FAQ

The non-refundable application fee is $65. 

Fee waivers are available for members or alumni of the following:

Americorps (Vista, Teach for America, Public Allies, etc.)
Peace Corps
TRIO (McNair and SSS only)

Fulbright Scholars
Active Military/Veterans

To officially request a fee waiver, proper documentation must be emailed to your Admissions Counselor at least 7 days prior to the application deadline. Invitation letters will NOT be accepted as proper documentation.

Please apply before deadlines for best consideration

There are two components of the application:

1. Application Submission: Students must submit an application with the non-refundable $65 application fee
2. Completion of All Supplemental Items: All required items must be received no later than the deadline

Accepted Advanced Standing students who received their Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) degree within the last 5 years can be awarded up to 24 credits. Advanced Standing students are required to take 36 credits based on their selected Concentration and Specialization.

Advanced Standing credit is given only for courses in which the applicants earned a "B" or higher grade. Credit will NOT be awarded if a grade of "C" is received in ANY social work course and therefore, will need to be repeated in our MSW program. 

Please note: Applicants who receive a "C" grade in their practice class (also called Methods or Interventions) or their field practicum are NOT eligible for Advanced Standing.

The Social Work Chair Recommendation form: This form is to be completed by the (BSW) Social Work Chairperson.

Social Work Field Supervisor This form is to be completed by the undergraduate field supervisor, who supervises at the field placement.

Limit each answer to three hundred (300) words.

Yes. The Masters of Social Work Program at the University of Maryland is accredited through CSWE.

A baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university.

A minimum of 60 credit hours in the liberal arts.

A preferred minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 credits. Applicants must submit a GRE or MAT score if their overall GPA is 2.5 or below; GRE or MAT scores are strongly encouraged for applicants with GPA between 2.51 and 2.99.

Eligibility for the Fall is based on a May 31st degree conferral. If you need to take a summer class, you are ineligible for Fall.  In the same vein, if you are graduating in December, you will be ineligible to begin in the Spring and must wait until the Fall. 

Academic credit for life experience and previous work experience is not given in whole or in part in lieu of the field practicum or of courses in the foundation curriculum.

• Applicants with promising academic performance.
• Applicants with professional and volunteer experience related to the field of social work.
• Career changers with solid rationale and clear plans to practice social work.
• Well-crafted personal statements and resume.
• Applicants with a commitment to social justice.
• Applicants who contribute to the diversity of the student body, particularly in gender, ethnicity, and geography.

All applicants are considered based on a holistic analysis of their application. 

Applicants must provide two current references, usually including professors, employers, supervisors, and/or professional colleagues. They will be asked to comment on your academic aptitude, ability to work with others, capacity for self-development, and dependability.

Do not ask pastors, friends, relatives, friends of family or other personal relationship sources for references. In addition, do not use clients or other individuals to whom you provide services, or therapists or other individuals from whom you receive services.

Yes, Foundation and Advanced Standing students can enter either the Baltimore or USG campuses in the Spring. Students entering in the Spring must do so on a part time basis--enroll in ONLY 2 courses (6 credits) and then be prepared to enter Field Practicum the following Fall (both Foundation and Advanced Standing students).

To be eligible for Spring, applicants must already have their undergraduate degree, therefore December graduates are only eligible for Fall admission.

We do not offer a Spring start for the Online program at this time. 

Students enrolled in a non-MSW graduate program can transfer up to 6 credits that will be considered elective credits. Transcript review occurs after students have been accepted into the program and are conducted by the Registrar upon request.

Students who are enrolled in an accredited MSW program can transfer up to 30 credits, but must complete the remaining 30 credits at the UMB MSW program.

Applicants with a GPA of 2.5 or below on the last 60 credits of their undergraduate degree, must submit their GRE or MAT scores. If GPA is between 2.51 and 2.99, it is strongly recommended that applicants submit GRE or MAT scores. These scores are not used to lower your overall score.

GRE Score: Minimum of 146; MAT Score: 30/386

Both the GRE and MAT scores are valid for five (5) years. For example, scores for a test taken on July 3, 2022, are reportable through July 2, 2027.

Yes.  Students can defer only once, for up to one year.  The confirmation deposit must be paid first before requesting a deferral. After the confirmation deposit has been paid, students must email the Dean of Admissions and indicate:

1. the reason for the request,
2. enrollment status (full-time or part-time), and
3. the term to which you wish to defer (spring/fall and year).

The confirmation deposit reserves the students' space in our MSW program.

Although not guaranteed, students may request a change in enrollment status prior to the start of the academic year. All requests must be submitted to the Dean of Admissions for approval.

Part-time Foundation students take 6 credits upon entering the MSW program and will finish the program in either 3 or 4 years.

Full-time Foundation students typically take 15 credits each semester to complete the program in two years.

Part-time Advanced Standing students will finish the program in two years and a Full-Time Advanced Standing student will finish the program in 1.5 years.

For details about course load, please refer to our Sample Plans of Study

*Starting in Fall 2023, our tuition for Maryland residents will be  per credit, therefore a student will pay the same amount whether they choose the part-time (3 or 4 year) or the full-time (2-year) program.

Please contact our Admissions Recruiter, Camille Johnson (camille.johnson@ssw.umaryland.edu) to set up a connection with a current student.

During the application cycle, if an applicant is offered admission to the Baltimore or USG location, but wishes to switch locations, an email must be sent to the Dean of Admissions formally requesting to change locations. Not all requests can be granted. Students cannot switch to the Online program from either the Baltimore or USG campus, but Online students are allowed to switch to a traditional campus.  

International students whose first language is not English and who have been in the United States less than five years are required to submit a TOEFL (minimum score of 94) or IELTS (minimum score is 7) score.

At the discretion of the Dean of Admissions, a waiver may be awarded.

Before classes begin, Foundation students may be eligible to take an exemption exam for one or more of the following courses:

SOWK 600- Social Welfare and Social Policy
SOWK 670- Social Work Research
SOWK 645- Human Behavior in the Social Environment

Note: If a student receives credit for an exemption exam, an advanced class is selected to replace the credits necessary to complete the 60 credit program.  For more information, visit this website. 

Currently, students in the Online program are not eligible for exemption exams.

Yes. Applicants who earned their bachelor’s degree from an international college or university must have their transcript evaluated and sent to the Office of Admissions. 

Applicants who earned a BSW degree from an international college or university must have their transcript evaluated by the International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES) in order to be considered for admission into our Advanced Standing program.

We accept evaluations from the following companies:

World Education Services
info@wes.org

The Knowledge Company
www.knowledgecompany.com

Educational Credential Evaluators
faxeval@ece.org
www.ece.org

We would be happy to show you around our school and campus!  Please contact our Admissions Recruiter, Camille Johnson (camille.johnson@ssw.umaryland.edu), to set up a visit to either Baltimore or USG.  We also have several chat and information sessions scheduled throughout the year for which you can register at: Chat Session.  If none of these dates fit into your schedule, you can contact an Admissions Counselor.

• Applicants with last names starting with A-K: Ms. Natalie Flowers (nflowers@ssw.umaryland.edu)
• Applicants with last names starting with L-Z: Ms. Shannon DeGross (sdegross@ssw.umaryland.edu)

We are seeking applicants that possess:

• Related volunteer or work experience
• Clear goals after you complete the MSW program
• Powerful experiences that led you to social work as a career path
• Values aligned with the Code of Ethics
• Strong skills and interactions with clients and/or disenfranchised populations
• References that reinforce your fit and abilities with social work

Applicants should use the personal statement questions, resume, and references to create a compelling application that address these areas.

If the grades from other schools you attended are listed on your transcript, Yes.

If the grades from other schools you attended are NOT listed on your transcript, Yes.

*All required transcripts must be received by the application deadline for your application to be complete.

Please submit all transcripts to:

University of Maryland School of Social Work

Office of Admissions

525 W. Redwood Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

Admissions decisions can vary based on the complete submission of the application. 

Yes, a non-refundable deposit of $300 is required.  The deposit is submitted to hold the applicant’s space in the program, and will be applied to the student’s first semester tuition bill.

The Registration Office grants approval for Special Students. Please contact an Admissions Counselor upon approval.

Yes! We now offer an online program starting in Fall 2023.  This online, part-time (3-year) program is currently only for Foundation students, therefore Advanced Standing students will still need to apply to our traditional hybrid program at either the Baltimore or USG campus.  Please see below for more FAQs about our Online MSW program.  

We do offer  certain courses  online in our traditional hybrid program.  Please view our course schedule to get a better idea of how many classes can be taken online (asynchronously or synchronously), in a hybrid format, or in-person.

The MSW program can be done part-time, but must be completed within 4 years for Foundation and 2 years for Advanced Standing students.  Please see Sample Plans of Study.

It is difficult for a student to work full time and complete this program. Students are required to be in a foundation field placement for 16 hours a week and 24 hours a week during their advanced field placement. At the same time, students must take between 1 and 4 additional classes (3-12 credit hours) per week.

This program is very rigorous and requires students to dedicate at least 3 hours a week of outside classwork (course readings, writing assignments, group work, etc.) for each course. All students have different circumstances, but it is not recommended to work full time while in this program.

Yes.  Students whose concentration is Clinical may apply to join the cohort to complete the program at The Universities at Shady Grove.  Please see below for more FAQs about the Shady Grove campus.

Our courses meet once a week. Please view our Course Schedules to get a better idea of when classes are offered at the Baltimore and Shady Grove campuses.   

Foundation students submit a field application in which they include their resume and essays detailing their experience and expectations, but the Field Office is responsible for assigning the placement.  Students entering their Advanced year, submit a field application and choose the top three placements they would like, and the Field Office works diligently to place the student in one of their top choices.

All full-time students begin a field practicum during the Fall semester. If students enter the program as part-time in Spring, they automatically transition to full-time in the following Fall. Students who begin as part-time in Fall begin field in the following Fall semester.

Baltimore Foundation field placement days are determined by the student’s last name:

• A-L: Monday/Wednesday
• M-Z: Tuesday/Thursday

USG Students are in Field on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Advanced students at both the Baltimore and USG campuses complete their hours Tuesday through Thursday during traditional working hours.

Please keep in mind that students are responsible for scheduling their classes around their field placement hours.

Students are allowed to complete their field placement at their place of employment if a list of criteria are met.  Students must receive permission from and work with the School's Field Education Office.

Click here for information on tuition costs and here to view the total cost of attendance breakdown for the academic year.

Please keep in mind that the cost of tuition does NOT include the cost of living, health insurance, student fees, etc. 

All students are encouraged to apply for Scholarships & Fellowships. A list of scholarships available for foundation and continuing students can be viewed on our scholarships and fellowships webpage. 

The university also offers Federal Stafford loans as well as GRADplus loans to help cover the cost of attendance.  Please keep in mind that the Financial Aid Office is responsible for disseminating any information regarding loans and Federal Work Study, and should be contacted directly with any questions or concerns. 

Note: Applicants who would like to be considered for school-based scholarships are strongly encouraged to complete their applications by the priority deadline date (January 15th).

Upon submitting your application to the program, you should also submit the Federal Application for Student Aid online and list the University of Maryland Baltimore (School Code: 002104). The Financial Aid Office will review your FAFSA and send you an email with your aid package.  Students have a certain amount of time during which to accept any amount of aid and should contact the financial aid office with any questions or concerns.

How much money will I get? What do the loans cover?

Financial aid packages vary from student to student, but generally are designed to cover the total cost of attendance, which includes the cost of living, health insurance, travel, books etc.

We offer on campus housing for students and information regarding options and cost can be found on the housing website: http://www.umaryland.edu/housing. The housing website includes information about on campus housing, as well as off campus apartments available near the university and students looking for roommates.

The cost of living for students in Baltimore varies between each individual and depends on the needs and expectations of each student.

The student housing website has a section of postings where students looking for roommates can list an available room for rent, and people looking for a place to live can also post something.  Feel free to check the student lounge for flyers about roommates.

The campus has a broad range of services and amenities to provide a successful and robust campus experience. 

Each year, a cohort of approximately 65 students enters the USG program. The total number of students taking courses at USG is approximately 180. Classes are between 22 and 28 students.

No. Only students who intend to pursue the Clinical concentration may apply for admission to the MSW program at the USG campus. Students interested in the Macro concentration  will need to apply for the Baltimore campus.

The Universities at Shady Grove (USG), Maryland’s largest regional center, is an innovative partnership of nine University System of Maryland (USM) universities on one campus in Montgomery County. USG currently serves more than 4,000 students (2,600+ undergraduates and 1,400+ graduates). Students attending the University of Maryland School of Social Work at the USG campus have the opportunity to interact with students in different programs. Small classes, a friendly and collaborative atmosphere, state of the art technology and facilities and a strong record of success are hallmarks of the USG community.  USG offers on-campus services such as academic coaching, career advising, internship preparation, personal counseling, and leadership training. 

You may want to check out the USG web site for more information. 

The admissions criteria and deadlines are the same for students applying to take classes at the USG and Baltimore campuses. The University of Maryland School of Social Work MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Information about application deadlines and program requirements can be accessed on our admissions home page.

A limited number of part-time MSW students will be admitted to the USG campus.

A limited number of foundation and advanced standing students will be admitted to the USG campus in the spring semester.

Students who are admitted to the program at USG are expected to take all their classes at USG. However, students may seek approval to take an elective class (not offered at USG) at the Baltimore campus.

Yes, advanced standing students will be admitted to the USG campus in the fall and spring semesters.

The curricula are the same at both locations. Our outstanding faculty teaches courses on both campuses. Diverse field placement opportunities are conveniently available in the DC Metropolitan area, including Montgomery, Prince George’s and all central Maryland counties.

The faculty and staff are available to students via appointments, email and phone communication. Dr. Joan Pittman, Program Director; Ms. Jessica Rider-Amin, Assistant Program Director; and Ms. Caron Cox-Branch, Field Coordinator have office hours at the USG campus.    

Students are able to join any of the social fraternities or professional organizations that are available on the Baltimore campus.  In some instances, however, this will require the student to travel to Baltimore for activities. Many organizations hold meetings via teleconference between campuses, or broadcast to the USG campus using technology.

Besides the School of Social Work administrators and faculty members who work at the USG campus, the USG campus provides services in areas such as academic support, tutoring, and student activities. (USG Student Services)

There is no on-campus housing at the Shady Grove campus. Housing options include apartment or housing rentals in the surrounding area.

The Universities at Shady Grove (USG), Maryland’s largest regional center, is an innovative partnership of nine University System of Maryland (USM) universities on one campus in Montgomery County. USG currently serves more than 4,000 students (2,600+ undergraduates and 1,400+ graduates). Students attending the University of Maryland School of Social Work at the USG campus have the opportunity to interact with students in different programs. Small classes, a friendly and collaborative atmosphere, state of the art technology and facilities and a strong record of success are hallmarks of the USG community.  USG offers on-campus services such as academic coaching, career advising, internship preparation, personal counseling, and leadership training. 

You may want to check out the USG website for more information. 

The Online MSW program is a 3-year Foundation program for students interested in the Clinical concentration (working with clients directly). 

Coursework for the entire 3 years has been set and will be offered in a mostly synchronous format, meeting once a week virtually either on Tuesday or Thursday evenings.  Similar to the hybrid part-time program, students will complete two in-person practicums at social work related agencies in their second and third years of the program. 

Fall 2023 will be our first cohort and therefore we have no admissions or historical data at this time.  

The admissions criteria is the same for students applying to take classes at the USG and Baltimore campuses, however, there is a separate application specifically for the online program that includes an additional personal statement.   

Information about application deadlines and program requirements can be accessed on our Admissions home page.

At this time, we are not offering the online program in a full-time, 2-year format.

At this time, we are not offering a Spring start for the online program.

No. Students who are admitted to the program can only take the specified coursework developed for the Online program. See the Sample Plans of Study. 

At this time, we are not accepting Advanced Standing students to the online program. 

Our coursework is provided in both asynchronous and synchronous virtual formats.  Our synchronous courses will meet weekly either on Tuesday or Thursday evenings.  Our asynchronous courses have no mandatory face-to-face component, but will have weekly readings and assignments. 

Fall and Spring semesters are 15 weeks long, and the Summer semester is 8 weeks long.

Our outstanding faculty teaches courses for the online and hybrid programs.

The online program is designed as a cohort model, which allows the development of a shared learning experience within a community.  Additionally, many of our on-campus student organizations hold meetings virtually, allowing our online students to connect with not just the online program students, but those across programs and even schools.   

Many of the services offered by the University of Maryland Baltimore have virtual options, including, but not limited to, the Counseling Center, the HSHSL Library, the Educational Support and Disability Service Office, the Writing Center and the Wellness Center.