Admission Requirements

Application Process

The Bachelor of Social Work Program at Missouri State University has just completed applications for the Fall 2023 cohort. We offer a traditional seated program option and a fully online program option. The application for the BSW Program consists of two parts. The first part of the application requires information about your references. The second part consists of your application for admission. Part 1 must be completed before starting on Part 2 of the BSW Application.

You must use your Missouri State accounts to complete Part 2 of the BSW Application, so transfer students must be admitted to Missouri State and have access to their student accounts prior to applying to the BSW Program. Students must also attend a BSW Informational Meeting via Zoom to be eligible for admission into the program. For any questions regarding the application process, please contact Professor Natalie Curry, BSW Coordinator, at NatalieCurry@MissouriState.edu.

BSW Informational Meeting Dates:

2022-2023 BSW Informational Meetings

Pursue a social work major

Want to major in social work? Follow the steps below to get started.

Your first steps

First, become a Bear: Apply to Missouri State.

Then, before completing 45 credit hours, do the following:

  1. Declare or change your major to social work by contacting the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) Student Success and Advisement Center.
  2. Attend a BSW Program Information Meeting. At this meeting, you’ll be assigned an advisor who guides you through the program.
  3. Meet with your assigned advisor. You’ll discuss requirements and create a plan of study (schedule).
  4. Complete the admission requirements detailed below.

When you declare your major in social work, you will be listed as a pre-major until you complete all admission requirements.

Social Work (Comprehensive)

Bachelor of Social Work

Program description

The undergraduate Social Work Program at Missouri State University builds upon a liberal arts education while preparing students for the practice of Social Work, with an emphasis on the strengths perspective. Social Work is a comprehensive major consisting of 48 hours of required Social Work courses (which includes a 12-hour practicum); 18 hours of required courses from the humanities and sciences; and 6 hours of electives offered by the School of Social Work (SWK electives). Students who successfully complete general education, all general baccalaureate requirements and major requirements are awarded a Bachelor of Social Work degree.

The BSW program is available as a seated program option on the Springfield campus or a fully online program option. Both program options require a 400-hour practicum (12 credit hours) that must be completed in person in the final semester before graduation.

Prospective students must contact the Coordinator of the BSW Program to obtain information on how to be admitted into the program and be assigned an advisor. Accepted students are expected to consult with their advisor at least once a semester.

This program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Additional information regarding the BSW Program may be found in the BSW Student Handbook available from the School of Social Work.

Eligibility to apply

Once accepted to MSU, students are eligible to apply for admission into the BSW Program when the following conditions are met:

  1. Completion of a minimum of 45 hours with a combined GPA (Missouri State and transfer combined) of 2.50 or higher on a 4-point scale.
  2. Completion or concurrent enrollment in the Foundations Courses for General Education except the second writing course.
  3. Completion or concurrent enrollment in SWK 200(3), SWK 213(3), and SWK 219(3) with a minimum grade of "C". Candidates whose application is reviewed positively will not have admission to the Program until grades of "C" or better are recorded for these courses at the close of the application semester.

Admission to the Bachelor of Social Work Program

Students seeking admission to the BSW Program do so with the understanding that: (a) admission is competitive and selective and not all who apply can be accommodated; and (b) meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee a student will be admitted. The BSW committee will make a decision to admit based on a holistic picture of the completed course work and values that are consistent with the conduct of the profession and the Social Work Code of Ethics.

Students who are planning to pursue a BSW degree must complete the following steps:

  1. Declare a major in the Social Work Program within the University which places the student in pre-admit status.
  2. When a student is eligible to apply for admitted status, the student must submit a formal application, with accompanying forms, to the School of Social Work office. Directions for completing the packets will be included within the application packet. Applications for admission to the Program will be available online. Refer to the application packet for specific due dates because the dates can vary. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Incomplete applications may result in not being considered.
  3. In the application process, students will select between the seated program option or the fully online program options. Students who choose the seated program option will attend Social Work classes on the Springfield campus. Students who choose the online program option will have all Social Work courses in an online and asynchronous format. Students may only be admitted to the BSW Program in one program option
  4. Students will be notified, prior to registration, if they are admitted into the BSW Program. If the student is not admitted, the student will be responsible for meeting with his/her advisor to transition into another major.

Major requirements (72 hours):

Note: 12 hours may double count toward General Education requirements.

  1. Recommended course: SWK 300(1).
  2. Specific course requirements (other than Social Work):
    1. ECO 155(3) or ECO 165(3); PLS 101(3), PSY 121(3), SOC 150(3), PSY 304(3).
    2. One statistics course from: PSY 200(3), SOC 302(3), IPE 381(3), AGR 330(3), MTH 340(3), QBA 237(3), REC 328(3).
  3. SWK 200(3), 213(3), 219(3), 304(3), 307(3), 313(3), 315(3), 325(3), 326(3), 418(3), 420(3), 430(3), 480(3), 490(9).
  4. Six hours of Social Work electives.
  5. Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of SWK 480(3) and 490(9).

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Retention, progression, and graduation policies

After admission into the BSW Program, students must achieve the following for retention in the major:

  1. Maintain a combined GPA (Missouri State and transfer combined) of 2.50 or higher. If a student drops below a GPA of 2.50, the student will be withdrawn from the program at the end of the semester.
  2. Achieve a grade of "C" or better in all Social Work courses, which are courses with "SWK" prefix.
  3. Earning a "D" grade or below in a Social Work (SWK) course will result in the inability to be admitted into the program. If a student is formally accepted in the program and earns a "D" grade in a core Social Work (SWK) course, the student must retake the course before progressing. If a student is formally accepted in the program and earns an "F" grade in a core Social Work (SWK) course, student will be dismissed from the program at the end of the semester and will need to reapply. If a student is formally accepted in the program and earns a "D" or "F" grade in an elective Social Work (SWK) course, the student must retake that course and earn a "C" or better.
  4. Courses in the Social Work major may not be taken more than twice.
  5. A student must earn a "Pass" grade in SWK 490(9). A grade below a "C" in SWK 480(3) and/or a "Not Pass" grade in SWK 490(9) means the student must reapply for admission and be readmitted to the BSW Program.
  6. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor in the School of Social Work prior to or upon entering the University and at least once a semester to ensure the proper selection and sequencing of prerequisites for the BSW Program.
  7. Students must demonstrate acceptable levels of maturity, integrity, behaviors and attitudes as defined by the National Association of Social Work (NASW).
  8. Once formally admitted to the program, students must complete all required Social Work courses within six years. Any student who has not completed all required Social Work courses within six years of admission will be manually withdrawn from the program at the end of the semester.