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Kent School of Social Work
MSSW Application Checklist
Send ALL application materials to Graduate Admissions
by email (preferred): [email protected], or by mail:
Graduate Admissions
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
An application is not complete until Graduate Admissions receives the following documentation:
Completed online application at http://louisville.edu/graduate/futurestudents/applymaterials/application
__ $60 non-refundable application fee. For information on application fee waiver eligibility criteria, please contact
Graduate Admissions at (502) 852-3101.
__ List a minimum of three (3) recommender’s names and email addresses in Section VII (seven) of the application
that meet the criteria listed below.
Official transcripts from any and all colleges and universities ever attended
Transcripts must be OFFICIAL. Faxed transcripts cannot be accepted. Undergraduate degree must be from a
regionally-accredited college/university. You can check your school’s accreditation here: www.chea.org/search.
Have transcripts sent directly to Graduate Admissions. UofL transcripts are provided automatically.
Three (3) Recommendation Forms
List email addresses of three (3) recommenders in Section VII of the graduate application. Recommendation
forms will be emailed automatically to the recommenders after the application fee is paid or waived. Printable form
shown as “Letter of Evaluation (PDF)” is available at http://louisville.edu/graduate/futurestudents/applymaterials/application.
Requirements for acceptable recommenders:
 One recommendation form must be from a former professor. Applicants who have not been enrolled in classes
within the past five (5) years must substitute a professional reference.
 Recommendation forms must be submitted from persons who have been directly responsible for supervising
your human service-related work/volunteer experience, other professional experience or academic performance.
 Personal recommendations will not be accepted. This group includes co-workers, mentors, advisers, friends,
clergy, personal therapists, etc.
Kent School reserves the right to request additional supportive material from persons acquainted with the applicant’s
academic and/or practice capabilities.
Personal Statement
Submit a carefully written 700-1,000 word personal statement (double-spaced, typed pages, 12 pt.) that addresses
all four of the following topics:
1. Describe a social problem or program strategy that is of greatest interest to you.
2. Describe your commitment to engage in social work roles that involve social welfare institutions and systems
most likely to have an effect on major social problems.
3. Describe in detail how you would ensure that your work is relevant to the most economically and socially
disadvantaged groups in our society.
4. Describe the intellectual and personal qualifications that will enable you to practice social work successfully.
Addendum to Personal Statement
Required for applicants with incoming GPA under 3.0
__ Provide an Addendum to Personal Statement discussing gaps or deficiencies in your academic record, or
explanation of any previous academic review. Include planned strategies for maintaining the required 3.0 in
Graduate School.
Resume
Include all current/past employment, volunteer and internship experience.
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Kent School of Social Work
MSSW Application Checklist
Completed Agreements Packet
__ Academic Dishonesty Statement
__ Release and Waiver
__ Ethical Standards of Behavior Agreement
__ Personal Commitment and Synchronous Class Agreement
__ Technology Agreement
__ Practicum Agreement
All forms must be completed and signed (electronic signature is acceptable). Agreements Packet can be found here:
http://louisville.edu/kent/PROSPECTIVE%20STUDENTS/AgreementsandWaivers.pdf
GRE or MAT scores required for applicants with incoming GPA under 2.75
Students with final undergraduate GPAs under 2.75 must submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies
Test (MAT) scores from within the last five (5) years. Find more information on the GRE at www.ets.org/gre; and
the MAT at http://www.pearsonassessments.com/postsecondaryeducation/graduate_admissions/mat.html.
Information for applicants with incoming GPA of or under 2.5
Standards of the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies (or Graduate Admissions) require a minimum
undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.5, therefore students applying to the Kent School with a GPA of 2.5 or under
will rarely be considered. Contact Sarah Caragianis at [email protected] to discuss GPA questions
or concerns.
Advanced Standing Admissions (BSW applicants only)
__ BSW/BSSW degree earned within the last seven (7) years from a CSWE-accredited social work program
__ One of three (3) recommendation forms MUST be from the director of field education, practicum supervisor
or practicum seminar instructor
__ Copies of final practicum evaluation(s)
__ Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
__ Social Work GPA of at least 3.25
__ No “C” grades in social work foundation courses (or willing to re-take courses as a condition of admission)
__ IF applying for a specialization, include specialization essay at time of application
Kent School reserves the right to request additional supportive material from persons acquainted with the applicant’s
academic and/or practice capabilities.
Marriage and Family Therapy Specialization Admissions (campus program applicants only)
__ Letter of Intent
__ Family of Origins essay (five pages)
__ Email Danette Baker at [email protected] to inform her that materials have been submitted
Dual Degree Applications
Available only for campus 60-Hour Standard MSSW applicants
If you wish to apply for a dual degree you must also complete the other unit’s application process. For more
information, please refer to https://louisville.edu/kent/PROSPECTIVE%20STUDENTS/mssw-specializations.
Dual degrees are not available to Online MSSW students or 30-Hour Advanced Standing students.
Reasonable Accommodations
Available for Applicants with Disabilities
For other accommodations that may be needed to successfully complete the practicum, the applicant should consult
with Kent’s Field Education Program Manager Ramie Martin-Galijatovic in advance of applying to the MSSW program
at [email protected]. The focus of the consultation is to assess the likelihood of obtaining and
successfully completing a practicum given the applicant’s unique accommodations. Successful completion of 900 hours
in practicum is a required component of obtaining an MSSW degree. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case
basis and may require referral to and consultation/collaboration with the UL’s Disability Resource Center.
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Kent School of Social Work
MSSW Application Checklist
Practicum Accommodations
Available for Applicants Living Abroad
Applicants who live outside of the U.S will need to consult with Kent’s Field Education Program Manager
Ramie Martin-Galijatovic at [email protected] in advance of applying to the MSSW program
to ensure the feasibility of meeting practicum placement requirements in accordance with CSWE policies.
International Applicants
Important Information:
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International Applicants are required to have their transcripts evaluated by the credential evaluation service
World Education Services, Inc., at http://www.wes.org or Educational Credential Evaluators at http://www.ece.org.
Applicants may be required to participate in a brief telephone interview as part of the admission process.
When completing their I-20, students should note that they will be placed in a practicum as part of their education.
Admitted students should contact UofL’s International Center to determine if any other immigration documentation
is necessary to begin the practicum.
If English is not an applicant’s primary language:
o Applicant must show English language proficiency by demonstration of a specified level of proficiency on the
TOEFL examination or IELTS examination or providing an official transcript from an acceptable English
language institution or campus program applicants only: by successfully completing the exit examination for
the advanced level of the Intensive English as a Second Language Program at the University of Louisville
o Minimum TOEFL scores: 550 on the paper based exam or 213 on the computer-based exam. For more
information, review the TOEFL website: www.ets.org/toefl.
o Minimum IELTS score: 6.5. For more information, review the IELTS website: www.ielts.org.
o For more information, campus program applicants can visit http://graduate.louisville.edu/admissions/
international-admissions-requirements.html; online program applicants can visit
http://louisville.edu/online/admissions/international-students.
Important:
Admission materials can be sent or emailed all at once to Graduate Admissions or one at a
time as they are completed.
Applications will be reviewed by the Admission Committee only when all complete documentation
is received. An admission decision is typically made 6-8 weeks after receipt of complete application packet.
Please Note:
The Admission Committee reserves the right to interview any applicant at their discretion. All application
materials must be received by Graduate Admissions by the deadline for the preferred Curriculum Plan.
View Campus Program Curriculum Plans here:
http://louisville.edu/kent/CURRENT%20STUDENTS/mssw-files/mssw/curriculum-plans-documents1/instructions-for-selecting-a-curriculum-plan.
View Online Program Curriculum Plans here:
http://louisville.edu/online/programs/masters/master-of-science-in-social-work/degree-map
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Kent School of Social Work
MSSW Application Checklist
MSSW Application Deadlines
January 30th Special Circumstances Deadline
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ALL applicants who want a practicum in fall 2015 that is not already on the Kent School’s
practicum agency roster. This is especially common for applicants outside Kentucky.
Review practicum agency rosters here: http://louisville.edu/kent/CURRENT%20STUDENTS/
mssw-practicum/agency-rosters/mssw-practicum-agency-rosters.
30-Hour Advanced Standing applicants who also want to select a Specialization
74-Hour MSSW - Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Specialization applicants
Note: The MFT specialization is not available to online students.
February 28th Early Bird Deadline
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30-hour Advanced Standing applicants with intended Summer start
May 30 Traditional Deadline
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For 30-hour Advanced Standing applicants without Specializations
For 60-hour Standard applicants who do not need to select a practicum in fall 2015
For ALL applicants who want a practicum in fall 2015 that is listed on Kent School’s practicum
agency roster
Exceptions to Deadlines
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Applications submitted after January 30th for 30-hour Advanced Standing Specializations
and 74-hour MSSW-MFT will be considered only if space in a specialization allows AND if an
appropriate practicum site is readily available.
Applications submitted after May 30th will be considered on a case-by-case basis if space
allows and only if the applicant is willing to choose a curriculum plan that delays practicum until
the following year (Plans C-F for 60-hour, and plans EE/FF for 30-hour; 30-hour students must
also be working at a social service agency in order to execute the year-long research project).
**A note to MSSW Online Applicants:
Due to the limited space available and the competitiveness of the 100% online programs,
it is advisable to complete applications in a timely manner before the applicable deadline.
Online programs may fill prior to the May 30th deadline.
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