Official transcripts must be submitted from EACH undergraduate and graduate institution attended. Applicants who earned an undergraduate and/or graduate degree in a country other than the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by a certified educational documentation agency.
- Resume. You can upload your resume into the online application.
- Official test scores - See policy change below
If your undergraduate GPA is 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, you do NOT need to take the GRE or MAT. Any applicant with an earned master's degree or higher in another discipline is also exempt from test taking. For applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0, you must submit the results of either the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Gradute Record Examination (GRE).
Since these two tests are very different in format and content, we recommend you carefully review each test to determine which one is most compatible with your strengths. Both of these tests are administered at test sites throughout the country. Additional information about other test sites, testing schedules, test content, and registration can be accessed online or by phone:
GRE: http://www.gre.org/ or 800.473.2255
MAT: http://www.milleranalogies.com/ or 800.622.3231
When you take your test, you will be asked to indicate the college code of the school to which test results should be sent. The MAT is administered at Salem State twice weekly while classes are in session. To register for the MAT at Salem State, call 978.542.6147. It is important to register for testing well in advance of the application deadline since it takes approximately three weeks for test results to be processed.
- Results of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if you are an applicant for whom English is not a first language. Applicants who take the TOEFL are NOT exempt from the MAT or GRE.
Advanced Standing MSW Program Checklist
- All of the materials listed above PLUS
- BSW Field Evaluation Form
- Evidence of three years of pre-BSW paid work experience in the social services or one year of post-BSW paid work experience in social work by the time of entry into the MSW program.
- Interview with Admissions Committee. Interviews are scheduled once your application is complete.
Submit all items to
Admissions Application Center
Salem State University
Salem, MA 01970
978.542.6200
Questions about the MSW program and admissions process can be directed to Erika Griffin at 978.542.6340 or erika.griffin@salemstate.edu.
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 30 credits earned as a matriculated student at another accredited school of social work may be considered for transfer to Salem State. Only courses for which a grade of B or better was earned will be eligible for transfer credit. In order for us to make a decision about transfer credit, you must submit all of the following items for evaluation to our MSW Program Coordinator:
- Official transcripts
- Course description (for each course)
- Course syllabus (for each course)
In addition to the above, transfer applicants must fulfill the following requirements:
- Submit a letter stating that you are in good academic and professional standing at the school from which you wish to transfer.
- For students who have completed field education requirements, a copy of the field evaluation must be submitted.
- An interview is required for all students who were matriculated at another school of social work.
- In addition to the professional statement, you must discuss your reasons for transfer and why you think our MSW program will be a good fit.
Non-matriculating Credit
A maximum of 9 non-matriculating graduate credits in courses for which a grade of B or better was earned can be considered for transfer from another college or university. The following items must be submitted for evaluation:
- Official transcripts
- Course descriptions
- Course syllabus
Students who have earned a grade of B or better in non-matriculating courses offered by our MSW program at Salem will receive transfer credit.
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