Master of Social Work Admissions

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

1. A strong performance in undergraduate or postgraduate study or strong employer references.
2. A bachelor's degree. An official transcript listing your bachelor's degree with the conferral date is required.
3. A grade-point average of 3.0 or better on a 4-point scale (preferred).

Applicants to the Master of Social Work program must submit the following documents with their electronic application:

• Statement of Interest - Three to five double-spaced pages that should address the following:
  1. Trace the origin and development of your interest in social work as a professional, including any significant influences or experiences.
  2. What qualifications do you bring to the classroom and social work practice? Do you have any limitations that might affect your ability to practice social work, that you would like to disclose?
  3. Discuss your experience working with populations other than your own. This may include gender identity, race, religion, socioeconomic and/or cultural background. 
• 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. 
  • If your overall GPA from your undergraduate degree-granting institution is 3.0 or higher, you are not required to submit transcripts from institutions where you received transfer credit toward your Bachelor's degree.
• References/Recommendations - A minimum of two (2) Letters of Recommendation (LORs) must be received. The recommenders will submit the letters of recommendation directly into the application portal. Applicants should select two individuals who know them well and have agreed to write a recommendation. As an applicant, keep the following guidelines in mind:
  • If you are presently working or have been engaged in volunteer work in human services, one of the letters should be submitted by your supervisor or employer.
  • If you are currently only a student, the two (2) letters should be submitted by a faculty advisor or professor in your major area who is familiar with your academic work.
  • NO personal references (family, friends, social acquaintances, co-workers) will be accepted.
  • We ask applicants to please have on hand the name, title, professional email address, phone number and relationship of each recommender.
  • 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 begin in the Fall, while advanced standing on-campus students begin in the Spring.

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 three 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. 

Review our International Student Admission Policy here.