INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING APPLICATION
FOR ADMISSION TO THE GRADUATE PROGRAM
IN THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

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NOTE: The School of Social Work and the Graduate School begin receiving and reviewing applications on November 1st. For fullest consideration applicants for the Advanced Standing Program should have their completed applications submitted no later than January 30th. The deadline for regular admission to the two-year and three-year programs is March 30th.

Students who are accepted into the Advanced Standing Program will be required to register for the Bridge Course during the summer. Classes will be offered on Saturdays during June and July, with additional work done online. Students who plan on attending through the Advanced Standing Program should be aware that these summer courses are mandatory and attendance will be required on Saturdays.

Items 1-3 are to be submitted directly to:
Graduate Admissions
P.O Box 6928
Radford, VA 24142

1. Complete the Application for Graduate Admission at Radford University form. Return the completed Application to the office of the Graduate College, Radford University.

Click Here to Download Form Online

2. Applicants are to provide the Graduate College office with sealed, official transcripts (two copies) of ALL undergraduate and graduate work from institution(s) of prior and/or current enrollment. Please note: If the transcripts do not include the student's entire undergraduate program, including the award of the bachelor's degree, copies of the final transcript also must be sent to the Graduate Studies Office after the student has been awarded the bachelor's degree.

3. Applicants are to submit three (3) letters of recommendation in addition to the signed and completedrecommendation forms to the office of the Graduate College, Radford University. Applicants should provide the recommendation form to their selected references and request the referring parties to attach a letter which addresses the areas indicated below. The letter should be placed in a sealed envelope, along with the recommendation form. One (1) recommendation is to be acquired from each of three (3) separate sources:

A) one from a professional currently practicing in the field of human services, who has witnessed the applicant's practice abilities and can assess the applicant's suitability/promise as a professional social worker;

B) one from a professor, addressing the applicant's likelihood of success in a graduate level program of study. Applicants who graduated from college many years ago and no longer have contact with an undergraduate professor may need to identify another source for an academic reference. The person who is chosen must hold at least a master's degree and be familiar enough with the applicant to address his or her likelihood of success in a graduate level program of study (academic abilities). This person should state in their letter, the reference is an academic reference. Also, the letter should include the reference's education credentials.

C) one from an additional source of your choosing (examples: another academic or professional reference, a former employer or colleague).
Advanced Standing applicants are encouraged to have their senior field instructor serve as the third reference. For applicants currently practicing in the field, the third reference should be from a current supervisor or other professional who can discuss the applicants abilities as a practicing professional.

NOTE: If you have diffculty obtaining one of the three letters before the application deadline, please write a paragraph explaining why and submit it with your applications. Understand, however, that any acceptance will be conditional on receiving all three letters.

4. Graduate Record Examination (GRE)/ Miller Analogies Test (MAT) are NOT required for admission to the MSW program.

Items 5-10 are to be submitted directly to:

Admissions/MSW Coordinator

School of Social Work

P.O. Box 6958

Radford, VA 24142

5. Complete Curriculum Options/DegreePath Form (see Forms section).

6. Applicants are to fill out the enclosed Experiences in Human Services Form (see Forms section). In the event an applicant has no previous experience, a note to that effect should be made on the Experiences in Human Services Form.

7. Applicants are to submit two (2) copies of their current resume reflecting educational, employment, and professional experience.

8. Applicants are to prepare an application essay (not to exceed five pages) according to the enclosed Instructions for Personal Essay(see Personal Essay Instructions).

9. Applicants are to complete the Field Practicum Application (see Forms section).

APPLICATIONS FOR FIELD SHOULD BE SUBMITTED PRIOR TO ENROLLING IN SOWK 641.

10. Applicants are to complete the Legal/Military History Form (see Forms section).