MSW Admissions

Additional information is required from applicants with degrees from non-native English-speaking countries as well as an official TOEFL score of 80 or higher, Duolingo English Test score of 110 or higher OR IELTS score of 6.5 or higher.

Submit evidence of the following:

• An undergraduate degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)–accredited social work program within the past five years
• One letter of recommendation from your faculty practicum liaison or practicum instructor
• A second letter of recommendation; preferably from a faculty member
• Grades of B or better in all social work courses (in some cases, additional courses may be required)

The 32-credit Advanced Standing program is available only to graduates of CSWE accredited baccalaureate social work programs who have earned the degree within the last five years. In some cases, the applicant is required to take additional courses prior to admission if the program from which they have the degree varies significantly from Adelphi‘s undergraduate social work curriculum. In addition to meeting all admission requirements for the MSW program, applicants must also have successfully completed the undergraduate curriculum and practicum experience from a CSWE accredited baccalaureate program. 

Candidates for this program must submit one letter of recommendation from their practicum advisor and/or instructor addressing the applicant’s practice behaviors and core competencies in addition to their personal maturity, scholarship, interpersonal skills and relevant experience and professional promise. A faculty recommendation is the preferred second professional letter of recommendation. 

Applicants who earned a foreign BSW degree are asked to have their credentials reviewed by the Council on Social Work Education’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Services and submit such evaluation as supplemental application material. The application will follow all other University and School processes in regard to processing the final decision and notifying the applicant. 

Designed for human service workers who have two or more of the last five years of social work-related experience under the supervision of a social worker or allied field.

Practicum Requirements:

Due to their work experience, HSP students complete one 900-hour practicum in the specialized year, instead of the traditional two 450-hour practicums. HSP students must also take a generalist year OYR seminar (4-credit classroom course). Students must be concurrently employed in human services while taking their generalist year classes.

Employer requirements:

The student’s employer must agree to provide a 900-hour employment-based practicum supervised by an LMSW or LCSW. The student must meet all practicum education requirements, including:

• Demonstrated competency development
• Completion of process recordings
• Fulfillment of all practicum instruction course requirements.

The practicum must involve clearly defined social work responsibilities known to the agency and its clients.

Application Process:

Applicants must submit:

• HSP documentation verifying years of employed experience, job duties and practicum opportunities.
• Proof that supervisory requirements have been met.
• Verification of employer agreement to provide a practicum.

The application will follow all University and School procedures for processing and final decision-making. Applicants will be notified accordingly.

• Verification form for your current employer
• Verification form for your previous employer

Adelphi’s nonrefundable application fee is $60.

U.S. Veterans along with Adelphi alumni and current students will receive a fee waiver.

We do not want this fee to be a barrier to your applying for admission. If you feel that your financial circumstances qualify you for an application fee waiver, please reach out to our University Admissions team.

Applications are reviewed by the Adelphi School of Social Work (AUSSW) admissions committee members.  We consider the full application and no single criterion automatically determines whether an applicant is or is not admitted into the program.  Admissions decisions are communicated electronically.  Admitted students will also receive a formal admittance package via USPS mail.  

Admissions decisions are final for an academic year.  Applicants who have been denied admissions are welcome to reapply after one year.  If you are interested in applying or taking non-matriculated courses, we encourage you to connect with an AUSSW team member at graduateadmissions@adelphi.edu to review the application process and consider ways to strengthen your future application.  

The Admissions Committee comprises faculty and the Director of Outreach, Enrollment and Professional Advisement, who serves as ex-officio member. The Director of Outreach, Enrollment and Professional Advisement shall have responsibility for administrative aspects of the committee. The Admissions committee has three faculty members, who are elected by the faculty. 

The Committee reserves the right to request a personal interview by either the Director at the site or one or more members of the Admissions Committee. 

Applications are reviewed and decisions are made in the following three categories:

• degree candidate (DC) 
• provisional student (P-2) 
• Rejected 

These decision categories are described below in terms of evaluation criteria and specific expectations and procedures.

Degree Candidate (DC): For students who meet the academic standards, have evidence of personal and professional motivation and commitment, and present a complete and impressive application, the student is accepted as a degree candidate. Students may be accepted for special programs based on specific criteria and qualifications. See sections on MSW Special Programs. 

Provisional Student (P-2): For students who demonstrate the potential for academic and other standards, but do not meet all the criteria for acceptance, the student is accepted as a provisional student. Students accepted provisionally are advised to take a maximum of six credits in their first semester, required to earn a minimum grade of “B” in each course completed. The student’s progress is reviewed throughout the semester for professional standards and academic performance. If the provisional student does not meet the above criteria, they are dismissed from the program after the first semester. If the provisional student successfully meets the criteria, the student is granted degree candidacy status and is permitted to continue in the program. Students accepted as provisional students do not begin their field work until their status is converted to degree candidacy. All provisional students are advised by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Director of the MSW or the student affairs coordinators at the respective site/program and monitored throughout their provisional semester. 

Rejected Student: For students who do not meet the academic and other standards, the admission decision is reject. 

Once an admission decision is made, the decision is sent electronically to the Office of Graduate Admissions at the University. A letter is sent from the Office of Graduate Admissions indicating the application decision and, if applicable, any conditions or criteria necessary for full admission. Specifically, whether the applicant is admitted provisionally. 

If you previously attended and are seeking readmission, please complete a readmission application for consideration. 

To be considered a Readmit Applicant, students must submit an application and meet the following criteria: 

• Adelphi students who have not registered for 2 or more consecutive semesters 
• Students who have withdrawn from Adelphi for a year or more and decided to re-enroll
• Students who left Adelphi on probation or were dismissed
• Students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree elsewhere since leaving Adelphi

Application Fee

There is no application fee for readmission applications.