Social Work

Frequently Asked Questions

• What type of bachelor's degree is required for admission?
• How long is the program?
• How frequently is the program offered?
• Who teaches in the Master of Social Work program?
• What does the program cost?
• Can I get financial aid?
• What type of scholarships are available to social work graduate students?
• Do I need to take the GRE?
• Can I transfer courses?
• Can courses be waived?
• What is the GPA requirement for admission?
• Is there an orientation session for the program?
• When are classes?
• What if I am absent from a class?
• What are my options if I need to withdraw from the program?
• Are there prerequisite courses for the MSW Program?
• What type of computer do I need?

What type of bachelor's degree is required for admission?
A four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university is required for our program, though there is no specific major required.

How long is the program?
This program is a part-time distance program that has classes every semester for three years, one weekend per month.

How frequently is the program offered?
At each location, one cohort completes the program every three years. Currently we have two locations, Colorado Springs and Thornton, Colorado. The next Colorado Springs cohort begins in January 2012.

Who teaches in the Master of Social Work program?
The core faculty who teach at the CSU Fort Collins campus teach the distance MSW courses. In both our on-campus and distance programs we have a small number of long-term trusted adjunct instructors who occasionally teach courses in both programs.

What does the program cost?

• For the Thornton cohort:
  • $444 per credit hour plus a $15 dollar technology fee (mandated by the university for all students, distance or local).
  • The cost for the 62 credit hours program is $28,458 plus books, supplies, etc.
• For the Colorado Springs cohort:
  • Cost will be given closer to the start of the cohort.

Can I get financial aid?
Yes, once you have submitted your CSU Graduate School Application (a short form and $50) you will be assigned an ID number. At that point you can begin working with CSU Student Financial Services to obtain financial aid. Eileen Griego, in that office, works directly with our distance MSW students.

What type of scholarships are available to social work graduate students?
A comprehensive scholarship search tool is available on the College of Applied Human Sciences website.

Do I need to take the GRE?
No, we do not require the GRE.

Can I transfer courses?
Due to our accreditation by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), only courses from a CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work program have the potential to be transferred. Contact Peter Freidrichsen for more information about transferring into the program.

Can courses be waived?
Generally, courses are not waived. One potential exception is students who have taken research courses that are comparable to Methods of Research I and II. These students can seek an exception and will need to provide the syllabi and final grade from previous research coursework.

What is the GPA requirement for admission?
3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale is required. Occasional exceptions may be made if the applicant demonstrates the ability to be successful in a graduate program. Read the How to Apply page for more information about admission requirements.

Is there an orientation session for the program?
Yes, students are expected to attend orientation. Orientation begins the Wednesday in January prior to classes starting and ends Thursday morning just before your first class begins.

When are classes?
Classes are held one weekend per month on Saturday and Sunday.

• Weekend classes begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday and end around 5 p.m. On Sundays, classes begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Time may depend on the number of credit hours for the course.
• Exception: SOWK 500 begins Thursday of the first week of classes in January. The class meets the remainder of the day Thursday and all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, ending late afternoon Sunday. This is the only class during the program that requires multiple week days on campus.

What if I am absent from a class?
Attendance is critical as each weekend represents 20-25% of that semester's class time. Each instructor has the right to set their own individual attendance requirements for the class they are teaching. These requirements typically include deducting points for classes missed, additional assignments for missed classes, and, in extreme cases, a grade of F that would require the student to retake the course.

What are my options if I need to withdraw from the program?
If you withdraw from the program in good standing, you can request to be readmitted in a later cohort. CSU graduate students have ten years to complete their degree.

Are there prerequisite courses for the MSW Program?
Yes, there are a number of prerequisites that must be met prior to beginning classes, including:

• 18 credits in social and behavioral sciences including statistics, human biology, and human life cycle development covering the life span.
• 9 credits in any combination of the following courses: sociology, psychology, economics, political science, anthropology, or history.

These courses must be completed and transcripts received by the first day of classes.

What type of computer do I need?
You need a laptop computer with Internet access to participate in web-based instruction.