When Do I Apply?
The BSW Program accepts applications on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of February 15th and a final deadline of August 1st. Students can anticipate a response to their application within 3 weeks of a deadline. At times this may take longer. Spots are saved for transfer students unable to apply by the August deadline. The BSW cohort has a fall semester start.
Admission to the program is competitive; early applications are strongly encouraged. Prospective transfer students must first be admitted to UMD (and have paid all fees) before applying to the BSW major and have transcripts submitted for review. To apply to UMD, please visit the Admissions website.
Current UMD students can apply in February if they have completed pre-requisite courses OR if they are currently taking pre-requisite classes / plan to take the courses over the summer prior to fall term.
Students are welcome to contact the BSW Program Director to review eligibility before applying: Sandra van den Bosse at [email protected]. Please review eligibility and application requirements below.
Eligibility to Apply
- Current UMD student
- Overall GPA of at least a 2.5 (including transfer-work)
- Completion of at least 30 credits by the end of Spring Semester prior to beginning the BSW Program or completion of an AA degree. For details on which courses qualify for transfer, visit the transfer guides webpage.
- UST 1000: Learning in Community
- Students must have completed or be currently enrolled in the following pre-major courses prior to admission with a 'C' or better:
- SW 1000: Introduction to Social Welfare (3)
- Transfer students can enroll in SW 1000 during the summer or first semester of the BSW program. This course may be an on-campus class.
- PSY 1003: General Psychology (4)
- SOC 1101: Introduction to Sociology (4)
- BIOL 1001: Biology & Society (4) or PSY 2021: Developmental Psychology (4) or BIOL 1170: Human Biology (4)
- SW 1000: Introduction to Social Welfare (3)
- Students must also provide evidence of engagement in community service or (volunteer) work. We understand that because of the pandemic this can be hard and we can make accommodations and applying without volunteer experience is possible, please contact the BSW Director Sandra van den Bosse at [email protected] for more information.
Application Process
To apply to the program, you must complete the online BSW Application.
The application contains the following components:
- Prerequisite course completion
- Upload a PDF of your APAS to provide evidence you meet the prerequisites listed in the Eligibility Requirements section above.
- Details of your engagement in community service or (volunteer) work.
- An essay answering four questions, you can find precise information on those questions once you access the application, generally speaking the questions ask about your interest in pursuing a social work degree, your personal and professional values and how they compare to the social work profession, your strengths and what you can improve on and life experiences with regards to diversity and cultural responsiveness. You can find more information on those questions once you access the application.
- Disclosures
- Volunteer/work Reference
- You will provide an email address for your reference, and they will receive a request to complete an online reference form on your behalf. Your reference should be a professional contact, this does not include family members or (family) friends. If your reference does not complete their form within 3 weeks of your application submission, your application will automatically be canceled. If your application has been canceled and you still want to apply, you'll need to submit a new application.
You might want to review our Frequently Asked Questions about the program and application process before applying.
Upon admission to the BSW program, your status will change from pre-SW to BSW and you will be placed in the most current catalog year. Liberal education and minor catalog year(s) will remain unchanged. For more information please check the BSW Handbook or contact the BSW Director at [email protected].
