MSW/MS-DRL Dual Degree Admissions

Both the MSW Admissions Committee and the DRLA Faculty Steering Committee evaluate all applications for admission. 

We encourage prospective applicants to communicate with the program via phone and/or email and secure answers to any questions they might have regarding the program. When feasible, a face-to-face meeting and campus tour may be arranged.

Applicants to Tulane’s MSW/MS-DRL program must meet the following requirements:

• Demonstrate a strong performance in the junior and senior years of undergraduate study or in a postgraduate degree program or have strong employer references
• Possess a bachelor's degree
• A grade-point average of 3.0 or better on a 4-point scale (preferred)

Applicants to the MSW/MS-DRL Dual Degree program must submit the following documents with their electronic application:

• Statement of Interest for MS DRL - Three to five double-spaced pages that should explaining your reasons for applying to the MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership (MS DRL) program, past relevant professional experience, future career goals, and practice interests. While we appreciate the context of the personal journey that led you to pursue an MS DRL, the majority of your writing (>50%) should be dedicated to:
  1. Your practice interests and previous disaster-related work
  2. Personal/career goals that the MS DRL will help you to achieve
  3. Anticipated contributions to the profession of disaster resilience  
• Statement of Interest for MSW- - 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

*Please note that our traditional on-campus students are full-time and begin in the Fall, 
while advanced standing on-campus students are full-time and begin in the Summer.
** Application opens the prior year

Applicants who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree within the past five years from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program may be granted Advanced Standing, enabling them to qualify for a MSW in two semesters of full-time study.

Advanced standing requirements include:

1. Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better on a 4.0 point scale,
2. 3.0 GPA in all undergraduate substantive courses is required.
3. B+ average in their field practicum.

The MSW can only accept transfer credits from other MSW programs that were accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the time the student attended. Review our Transfer Credit Policy here. 

Official TOEFL test scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the DRLA Program via the Tulane School of Social Work, the code is 6183. We also accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in lieu of the TOEFL examination. Review our International Student Admission Policy here.