What exactly do I need to apply to the MSW program?
1. Complete the ISU Graduate School and School of Social Work online application.
You will need the following information to complete your graduate school application:
- Choose your concentration
- Resume
- Your resume should include your educational and relevant employment history, social work-related activities and volunteer involvement, publications by you, and any professional organizational affiliation (i.e. National Association of Social Workers, etc.).
- Essay Answers
- Transcripts
- The transcripts should list your liberal arts coursework, which must include at least:
- 15 hours in Behavioral/Social Sciences. Examples: Anthropology, Biomedical History, Communications, Economics, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, Geography, History, International Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Urban Planning, and Women's Studies.
- 9-10 hours in Natural Sciences. MUST include a human biology class and statistics class. Other examples: Astronomy, Atmospheric Sciences, Biological Structure, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Engineering, Fisheries, Forest Resources, Genetics, Geology, Mathematics, Microbiology, Nutritional Sciences, Oceanography, Physics, Speech and Hearing Sciences, Statistics and Zoology.
- 14-15 hours in Humanities. Examples: Architecture, Art, Art History, Classics, Comparative Literature, Dance, Drama, English, Landscape Architecture, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Speech Communication, all foreign languages and literature.
- For each course, you will need the name of the course, the name of the college, grade earned, and the number of semester hours earned.
2. Three Professional References
You will need to have your three recommenders complete the recommendation form.
- They must be in the correct format. We DO NOT accept traditional reference letters to complete your application, although we will include it in your file if a letter is sent. Remember, only the provided form will complete your application.
- References should be from academic or professional sources only; personal references will not be accepted.
- Applicants who received their undergraduate degrees within the last two years must submit two academic references and one social/human service related reference.
- Applicants who completed an internship in their undergraduate education must include a reference from their internship/field supervisor, whenever possible.
- Applicants who have been out of school for more than five years, may submit any combination of references that addresses their academic and social/human service experience.
- Applicants who currently employed or volunteering in a social service agency should include references from their supervisors.
- The appropriate box on all reference forms must be marked to indicate whether the applicant has waived the right to review the reference. Click here to download the professional reference form
- Email the three professional references to School of Social Work
Once we have received all of the required supplemental materials, we will send you a confirmation email. If you have any questions about the status of your application, please feel free to email Director of Admissions and Recruitment or call (309) 438-5005.
