Eligibility Requirements for Admission

1. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 with a 2.5 GPA for all social work courses;
2. Complete SW 2313 Intro to Social Work (including 20 hrs of experiential learning) with a minimum grade of "B”. Courses in progress the semester of application are accepted; though, final grades below the minimum expectation will require reapplication;
3. In addition to the SW 2313 Intro to Social Work, complete two social work courses (one elective and one core or two core) with a minimum grade of “C”. Courses in progress the semester of application are accepted; though, final grades below the minimum expectation will require reapplication;
4. Complete an “Application for Admission” including: online application, personal narrative essay, case study (completed in SW2313), and three references on the designated program form;
5. Participate in a personal interview with the Social Work Admissions Committee if indicated by the application rubric’s benchmark score(s). Students not admitted to the Social Work Program for the application semester may reapply.

The following liberal arts courses must be completed before petitioning for admission:

• EN 1103 (3 hours)       English Composition I or EN 1104 Expanded English Composition
• EN 1113 (3 hours)        English Composition II or EN 1173 Accelerated Composition II
• PS 1113 (3 hours)        American Government
• PSY 1013 (3 hours)     General Psychology
• SO 1003 (3 hours)      Introduction to Sociology

Before enrolling in any social work classes, it is the responsibility of the student to consult with their social work advisor regarding any prerequisites for social work classes.

Requirements to Remain in the Social Work Program

1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0, with a 2.5 GPA for all social work courses.
2. Must earn a minimum of a “C” in each social work course.
3. Continue to demonstrate an aptitude for a social work career.
4. Adhere to all academic expectations of the university and the social work program.
5. Adhere to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

For a general overview of the BSW curriculum, please access MSU’s course catalog. For specific course information/description, please access Social Work General Education and College Requirements & Major Core information in the course catalog. Students have the right to appeal decisions that affect their admission to, progression in, or continuation within the Social Work Program by following the grievance procedures detailed in the Grievance Procedures section.

Distance Education/Online Learning

The MSU Social Work Program follows a traditional in-person instructional model, with a limited number of social work courses available via distance education/online learning. While social work majors may enroll in these online courses, they are primarily designed to support students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies degree. Additionally, the courses are not typically offered via distance education/online learning within the same semester that they are offered in-person. As such, students should not rely on distance education courses as their primary pathway for completing the BSW degree. However, when offered, online courses may provide flexibility for students who have fallen out of sequence in the curriculum or who wish to complete a limited number of social work courses through distance education while remaining on track in the program.

At this time, the following courses are approved for offering via distance education/online learning:

• SW 3003: Populations at Risk
• SW 3013: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
• SW 3023: Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
• SW 3033: Seminar in Resilience
• SW 3043: Military Social Work
• SW 3213: Research Methods
• SW 4533: Substance Abuse and Addiction in Social Work Services
• SW 4613: Child Welfare Services
• SW 4643: Social Work Services in Schools
• SW 4653: Social Work with Family Violence

Minor in Social Work

The Social Work Program at Mississippi State University does not offer a minor in social work. However, select social work courses are available to students from other academic disciplines who are interested in learning more about social work, social welfare, and related social issues. These courses may complement a variety of majors and career interests by increasing understanding of individuals, families, communities, and social service systems.

Students should be aware that completion of social work courses alone does not constitute preparation for professional social work practice. Consistent with accreditation standards established by the Council on Social Work Education, a minor in social work is not recognized as preparation for entry-level professional social work practice. Professional social work practice requires completion of a Council on Social Work Education—accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program.

Social Work Official Admission Application Portfolio Requirements

Application portfolios for Social Work Official Admission are completed via an online process communicated by the BSW Program Director. All application materials are due by 11:59pm on either November 1^st (fall semester) or April 1^st (spring semester), regardless of the day of the week.

1. The application portfolio requires the inclusion of a personal narrative essay uploaded in PDF format. Please refer to the outline provided in the online application for specific details. 
2. Case Study (Completed in SW2313 for current students; students who completed SW2313 before this was an option should follow the instructions provided in their confirmation email)
3. Three references (one academic from a non-social work faculty member, one personal, and one work) are required. References are required to submit their responses via the designated program form. The program reference form will be generated through your application and sent directly to your reference.

• Examples of these include the following:

1. Academic—Instructors of non-social work classes
2. Personal—Community leaders, high school counselors, ministers, teachers, sorority/fraternity, or social club advisors 
3. Work—Either paid or volunteer experiences

• Applicants must not use any references who are (a) related to them or (b) instructors of MSU social work courses. 
• Applicants are encouraged to contact their references in advance to obtain consent and verify contact information. 
• References will receive the online reference form directly via email through the application; however, applicants are responsible for confirming receipt of the form with their references and ensuring all forms are submitted by the stated deadlines. 
• Important Note: References will become part of the applicant’s admissions file. They will be used only for admission consideration and will not be disclosed to any unauthorized individual without the applicant’s consent. Applicants have the right to review references in their file unless they voluntarily waived their right of access. 

4. The Social Work Admissions Committee will also consider each applicant's observed engagement and/or performance during the completion of their coursework (i.e., attendance, classroom participation, assignment timeliness/quality, communication, self-awareness, and professionalism).  

Admission Decision Process

After the application period closes, the Social Work Admissions Committee will review all complete admission portfolios. The Social Work Admissions Committee is made up of full-time social work faculty and led by the BSW Program Director. Additionally, the committee may include alumni, field instructors, adjunct faculty members, and/or social work students. Based on the review of admission portfolio materials, as well as the applicants’ observed engagement and/or performance during coursework, applicants who meet or exceed the established evaluation criteria may have the personal interview with the Admissions Committee waived and be admitted to the Social Work Program. The BSW Program Director will notify applicants if a personal interview is required. After all required materials and interviews, as applicable, are complete, the BSW Program Director will communicate final admission decisions—admit or do not admit—via email. 

Social Work Field Practicum

Field education is recognized as the signature pedagogy of social work education and serves as the primary mechanism through which students integrate classroom knowledge, professional values, and practice skills within real-world settings. Mississippi State University, through its Council on Social Work Education—accredited Bachelor of Social Work Program, requires completion of a field practicum. The field practicum provides a structured, educationally directed learning experience that enables students to apply social work theories, competencies, and ethical principles in agency-based practice settings. For the social work field practicum, all social work majors designated within the Department of Sociology seeking to obtain the Bachelor of Social Work are required to complete a minimum of 450 field practicum hours including field activity through an agency setting and an embedded seminar course. The field practicum is the equivalent of 12 semester hours and is represented in the curriculum as SW4916 Social Work Field Practicum/Seminar I and SW4926 Social Work Field Practicum/Seminar II.

Field education agencies may require background checks, fingerprinting, drug screening, immunization documentation, or other agency-specific requirements as a condition of placement. Students are responsible for complying with all agency requirements and should be aware that failure to meet such requirements may affect their ability to complete field education requirements and progress in the Social Work Program.

Each student and Field Instructor will be provided access to the Field Practicum Manual prior to the beginning of the social work field practicum. The Field Practicum Manual is a detailed resource of policies and procedures concerning the field education experience outlining responsibilities of the student, Field Instructor, and the Field Coordinator.

Criteria for Determining Student Eligibility for Field Practicum

Completion of all coursework in the Social Work Program curriculum excluding SW4916 and SW4926.

Social Work Official Admit Designation, which includes the following criteria:

1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.O, with a 2.5 GPA for all social work courses.

2. Must earn a minimum of a "C" in each social work course.

3. Continue to demonstrate an aptitude for a social work career.

4. Adhere to all academic expectations of the university and the social work program.

5. Adhere to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

6. Completion and Submission of the MSU Social Work Program Field Practicum Application in accordance with guidance provided by the Field Coordinator.

Student Field Practicum Placement

Each student can provide individual input regarding agency placement for the field practicum experience. The Field Coordinator selects/approves the field education setting and directs the placement process. See the Field Practicum Manual for additional information.

IMPORTANT SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM DOCUMENTS & LINKS