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Admission Requirements

  1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. The undergraduate education must reflect a sound liberal arts foundation, including courses in the humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, and the physical sciences, including a course in human biology (or evidence of content in human biology from another course) and research methods or statistics.

  2. An undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale and 2.75 or better for major field. Transcripts must be sent from the institutions directly to the Graduate Admissions office, UM-St. Louis, 217 Millennium Center, One University Boulevard, St. Louis MO 63121-4400.

  3. Three references from persons who can address the applicant's ability and potential for graduate education and professional social work practice. If you have graduated in the past five (5) years, at least two (2) of your references must be from professors in your major field of study who taught you and the third from an employer or work supervisor who is unrelated to you. If you graduated more than five (5) years ago, please include at least two (2) references from an employer or work supervisor who are unrelated to you. References from family or friends will not be accepted. Click here to download a Recommendation form in MS Word.

  4. Three short essays which address (1) your career goals; (2) life experiences which have contributed to your commitment to the profession of social work; and (3) your reflections on oppression and discrimination of persons in our society. Instructions for writing these essays are contained in this packet.

  5. Completion of the Graduate School application. Click here to access the online Graduate School application form.

  6. Completion of the MSW application form. It is included in the complete MSW application packet.

  7. A non refundable application fee of $35: personal check, bank check, or money order.

The first application deadline is February 15 for all students (full or part‑time) seeking admission for the Fall semester.  A second deadline, April 15, will be used if the class is not filled after the first deadline.  All materials, including transcripts and recommendations, must be received in the Graduate Admissions office at UM‑ St. Louis by this deadline.