Instructions for MSW Application
It is essential that you review these instructions in their entirety, as well as review the School of Social Work (SSW)
website ssw.umich.edu
, before completing the application. Since the application form provides significant information
upon which decisions for admission are based, it is important to give complete and accurate data. The School reserves
the right to withdraw an application and/or revoke an offer of admission if full and accurate information is not
provided to the School in a timely manner.
You may work on and view your application form
from any computer with Internet access. It is not necessary to
complete the whole application in one session. For your privacy, be sure to completely close out of your Web browser
when you are finished with your MSW Application session.
No admissions tests (e.g., GRE, GMAT) are required for admission to the MSW degree program.
The
MSW application you submit will be considered “complete” once all of the following materials have been
received by the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management (OSS). Your MSW application must be
complete to meet any intended deadline.
$75.00 Non-Refundable Application Fee (U.S. dollars)
The application fee must be paid online by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted).
A limited number of application fee grants are available through the School of Social Work for U.S. Citizens,
Permanent Residents of the U.S., and DACAmented individuals who demonstrate that payment of the application
fee would cause them extreme financial hardship. Documentation regarding the financial inability to pay the fee may
be required. Further information regarding applying for an application fee grant is available by contacting the School
of Social Work via email at ssw.msw.info@umich.edu
. Such assistance is reserved for cases of established economic
hardship.
If you are the recipient of an application fee waiver/grant from the School of Social Work or one of the following
sources: Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), Florida A & M University (FAMU), McNair Scholar, Project 1000,
LSAMP, complete the necessary information in the Getting Started section of the application, scan or take a snapshot
of the fee waiver/grant approval, and upload to the relevant section of your application.
If you are a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, or have served at least 12 months in either the Peace Corps Response
or Global Health Service Partnership programs, and are applying for a Coverdell Fellows Scholarship, then your
application fee will be waived. You will need to apply to the Coverdell Fellows Scholarship as a part of your MSW
application and upload your Description of Service (DOS) on the appropriate page. If you do not have a DOS because
you are currently serving in the Peace Corps, please ask your country director or program manager for a brief letter
verifying your status as a Peace Corps Volunteer. This letter may be uploaded in place of the DOS.
Applications to Both the On-Campus MSW and Online MSW Programs:
Students applying to both the School of Social Work On-Campus MSW program and Online MSW program for the
same academic year will only need to pay one application fee. Indicate this in the Getting Started section of the MSW
application. You may submit your second MSW program application (for a different program – Online or On Campus
– and the same academic year) without a fee. If we are unable to verify payment of the fee for your first MSW program
application for the same academic year, the processing of your application to the second program will be delayed until
either verification of payment is received or you submit a check/money order to the School of Social Work for
payment of the application fee.
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Multiple Applications to the School of Social Work and other UM Departments/Schools:
Students applying to the School of Social Work who have also applied to another D
epartment/School within the
University of Michigan for the same term (e.g., School of Social Work and Business School) and paid the application
fee to the other Dept./School do not need to pay another application fee with their School of Social Work application.
Indicate this in the Getting Started section of the MSW application. You may submit your MSW application without a
fee. If we are unable to verify payment of the fee to the other Dept./School for the same term, the processing of your
application will be delayed until either verification is received or you submit a check/money order to the School of
Social Work for payment of the application fee.
NOTE: This is the School of Social Work application fee policy. Other departments/schools/colleges within the
University may have different policies.
MSW Application
Complete information must be provided in the relevant spaces on the application form and all pages of the application
must be completed. If you have additional information you would like to add, use the “Additional Information” page
which is part of the MSW application. Use the same format as on the relevant sections of the application form.
Each application page will validate, requiring you to complete any missing fields or correct incompatible data as
necessary. You may choose to postpone validation to allow forward and backward movement through the application;
validation then will occur once you click to submit your application.
Submission of the application constitutes your electronic signature.
Applications to Both the On-Campus MSW and Online MSW Programs:
• Only one set of transcripts is required. Do not upload duplicate copies of transcripts to your second application,
as they should have already been provided with your first application.
• You may list the same recommenders on both applications. Please answer “No” to using the online
recommendation system for each recommender on your second MSW application if you are using the same
recommenders from your first MSW application.
• You may upload the same supplementary statement to both applications.
Academic Transcript(s)
One academic transcript is required from each college/university where a) you have received or will receive a
degree, b) you took courses that will go toward meeting our liberal arts requirement, c) you took possible
transfer credit, and d) you took graduate coursework. Transcript(s) must show all completed and/or in-progress
coursework. If you would like college courses taken while dual enrolled as a high school student or taken at an
institution where you did not receive a degree reviewed for possible transfer credit, exemptions and/or the liberal arts
requirement, then transcripts showing courses taken, credits received, and grades must be submitted with the MSW
application for review.
Upload your transcript(s) to the relevant section of the MSW application. Scanned student copies or unofficial
transcripts are accepted for application review; however, self-reported or advising transcripts are NOT accepted. If you
attended the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, then you do NOT need to upload your University of Michigan–Ann
Arbor transcript. If you choose not to upload your unofficial transcripts, please note that transcripts may be sent via
email to msw.transcripts@umich.edu
.
Transcripts must show your name, the name of the institution, dates of attendance, and grades received for each course
taken in all terms attended. Degree information including the degree conferred and the date of conferral, if applicable,
must appear on the transcript or on a separate degree document (diploma). If degree information is on a separate degree
document, create one PDF for each college/university that contains both your transcript and degree document.
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Include a copy of the transcript key or interpretation guide, which either appears on the back of the transcript or in a
separate document. If your educational documentation is not in English, please also provide a certified English
translation. The translation should be literal and not interpretive.
If you have multiple pages and/or documents for a college/university (transcript, degree, transcript key or guide),
please create one multi-page PDF for each college/university that contains all pages and/or documents for that
college/university.
Please note that if admitted to the School of Social Work, you will be required to provide official copies of transcripts
and required educational documents where a degree was or will be received and where graduate coursework was
completed or is in progress. Students eligible for Advanced Standing may be required to provide official transcripts
from all other institutions where coursework was taken within the last 60-credit hours of completed BSW coursework.
The School of Social Work reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission if any discrepancies are found between
your uploaded unofficial transcripts/educational documents and official transcripts/educational documents that are
submitted or if full and accurate information is not provided to the School in a timely manner.
Recommendations
Three recommendations are required. We suggest you submit recommendations from persons who have been directly
responsible for assessing your human service related work/volunteer experience and academic performance.
Applicants who wish to substitute one or more career center references for our recommendation forms may do so.
However, the School prefers that applicants utilize the School of Social Work recommendation forms. We strongly
encourage applicants to utilize the online recommendation system available through the MSW application to
allow recommenders to submit their recommendations online. You are required to list all three recommenders,
along with their relevant information, in the recommenders section of the application.
On the Letters of Recommendation page of the MSW application, indicate that you would like to use the online
recommendation system and click the “Submit Recommendation Request” for each recommender, which will prompt a
recommendation request email and information on how to submit an online recommendation to be sent. You will have
the ability to track the status of your online recommendations.
If you or your recommender opt to email a PDF of the recommendation form
, you must complete the top portion of the
recommender form and email the form to your recommender. The recommender must email their recommendation
directly to
msw.recommendations@umich.edu. If choosing the email option, note that the recommender’s email
address must exactly match the email address listed for them on your MSW application.
NOTE: Individuals applying under the Provisions for Non-Baccalaureate Degree Applicants
should refer to that
section for additional instructions regarding recommendations.
Supplementary Statement
A statement must be submitted with the application for admission and must be uploaded to the relevant section (page)
of the application. Provide one double-spaced three (3) page statement (12 pt.) that addresses all three of the following
topics:
1. Discuss a social justice issue that you would like to address in your career. What skills and knowledge would
you like to obtain in the MSW program to support your career objectives?
2. Describe how your personal and intellectual qualifications and past human service experience have prepared
you to serve individuals, communities, and/or organizations in your field placement as an MSW student.
3. The School of Social Work’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the
National Association of
Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics are intended to serve as a guide and expectation to promote ethical
and anti-racist social work practice. As you uphold the profession’s core values and School of Social Work’s
mission and vision, describe your commitment, readiness, and the specific steps you will take to contribute to
anti-racism as a student and professional social worker.
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In preparing your statement, we recommend that you also review the Criteria for Admission.
Resume
Upload your resume to the relevant section (page) of the MSW application. You must review the Resume Guide prior
to uploading your resume to your MSW application.
Financial Aid Application for Grants/Scholarships from SSW Resources (optional)
This form is required for merit- and/or need-based aid consideration. If you indicate on your MSW application that you
will apply for financial aid, this form will be added to the end of the MSW application.
You are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) for need-based aid consideration.
Note: most grant/scholarship aid provided by the School is need-based aid.
SSW Special Programs Application (optional)
A separate application is required for special program consideration. Special program application(s) pages will be
added to the end of your MSW application if you indicate your plan to apply on the Financial Assistance page of the
MSW application and select any of the special programs
.
Visit the special programs webpage
and click on each program listed for detailed information, as well as program (On
Campus or Online MSW), academic load (full-time or part-time), and other application requirements. Note that
financial need will be considered for most programs.
Masters International Volunteer Program (optional)
The Masters International Volunteer Program offers students the opportunity to incorporate 27 months of Peace Corps
service into their MSW program. If you are interested in pursuing the Masters International Volunteer Program
, please
select one of the Masters International curriculum schedules. For detailed information, click on the link provided.
Additional Information/Required Materials for Some Applicants
If there are gaps or deficiencies in your academic record, including incomplete grades or withdrawals from courses,
please address these in the Additional Information section of the application.
English Proficiency
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency.
International Applicants
International applicants are those persons who are not U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents of the United States. For
important information on additional requirements for international applicants, review the
International Applicants
section of our website.
Undocumented or DACAmented Applicants
Review information at ssw.umich.edu/admissions/msw/apply/daca
MasterTrack MSW
Review MasterTrack MSW information at ssw.umich.edu/programs/msw/mastertrack
Online MSW Program
Review Online MSW Program criteria and details at ssw.umich.edu/programs/msw/online
Part-Time
Review the MSW Part-Time Options webpage for more information.
UM-Dearborn Human Services & Social Work / U-M Sociology & Social Work Juniors
University of Michigan juniors applying to the UM-Dearborn Human Services & Social Work or UM-Sociology &
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Social Work programs must upload a verification form or letter from an undergraduate U-M Sociology submajor or
Dearborn Human Services advisor at your school confirming that you are eligible for this curriculum schedule.
Transfer students from another MSW program
Students currently or previously enrolled in another accredited masters level social work degree program who are
seeking admission as a transfer student are required to submit additional materials and review the
Transfer Applicant
webpage.
1. A brief written statement describing the reasons why they are requesting a transfer.
2. A copy of their practicum/field work evaluation(s), if applicable.
3. A recommendation from the applicant's current/former MSW program faculty advisor addressing their academic
standing.
4. Transcripts showing potential transfer credit coursework.
5. Review the Transfer Applicant webpag
e.
Provision for Non-Baccalaureate Degree (NAB) Applicants
Admission to the MSW degree program is possible for a maximum of ten persons per academic year who do not hold
baccalaureate degrees. The goal of this provision is to provide an opportunity for individuals with extensive, successful
social work experience to obtain the MSW degree without first obtaining a bachelor's degree. Review Non-
Baccalaureate Degree Applicants for more information. At least one month prior to submitting an MSW
application, persons applying under this provision must review NAB information and plan to submit requested
documents.
Reapplication
If you are a previous MSW applicant or previous MSW student at the University of Michigan who did not complete
the degree program, review the section on Reapplication
for information on reapplying to the MSW program.
Interviews
Interviews are not required of all applicants. Some applicants, however, may be requested to schedule an interview
regarding their application to the MSW Program. Applicants may also request to meet with admissions counselors.
Conduct Policy
In the interest of a fair and inclusive admissions process, the School of Social Work does not ask MSW applicants to
disclose felony charges or convictions. We strongly support applications from all interested prospective students. The
School endeavors to be transparent regarding challenges that social work students and alumni with criminal
convictions have experienced related to field education and licensing. Please review additional information regarding
this issue on the Felony Disclosure & Criminal History Information webpage
.
MSW students are required to complete a Conduct Disclosure Form as a condition of enrollment if they have any
felony convictions in the past 10 years or pending felony charges. The School requires disclosure of criminal
background in order to evaluate and enable your successful completion of the field placement requirement of your
degree and continued success in the social work profession. Students will be asked to disclose other criminal history at
the time of field application in order to assign students to the appropriate field placement as some field sites have a
zero tolerance policy for accepting students with any criminal convictions.
MSW students are required to complete a Conduct Disclosure Form as a condition of enrollment if they have been
expelled, suspended, or placed on probation by any secondary school or college attended within the past 10 years, for
reason of academic dishonesty or because of an offense that harmed or had the potential to harm others.
Submission of Application Documents
The School of Social Work promotes a self-managed application process. The applicant is responsible for the timely
submission of all required materials according to stated deadline dates.
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If you are unable to upload supporting documents to your MSW application, please send electronically to:
E-Transcripts may be sent to:
Recommendations may be sent directly by the recommender to:
DO NOT SEND DUPLICATE COPIES of materials.
IMPORTANT:
Save a copy of your application and supporting documents for your records.
Save copies of all uploaded documents. These will not be available to you after submission of your application.
Your application must be submitted and complete with all required supporting documents by the application deadline.
Incomplete applications will not move forward in the application review process.
The School reserves the right to withdraw an application and/or revoke an offer of admission if full and accurate
information is not provided to the School in a timely manner.
Questions?
Contact the Office of Student Services & Enrollment Management at
ssw.msw.i[email protected]
(734) 936-0961
