Applicants for admission to the MSW program must apply to the Illinois State University Graduate School. A student applying to a master's program must:
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
The School of Social Work is committed to a holistic admissions process. This includes considering each application for the many ways the applicant may contribute to a diverse educational environment, in support of the University’s and School’s missions. Each application will be evaluated on a combination of experiences, personal and professional attributes, and academic metrics that are applied equitably to each applicant. No single criteria will be used to determine the admission status of an applicant. Experiences may include, but are not limited to, academic, employment, practicum/internship, volunteer, ministry, military, and lived experiences. Personal and professional attributes may include, but are not limited to, resilience, insight, leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, taking initiative, proactiveness, self-reflection, and resourcefulness. Academic metrics may include, but are not limited to, transcripts, GPA, writing skills, and research experience.
Applications will open on September 1st and will close on March 1st. Only in extraordinary circumstances will the deadline be extended. Those circumstances will be determined by the MSW admissions committee and may include the need to expand the applicant pool or to accommodate growth of a program. With all possible intent, all applications will be reviewed, recommendations will be made, and decisions will be sent out via the Slate admission system by May 1st. Notifications of decisions are sent electronically though the application system to the email address the applicant used to create their application profile.
Applicants for admission to the MSW program must apply to the Illinois State University Graduate School. Students submit their application and all required application materials electronically. A student applying to this program should have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or any previous work in a master's program. Each applicant will be required to submit the same application materials, including transcripts from each institution previously attended, two academic or professional letters of recommendation, resume, written statement of interest, and video submission.
A student is eligible for Advanced Standing admission if you have completed a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program within 8 years. Students receiving degrees from international social work programs do not qualify for Advanced Standing admissions. Applicants are asked to specify on your application if you meet the qualifications for Advanced Standing and this is verified through reviewing transcripts and the CSWE accreditation status of the undergraduate program. Advanced Standing applicants must meet all other university and program admission requirements.
Illinois State University School of Social Work completes criminal background checks for all MSW candidates and reserves the right to deny admission based on application materials, previous academic record, and records of past conduct, including but not limited to the results of a criminal background check or registration of a sex offense.
All qualified candidates for the School of Social Work will be subject to a criminal background check prior to an offer of admission. The school may refuse or revoke admission for the following: misrepresentation of self, criminal behavior, results of the national background check, and/or behavior that interferes with performing professional duties.
If admitted to the MSW program, any applicant or student with a criminal background may not be eligible for some field practicum placements. In addition, the applicant or student may not be eligible for licensure after completing the requirements for the MSW degree. Many agencies require criminal background checks as a condition for accepting a practicum placement in their program. It is the student's responsibility to inquire with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or other professional licensure boards to determine their licensure eligibility.
Once admitted to the MSW program, you must report any new information or criminal convictions and adhere to the professional standards of the University and the School of Social Work. You must meet the criteria for professional and ethical behavior as set forth by the School of Social Work.
Applicants must submit:
Please note: your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed if any of the required application materials are not received, including recommendation letters. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all required materials are received by the application due date to ensure application consideration.
Two letters of Recommendation should be submitted by individuals who are familiar with the academic or professional potential and achievement of the applicant. If the applicant is applying for Advanced Standing and has completed their practicum within the previous 2 years, one of the recommendation letters should be from the agency field instructor. Recommendation letters should address the following:
The written statement should be no more than 7 pages, following the current edition of APA formatting, using headings for each question. The written statement should address each of the following six items:
The video submission should be no more than 5 minutes in length. The video response should address each of the following three items:
International students must have a TOEFL score of at least 79 iBT or equivalent; the minimum acceptable IELTS score is 6.5 band.
Entry into the social work program and profession is also based on legal requirements. The Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics outline the laws around getting your license and practicing in the field.
Term | Application Deadline |
---|---|
Fall (August) | March 1 |
Spring (January) | No admission |
Summer (May/June) | No admission |
Name | Office | Phone | |
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Amy Dennison | Rachel Cooper 315 | asdenni@ilstu.edu | (309) 438-5005 |