The MSW program seeks applicants who demonstrate strong undergraduate preparation with a broad liberal arts foundation, values and ethics that are essential to human services, paid or voluntary experiences in human services, and significant potential for advanced social work practice. More importantly, applications should demonstrate capacity for self-awareness, maturity, genuine interest in addressing social problems and helping people in need, respect for human dignity, sensitivity and responsiveness in relationships, openness to cultural and ethnic diversity, commitment to promoting social and economic justice and a strong work ethic. The guideline for the statement of interest encourages applicants to address their qualifications and preparation for the graduate program and for the profession. Applicants will be evaluated on their entire application packet.
The admission requirements of the CSUMB MSW program are stated below. Applicants from multicultural, multilingual and diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;
- A minimum undergraduate GPA (grade point average) of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 point scale) in the last 60 semester or 90 quarter units or 2.75 with the GRE;
- Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work;
- *Completion of the liberal arts (General Education) foundation. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a California State University or University of California campus meet the requirement. Applicants who finished their college education outside of the California State University or University of California systems need to fill out the Liberal Arts Foundation Worksheet (included in the application packet);
- Completion of three prerequisites (with a C or higher grade or a Pass): Human Biology, Statistics and Computer Literacy;
- 100 hours of paid or volunteer social work experience;
- Completed MSW program on-line application which includes references, a statement of interest, and a resume.
*Liberal Arts or General Education offers a broad knowledge base of behavioral and social sciences, humanities and biological sciences to prepare students with a sufficient understanding of society, social problems, and human behavior. Applicants who do not have a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts or social work may have to take liberal arts courses prior to being admitted to the program.