Admission Steps

Social Work (Denver Campus Advanced Standing Program) - MSW

Admission Requirements

Terms and Deadlines

For the 2025-2026 academic year

Fall 2025 quarter (beginning in September)

  • Final submission deadline: July 31, 2025

  • International submission deadline: May 5, 2025

Summer 2026 quarter (beginning in June)

  • Final submission deadline: June 1, 2026

  • International submission deadline: February 23, 2026

Final submission deadline: Applicants cannot submit applications after the final submission deadline.

Degree and GPA Requirements

Degrees and GPA Requirements

Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

University GPA requirement: The minimum grade point average for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver must meet one of the following criteria:

  • A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the baccalaureate degree.

  • A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree.

  • An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution or the recognized equivalent from an international institution supersedes the minimum GPA requirement for the baccalaureate.

  • A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework completed for applicants who have not earned a master’s degree or higher.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Applicants must hold an earned CSWE-accredited bachelor’s degree in social work from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

Additional Standards for Non-Native English Speakers

Additional Standards for Non-Native English Speakers

Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Your TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:

  • Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 95

  • Minimum IELTS Score: 7

  • Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 185

  • Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 125

Additional Information:

Additional Standards for International Applicants

Additional Standards for International Applicants

Per Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulation, international applicants must meet all standards for admission before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, [per U.S. Federal Register: 8 CFR § 214.3(k)] or is academically eligible for admission and is admitted [per 22 C.F.R. §62]. Read the Additional Standards For International Applicants policy for more details.

Application Materials

Transcripts

Transcripts

We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.

Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.

Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are optional. Our holistic approach to reviewing applications, with or without a letter of recommendation, is a reliable basis for making a final admission decision.

If you choose to submit an academic and/or professional letter of recommendation, your recommenders should know you well and be able to speak about your background, your passion for social work and your ability to succeed in a graduate program.

Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application.

Required Essays and Statements

Essays and Statements

Essay Instructions

Your Career Goals Statement is an essential part of your application. Your rationale for entering the social work profession, your self-awareness, creativity, critical thinking and writing skills are major factors committee members consider when reviewing your application.

The average statement length is four pages; submissions exceeding six pages are discouraged. Please double-space your statement and use a font size of no less than 12. Answer questions 1-4 below. Answering question 5 is optional. Prior to writing your essay, review the NASW Code of Ethics.

1. Rationale: Identify significant factors that influenced your decision to pursue a master of social work (MSW) degree and how you intend to use it in the future. (1-2 paragraphs)

2. Social work values and ethics: Social work is guided by professional values and ethics that often serve as a compass when facing ethical or value-based dilemmas. Considering the social work profession, its core values, and your values, describe the following (1 page):

- What potential value-based or ethical conflict(s) do you imagine you may experience between your personal values and the professional social work values?
- How do you plan to address or reconcile these conflicts (whether in the classroom, during field placement, in future practice, or any other areas)?

3. Personal and professional attributes and liabilities: Describe any cultural, economic or social challenges and/or opportunities that have provided you with a unique perspective about social work issues. What insights did you gain from these experiences about how to maintain professional judgment and performance during times of distress? (1 page)

4. Employment and volunteer history: Discuss the relationship between your educational, employment and volunteer experiences and what qualities equip you for the social work profession. Describe your experiences and feelings about working with populations different from your own. (1 page)

5. Optional: Please address any special academic or other considerations that you would like GSSW to consider in the review of your application.

Résumé

Résumé Instructions

The résumé (or C.V.) should include all educational achievements, relevant work experience, research and/or volunteer work.

Start the Application

Online Application

Start Your Application

Your submitted materials will be reviewed once all materials and application fees have been received.

Apply Now

Our program can only consider your application for admission if our Office of Graduate Education has received all your online materials and supplemental materials by our application deadline.

Application Fee: $65.00 Application Fee

International Degree Evaluation Fee: $50.00 Evaluation Fee for degrees (bachelor's or higher) earned from institutions outside the United States.

Financial Aid Information

Financial Aid Information

Applicants should complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15. Visit the Office of Financial Aid for additional information.