The 2024 Admissions Information and Guide is a comprehensive view of our admissions process. Find information about the following:
The non-refundable application fee is $65.
Fee waivers are available for members or alumni of the following:
Find more information here: https://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/admissions/apply/application-process--instructions/?&
Yes. The Masters of Social Work Program at the University of Maryland is accredited through CSWE.
All applicants are considered based on a holistic analysis of their application.
We are seeking applicants that possess:
Applicants should use the personal statement questions, resume, and references to create a compelling application that address these areas.
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.
While there is no strict requirement, applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 2.99 or lower are encouraged to utilize the optional statement section to elaborate on how their past or current educational experiences have contributed to the development of strategies that will enable them to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA 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.
For our 60 credit program:
For our 36-credit Advanced Standing program:
For some examples of how our students move through the program, please refer to our Sample Plans of Study
Since tuition is per credit, a student will pay the same amount regardless of their enrollment status
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.
Additionally, if international students earned any degrees abroad, they will need to have their transcript evaluated. See more details in our Admissions Guide: https://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/media/ssw/admissions/new-site/2024-Admissions-Information-and-Guide.pdf
We would be happy to show you around! Please contact our Admissions Recruiter, Camille Johnson (camille.johnson@ssw.umaryland.edu), to set up a visit to either campus.
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
| Program | Term | Application Deadline | Decision By |
| 60-credit Hybrid | Spring (part-time only) | Nov 1 | Dec 1 |
| Fall (full & part-time) |
Priority – Jan 15 Final – Mar 15 |
Priority – Mar 1 Final – May 1 |
|
| 36-credit Hybrid Advanced Standing | Spring (part-time only) | Nov 1 | Dec 1 |
| Fall (full & part-time) |
Feb. 1 |
March 1 |
|
| 60-credit Online | Fall (part-time only) |
Priority – Jan 15 Final – Mar 15 |
Priority – Mar 1 Final – May 1 |
Yes, after you are admitted, a non-refundable deposit of $300 is required. This deposit is submitted to reserve your space in the program and will be applied to your first semester's tuition bill.
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:
The confirmation deposit reserves the students' space in our MSW program.
The Registration Office grants approval for Special Students. Please contact an Admissions Counselor upon approval.
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.
The MSW curriculum is rigorous. Approximately three hours of preparation time is required for each hour spent in class. This time is used for library research, assigned readings, group meetings, writing papers, studying for exams, and completing other assignments. In addition, MSW students are required to work in their field practicum 2 days each week in the foundation year and 2-3 days each week in the advanced year.
Attending the MSW program is demanding and requires significant time commitment. Students are expected to consider how they will manage competing demands in order to prioritize their academic commitments, including field placement. This will require flexibility and compromise. While possible, students have found working full-time while in the program to be onerous.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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 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.
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.
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 Online MSW program is a 3-year Foundation program for students interested in the Clinical concentration (working with clients directly). At this time we are only accepting applicants with a Maryland address for the Fall 2024 cohort.
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.
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 teach courses for both the online and hybrid programs.
An important component of our Online program is its structured nature with specific coursework, ensuring you progress with your cohort from start to finish. This intentional design fosters a supportive learning community, allowing you to build lasting connections with your peers as you navigate this transformative journey in clinical social work.
Additionally, many of our on-campus student organizations hold meetings virtually, allowing you to connect with not just your fellow online program students, but also 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.
