The Graduate Program in Social Work

The Graduate Social Work Program received full accreditation status from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in 2004.

Admission Information/Requirements

• The full MSW Program is offered in Dover on the main campus and in Wilmington on the satellite campus.  Students may enroll at either campus and can take classes at both campuses simultaneously.
• Interest Sessions (also called Open Houses) are held during the spring semester on both the Dover and Wilmington Campuses.  The purpose of the Interest Sessions is to provide information about the Program's explicit and implicit curriculums to candidates who have an interest in pursuing a MSW degree at Delaware State University.
• For admission to graduate study, applicants must show evidence that they have earned the baccalaureate degree at an accredited college or university (or its equivalent for foreign students) and possesses the ability to engage in high quality graduate work. Applicants must have an undergraduate Liberal Arts foundation as defined by the Program faculty. A background in the social and behavioral sciences is preferred.
• No academic credit is given for life and/or professional experience. 
• All applicants must submit a complete graduate application package by the established deadline. The entire application can be completed and submitted online.  
• May 31^st is the deadline for Advanced Standing admission and June 30^th is the deadline for Fall admission. There is no Spring or Summer admission.
  o        An application must be submitted for the Fall semester in which applicant wishes to enroll. Due to the required prerequisites, the MSW program admits students only in the Fall semester.
  o        Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work are required. The applicant’s undergraduate transcript must reflect a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.75 or above on a 4.00 scale (4.0=A). A “B” average in the major field of study is required. Higher scholastic achievement is preferred.
  o        Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, not more than five (5) years old, are required for regular admit status.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to include their GRE scores with their applications. Applicants without GRE scores who meet all other criteria may only be admitted provisionally and thus have until the end of the fall semester in which they were admitted to submit their scores and file for a change of status with the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. Performance on the GREs will not negate admission.
  o        A personal statement explaining why you want to 1) obtain a MSW degree, and 2) how you plan to use the knowledge and skills you will obtain to impact social and economic justice and improve services for populations at risk.  Statement must be no more than two (2) typed pages, double spaced, 12 point Times Roman font.
  o        Three letters of recommendation are required. These letters should be from individuals who can provide information about your scholarly ability, moral character and characteristics to succeed in a graduate program. Individuals like present or past teachers, advisors, supervisors, and colleagues provide strong recommendations.
• Personal Attributes
  • Motivation towards, interest in, and preparation for social work education;
  • A capacity to function as a creative, responsible independent, and accountable practitioner;
  • Ability to deal with sexual, racial, ethnic, physical, social, and cultural diversity;
  • A capacity and willingness for self-introspection and change;
  • A capacity to deal with individual differences;
  • A desire to work for social change in order to enhance leadership skills and create greater equity in society;
  • The ability to develop a scientific stance towards social welfare and social work practice, and
  • Identification with and a desire to apply social work knowledge, values and skills.
     
• Type of Admission
  • Advanced standing status—one summer plus academic  year.  The three-week Advanced Standing Seminar course is offered from mid-July to the 1st week of August via Blackboard completely eliminating the need for face to face instruction. 
  • Full-time status—two years
  • Part-time status—three or four years 
  • Advanced standing credits (BSW only) or transfer credits (MSW only) are given on a case-by-case basis.
     
• Mandatory New Student Orientation will be held on TBA from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the Dover campus and TBA from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the Wilmington campus.  Students will receive all registration materials at orientation.

• A significant number of MSW students work full-time and hence all courses are held during evening hours between 4:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and on weekends on an accelerated basis.  In addition, most courses are web-enhanced primarily through Blackboard.  The program plans to offer completely on-line courses in the near future.

Residency Requirements

According to standards established by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and defined by the Graduate Program, students must complete their residency requirement in two consecutive semesters at Delaware State University during the first year of degreed admission.

Medical Statement

After admission, each student is required to submit a health history and a recent physical examination. The report must be signed by a licensed physician stating that the student is physically capable and free of contagion.

Students who do not submit completed reports by the end of the first two weeks of the semester for which they are admitted may be subject to dismissal.

Curriculum Requirements

Additional Information

Request form for more information