School of Social Work Admissions Policies

Policy Statement: The MSW Program encourages applications from individuals with a strong potential to become competent professional social workers. Applicants are evaluated on their potential in several areas:

• Academic background
• Identification with social work and career goals
• Experiences in human services
• Experiences working with different populations
• Dedication to service, evidence of creative and critical inquiry, the ability to work with diverse groups, and other personal qualities suited to the social work profession

Successful candidates have the following:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited University.
• While there is not a minimum GPA requirement, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher during the last two years of earning a bachelor’s degree or an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is highly recommended. Students admitted with a GPA under 3.0 are admitted provisionally by the Graduate College. Definitions of provisional admission can be found in the Graduate College catalog.
• Social service practice experience (paid or volunteer).
• A personal essay that addresses the questions posed in the application, written in a clear, well-organized manner with no or few grammatical errors. The essay should be the original work of the applicant. The use of any form of generative AI in the application materials is prohibited. If reviewers suspect the use of AI in an application, the concern will be brought to the admission committee and a vote on whether or not to advance the application will be taken.
• Recommendation letters that indicate an understanding of the profession and a strong potential to succeed in a graduate program.
• A background check and response to criminal history that meets College of Health Sciences criminal background policy (Policy 313) and allows for practicum placement. Applicants with a criminal record may receive consultation and urging to explore their prospects for social work licensure with their state licensure body. Applicants who still have questions are encouraged to reach out to the program coordinator or designee.
• A willingness to understand and abide by the NASW Code of Ethics.

While prior personal and work experiences are valuable to learning, academic credit for life experiences and previous work experience is not given, in whole or in part.

All admission decisions are made by the Admissions Committee. This committee consists of a minimum of 4 faculty members. Additional committee members may include community-based MSW professionals.

All completed applications are reviewed by this committee and admissions decisions are made based on the School’s criteria for admission into the MSW program.

All applicants must be admitted to both the Graduate College and to the MSW program. These are two separate application processes. Acceptance by the Graduate College does not constitute admission into the MSW program; this decision is made by the Admissions Committee.

All applications must be completed (including both the Graduate College and the School of Social Work forms) and submitted to the Admissions Committee prior to or on the admissions deadline.

Any falsification in the application for admission is grounds for dismissal from the program. Any use of non-original work (ie AI generated personal statements) is also grounds for dismissal.

Applicants who are not admitted may reapply without prejudice.

Applicants may be required to participate in an interview as part of the admission process.

International students holding or seeking F-1 visas can be considered for admission to the MSW on-campus full-time program only, due to visa restrictions. International students who are in the U.S. on other visa types may be eligible to enroll in the MSW on-campus program provided they can complete the program while meeting the regulations of their particular visa type. All social work practicum requirements must be fulfilled in the U.S.

Procedures for admissions (and application due dates) can be found on the School of Social Work website.A

Applicants who have graduated with a BSW degree from an accredited program within the last 5 years are eligible to apply for the Advanced Standing MSW programs, as are applicants who have graduated within the last 10 years but also have significant post-BSW social work practice experience. Applicants who do not meet these criteria are encouraged to apply for the full MSW programs.p

Purpose: To establish policy aligned with the College of Health Science Student Background Check Policy (313.0) and to prioritize the safety and well-being of future clients, students, faculty, and the profession. This document establishes policy and procedure for the requirement of student background checks, to inform students of background checks required for admission into and progression through degree programs in the School of Social Work.

Scope: While a criminal history does not necessarily preclude admission to the BSW or MSW degree program, past legal issues may limit or prevent placement into practicum. Practicum is required for completion of the BSW and MSW degree programs. In addition, some backgrounds may render a graduate ineligible to receive a social work license and/or unable to obtain employment in the field.

All students and/or prospective students should address questions about licensing eligibility and requirements to their state’s licensing boards. Contacts for the licensing board as well as the licensing laws and regulations for every state can be accessed through the Association of Social Work Boards (https://www.aswb.org/).

Students should address questions about licensing eligibility to twitch their state’s licensing board.

Responsible Party: The Divisional Dean of the School of Social Work or designee.

Policy Statement
Admission

1. Applicants for admission into the BSW or MSW program must disclose any conviction, pending charges or indictments for crimes. The individual must also disclose any notice by a state or local agency of substantiated child or vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment. The disclosure must include a description of the crime or substantiated maltreatment and any relevant circumstances. Any applicant with a criminal history is strongly encouraged to describe how they have addressed any underlying issues or needs so they can be optimally prepared for their social work education and future practice. All information that is disclosed by the applicant will be part of the application and available for review by committee members.
2. All applicants being considered for admission into the BSW or MSW programs must complete a background check before a final recommendation of admission can be made.
3. Background checks used for admission, under this policy, must have been conducted no more than twelve (12) months prior to the deadline for admissions materials.
4. Applicants are required to report within two business days all arrests for any misdemeanors or felonies to the Program Coordinator regardless of type. Failure to provide notification of arrest is grounds for removal from the application process.
5. All information obtained from the third-party background check entity will be kept confidential within the School of Social Work. Reports from the background check entity will not be stored with student records. Access to those reports will be limited to the leadership and administration within the School of Social Work. In situations where the admissions committee needs additional information in order to make an admissions recommendation, background check information will be shared with the admissions committee. In situations where background check information may impact a field practicum, background check information will be shared with the Director or Assistant Director of Field Education and/or designee.
6. In addition to COHS Policy 313, the School of Social Work takes into account:

a. Severity or nature of the criminal behaviors.
b. Number and pattern of criminal behaviors.
c. Circumstances surrounding the criminal behaviors.
d. Relationship of criminal behaviors to the care of children or vulnerable adults.
e. Activities since the criminal behaviors that may be evidence of rehabilitation.
f. Individual’s age and development at the time of the criminal behavior.
g. Time elapsed since the criminal behaviors.

Procedure
Students must have a background check performed prior to admission.
Steps:

1. Applicants will be directed to a third-party vendor to complete their background check.
2. The applicant will be required to share personal information such as full name, date of birth, social security number, current address, phone number, and email address. Additional information may be requested.
3. The applicant will pay the required fee. A limited amount of funds from the School of Social Work are available to students experiencing financial hardship and who are unable to pay the background check processing fee. Applicants should contact the Divisional Dean of Social Work to request financial assistance to complete a background check.
4. Results will be made available to the applicant and leadership and administration in the School of Social Work. In situations where the admissions committee needs additional information in order to make an admissions recommendation, background check information will be shared with the admissions committee. In situations where background check information may impact a field practicum, background check information will be shared with the Director or Assistant Director of Field Education and/or designee.pr

Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work must first apply and be accepted for admission to candidacy for the degree. The School invites interest and applications from all persons who seek to participate in a profession committed to helping people. Admission to candidacy for the degree is determined by faculty evaluation of student applications on the basis of the following criteria. Specific requirements for the application process and requirements for admission can be found on the Admissions page of the Bachelor of Social Work Program website.

The following are requirements for candidates and/or their application submission.:

• The prerequisites to the professional curriculum (listed below) include the completion of 24 credits (although 60-75 are recommended) of prescribed course work or its equivalent with a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 system, or a grade point average of 2.8 or better on a 4.0 system earned during the two most recent semesters of full-time enrollment. Students may be in progress on the following prerequisite courses the semester they are applying for the program, as long as they are successfully completed before starting the program. Students must earn a C- or higher in the following prerequisites.
• Prerequisite courses include the following or their equivalent:

While it is not required, it is recommended that applicants complete the additional University Foundations courses required by the university prior to beginning the BSW program. These courses include: UF 100, UF 200, Foundations of Visual & Performing Arts, Foundations of Literature & Humanities, and two Foundations of Natural, Physical, and Applied Sciences courses (BIOL 107 or 227 recommended). ECON 201 or 202 is also recommended.

• The applicant must demonstrate a potential for success in social work education and practice by earning no less than a B in SOCWRK 101 and SOCWRK 201.
• Two essays that address the questions posed in the application, written in a clear, well-organized manner with no or few grammatical errors. The essay should be the original work of the applicant. The use of any form of generative AI in application materials is prohibited. If reviewers suspect that an applicant used AI in their application, the concern will be brought to the admission committee and a vote on whether or not to advance the application will occur.
• A resume that reports their history of work as an employee and volunteer with special attention to any social service experience (paid or unpaid/ volunteer).
• Two to three letters of recommendation that evaluate and document the applicant’s potential for success in social work education and practice.
• A background check and response to criminal history that meets College of Health Sciences criminal background policy (Policy 313) and allows for practicum placement. A narrative explaining criminal history is required for applicants with a criminal history, and the applicant is strongly encouraged to describe how they have addressed any underlying issues or needs so they can be optimally prepared for their social work education and future practice. Applicants with a criminal record will be urged to explore their prospects for social work licensure within the state they may plan to pursue future licensure in and can include any documentation from this process in their application packet. Applicants who still have questions are encouraged to reach out to the program coordinator or designee.
• A willingness to understand and abide by the NASW Code of Ethics.

Any falsification in the application for admission, including the use of generative AI for application materials, is grounds for dismissal from the program.

Additionally, applicants who are not admitted to candidacy for the degree may reapply without prejudice.ove

Purpose: To establish policy aligned with the College of Health Science Student Background Check Policy (313.0) and to prioritize the safety and well-being of future clients, students, faculty, and the profession. This document establishes policy and procedure for the requirement of student background checks, to inform students of background checks required for admission into and progression through degree programs in the School of Social Work.

Scope: While a criminal history does not necessarily preclude admission to the BSW or MSW degree program, past legal issues may limit or prevent placement into practicum. Practicum is required for completion of the BSW and MSW degree programs. In addition, some backgrounds may render a graduate ineligible to receive a social work license and/or unable to obtain employment in the field.

All students and/or prospective students should address questions about licensing eligibility and requirements to their state’s licensing boards. Contacts for the licensing board as well as the licensing laws and regulations for every state can be accessed through the Association of Social Work Boards (https://www.aswb.org/).

Students who are planning on working in Idaho should address questions about licensing eligibility to the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.

Responsible Party: The Divisional Dean of the School of Social Work or designee.

Policy Statement
Admission

1. Applicants for admission into the BSW or MSW program must disclose any conviction, pending charges or indictments for crimes. The individual must also disclose any notice by a state or local agency of substantiated child or vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment. The disclosure must include a description of the crime or substantiated maltreatment and any relevant circumstances. Any applicant with a criminal history is strongly encouraged to describe how they have addressed any underlying issues or needs so they can be optimally prepared for their social work education and future practice. All information that is disclosed by the applicant will be part of the application and available for review by committee members.
2. All applicants being considered for admission into the BSW or MSW programs must complete a background check before a final recommendation of admission can be made.
3. Background checks used for admission, under this policy, must have been conducted no more than twelve (12) months prior to the deadline for admissions materials.
4. Applicants are required to report within two business days all arrests for any misdemeanors or felonies to the Program Coordinator regardless of type. Failure to provide notification of arrest is grounds for removal from the application process.
5. All information obtained from the third-party background check entity will be kept confidential within the School of Social Work. Reports from the background check entity will not be stored with student records. Access to those reports will be limited to the leadership and administration within the School of Social Work. In situations where the admissions committee needs additional information in order to make an admissions recommendation, background check information will be shared with the admissions committee. In situations where background check information may impact a field practicum, background check information will be shared with the Director or Assistant Director of Field Education and/or designee.
6. In addition to COHS Policy 313, the School of Social Work takes into account:

a. Severity or nature of the criminal behaviors.
b. Number and pattern of criminal behaviors.
c. Circumstances surrounding the criminal behaviors.
d. Relationship of criminal behaviors to the care of children or vulnerable adults.
e. Activities since the criminal behaviors that may be evidence of rehabilitation.
f. Individual’s age and development at the time of the criminal behavior.
g. Time elapsed since the criminal behaviors.

7. The School of Social Work, operating at the discretion of the faculty, may deny an application for admission if the applicant’s criminal history demonstrates behavior deemed to be unprofessional or that has the potential to put clients, other students, faculty, agencies, or the profession at risk.

Procedure
Students must have a background check performed prior to admission.
Steps:

1. Applicants will be directed to a third-party vendor to complete their background check.
2. The applicant will be required to share personal information such as full name, date of birth, social security number, current address, phone number, and email address. Additional information may be requested.
3. The applicant will pay the required fee. A limited amount of funds from the School of Social Work are available to students experiencing financial hardship and who are unable to pay the background check processing fee. Applicants should contact the Divisional Dean of Social Work to request financial assistance to complete a background check.
4. Results will be made available to the applicant and leadership and administration in the School of Social Work. In situations where the admissions committee needs additional information in order to make an admissions recommendation, background check information will be shared with the admissions committee. In situations where background check information may impact a field practicum, background check information will be shared with the Director or Assistant Director of Field Education and/or designee.