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- 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 from the recommenders through the application portal. Please note that NO personal references (family, friends, social acquaintances, co-workers) will be accepted. Applicants should select at least two academic or professional references from the following categories:
  • Professors
  • Academic mentors
  • Employers or supervisors

*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. 

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.