Accreditation

The UNC Charlotte MSW degree is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting organization for social work education programs.

Admission Requirements

1. Undergraduate Preparation including GPA
   • The Graduate School sets a 3.0 as the minimum GPA for admission to master’s programs
   • The Graduate School requires students to provide copies of unofficial transcripts for all institutions the applicant has attended
   • The School of Social Work seeks applicants with a liberal arts background.Courses in biology and statistics are encouraged in order to prepare students for the program.
2. GRE Scores
   • Applicants are required to submit GRE scores unless they meet the following exceptions:
     • For Advanced Standing, an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or above
     • For Full-Time or Part-Time, an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or above
     • A doctoral degree from a regionally accredited university
   • Applicants with a Master’s degree from a regionally accredited university may also qualify for a GRE waiver on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with the Graduate School
   • For applicants who must submit GRE scores because they do not meet the criteria above, scores in the 50^th percentile or above in the quantitative section, and a score of 3.5 or above in the writing section are considered competitive
   • When an applicant’s scores in these areas fall below percentiles, the Admissions Committee may search for other evidence of potential for success, such as good undergraduate grades in writing, statistics, and/or research courses
3. Recommendations
   • Three forms submitted by faculty members and supervisors from paid or volunteer experience with human service agencies
   • Recommenders have the option of uploading a letter of support with the form
4. Relevant Volunteer and/or Paid Experience described in the applicant’s resume
5. Personal Statement
   • Applicant’s upload a narrative addressing the following items in no more than 4-5pages:
   • Please discuss why you are interested in becoming a master-level social worker
   • Please discuss your reasons for seeking admission to the MSW Program specifically.How are your career plans and interests congruent with the MSW curriculum?
   • The Social Work Program values diversity in its student population. Diversity may be defined in terms of race, age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, unique skills, or life experiences. What personal characteristics, unique skills, or life experiences will you bring to the program?
   • Social workers practice with individuals from historically oppressed and diverse groups. What groups may challenge you, either because of your personal values and/or attitudes and how will you handle this?
   • Describe a time when you were given critical feedback. What was your reaction to that experience? What did you learn about yourself?
   • As a prospective graduate student, what strengths and skills do you bring to the program? What do you identify as your areas of growth?
   • Applicants are often interested in choosing social work because it is a helping profession.Discuss the differences between helping in personal and professional relationships.In addition, discuss a time you helped someone (not a family member) and your reaction to the helping experience.

Additional Admission Information

International applicants may be required by The Graduate School to submit additional materials.

Upon acceptance to the program, students are asked to complete an Intent to Enroll Form and a Field Application Form.  Because some field placement agencies serving vulnerable populations exclude personnel with criminal convictions, students entering the program may be subject to a criminal history inquiry.  Many agencies require drug testing as well.

Financial Assistance

Paid internships and assistantships are limited.  Visit socialwork.uncc.edu for more information.

Degree Requirements

The MSW curriculum promotes its mission and goals through the Foundation curriculum and the Advanced curriculum.  The Foundation curriculum prepares students to apply generalist social work knowledge, skills, and values.  The Advanced curriculum prepares students for more specialized application of the profession’s knowledge, skills, and values, with special attention to the needs of vulnerable populations.  All students must successfully complete SOWK 7651, which serves as the capstone course for the MSW. 

The MSW may be pursued through the Full-Time (two years), Part-Time (three years), or Advanced Standing (one year) plans of study.

Field Placement

Field placements are assigned from a variety of agencies and practice settings approved by the UNC Charlotte Social Work Field Office.  Field Instructors, approved by the School of Social Work, guide the student through learning experiences, coordinating field experiences with the concurrent classroom coursework.  The Foundation field placement prepares students to apply generalist social work knowledge, skills, and values.  The Advanced field placement prepares students for more specialized application, with special attention to the needs of vulnerable populations. 

State Certification

Graduates of the MSW Program may pursue state licensure or certification at the graduate level.  Application for licensure or certification should be made with the state board in the state where the applicant intends to practice social work.  In North Carolina, the Certification and Licensure Board for Social Work may be accessed on the web at ncswboard.org or by phone at 336-625-1679.  MSW levels of licensure/certification in North Carolina include the following: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA), Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW), and Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM).

Special Programs

North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative

UNC Charlotte participates in the North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative, which is a joint effort of the NC Division of Social Services, the NC Association of County Directors of Social Services (DSS), and the National Association of Social Workers NC Chapter, to improve the quality of public child welfare services in North Carolina.  The program is administered by the Jordan Institute for Families at UNC Chapel Hill.  At UNC Charlotte, Child Welfare Education Collaborative MSW students complete the course SOWK 5103  as one of their electives.  They also complete their graduate field placements in a child welfare agency.  Students who complete all requirements for the Collaborative program receive a certificate indicating they have successfully met North Carolina Child Welfare Pre-service Training competencies.  Graduates may then be hired at a NC County DSS with credit for six (6) months of experience.

For additional information about the North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative at UNC Charlotte, contact the UNC Charlotte Child Welfare Collaborative Liaison.

School Social Work

Graduates of the program may also qualify for licensure as a school social worker in the state of North Carolina.

The School Social Work license is awarded by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.  To be eligible for school social work licensure, MSW students must complete a two-semester field placement in a school setting, take SOWK 5102 , and take another course from a list of approved electives.  Students interested in school social work licensure should begin planning with their advisors and the MSW Field Education Director as early in the program as possible.

The School of Social Work’s Field Education Director has additional information about school social work licensure requirements.  Information is also available online at ncsswa.org.

Gerontology

UNC Charlotte’s M.A. in Gerontology  is administered jointly by the College of Health and Human Services and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.  The M.A. program is housed within the School of Social Work.  MSW students are given special consideration for graduate courses in Gerontology.