Advanced Standing

To be eligible for Advanced Standing, students must have:

1. Received a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited institution within the last five years;
2. Earned a B+ average or higher in their practicum course;
3. Obtained a grade-point average of 3.3 or better on a 4-point scale in social work-related courses.

Applicants to Tulane’s MSW program must meet the following requirements:

1. Demonstrate a strong performance in the junior and senior years of undergraduate study or in a postgraduate degree program or have strong employer references;
2. Possess a bachelor's degree. An official transcript listing your bachelor's degree with the conferral date is required;
3. Obtained a grade-point average of 3.0 or better on a 4-point scale (preferred).

In addition to submitting an online application for admission to the Tulane University School of Social Work, applicants to the Master of Social Work program must also submit the following:

• Statement of Interest - Our Master of Social Work program’s mission, through a person in environment framework, is to educate and inspire competent social work leaders that are committed to advancing human rights and social justice within communities, promoting quality of life for all people locally and globally, whilst engaging with clinical in community practice and service that is evidence-based, ethical, and culturally responsive, enhancing the holistic dignity, worth, well- being and equitable treatment of individuals, families, and communities. We seek to enroll students who are committed to envisioning and actively pursuing a more just society through professional social work practice.
  With that in mind, please respond to the questions below in three to five double-spaced pages, using one-inch margins and 12-point Times New Roman font. Your Statement of Interest will be evaluated based on writing quality, content, and authenticity. 
  If you choose to include personal experiences, focus on their relevance to social work practice rather than detailed personal narratives. Your Statement of Interest should address the following:
  • Describe what social work means to you and how you envision yourself as a future social work professional.
  • Personal and professional growth often occurs through mistakes, discomfort, and challenging conversations, particularly when engaging in discussions related to oppression, discrimination, and injustice. As an emerging social work professional, describe how you will contribute to an ethical, brave, and respectful environment in the classroom and in interactions within the TSSW community. In your response, explain how you will respectfully apply lessons from your lived experiences in the learning environment.
  • Practicum education is a required component of the MSW program and includes a minimum of 900 hours of supervised practice in diverse settings. As a social work student, you will bring your own background and experiences into these spaces. Describe how you will engage in self-reflection, respect for organizational structure, and mitigate the influence of your personal assumptions, experiences, or biases in order to remain open to learning while being responsive to client and community needs.
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) - If you are unsure how to format your resume, feel free to reference our guide.
• Official Transcript(s) - One copy of official transcript(s) from each Certificate, Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral level institution you have attended. To be considered official, a transcript (1) must be sent directly from your institution to Tulane School of Social Work and (2) must show completion of coursework required for the degree, the degree earned, and the date of degree conferral.
  • Official copies of all transcripts are required before you can register, enroll, or begin graduate coursework. You must submit a transcript with your degree posted prior to starting your graduate program. If you have not yet earned your bachelor’s degree, your admission will be revoked, as you cannot begin graduate studies without having completed your undergraduate degree.
• References/Recommendations - A minimum of two (2) letters of recommendation must be submitted directly by your recommenders through the application portal. Please provide the recommender's name, organization, title, professional email address, phone number, and your professional association with them. Acceptable recommenders include current or former course instructors, professors, faculty advisors, or professional or volunteer supervisors. Personal references are not accepted, including relatives, friends, family friends, colleagues, co-workers, social acquaintances, or individuals whose primary relationship with you is personal rather than academic or professional. As an applicant, keep the following guidelines in mind:
  • Applicants who are currently students: at least one letter of recommendation should be submitted by a professor who has directly assessed your academic work.
  • Applicants who are currently employed: at least one letter of recommendation should be submitted by your current supervisor.
  • Applicants who are currently engaged in volunteer work or an internship in human services: one letter may be submitted by your direct supervisor.
  • If you need guidance on asking for letters of recommendation, please review our helpful tips.

Reference/recommendation letters can be submitted via the application website, mailed to the TSSW Office, or emailed:

Tulane University School of Social Work #8906
127 Elk Place
New Orleans, LA 70112

tsswtranscripts@wave.tulane.edu

Advanced Standing students must also submit their final practicum evaluation signed by the student and supervisor.