Baylor's Application Opens Soon: Everything You Need to Know

We are so excited that you are considering the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work for your Master of Social Work degree! There are two MSW degree path options — the standard program and the advanced standing program. The advanced standing program is for those who have earned their Bachelor’s in Social Work from a CSWE accredited institution within the last 5 years and meet the GPA requirements.

Standard Program Requirements

Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or can provide proof of equivalent education at an international institution of higher learning can apply for the standard Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Full-time students in the standard program can complete their master's in social work in two years.

To be considered for admission to the standard MSW program, students must submit a completed application which includes:

GoGarland Online Application
$45 Application Fee
GSSW Financial Aid Form
Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) (or CSS International Profile for international applicants)
Letters of recommendation: At least one of your three letters of recommendation must be from an academic professor who has direct knowledge of your academic work.
Official transcripts from all previous institutions

Official transcripts must be sent directly from the institution. Official certified electronic transcripts should be sent to MSW_Admissions@baylor.edu and official hard copy transcripts should be mailed to:

Garland School of Social Work

Graduate Admissions

One Bear Place, #97320

Waco, Texas 76798-7320

Advanced Standing Requirements

Students who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from an accredited CSWE institution within the last five years can apply for the advanced standing program at the Garland School of Social Work. Full time, advanced standing students can complete their MSW at Baylor in 10 months.

To be considered for admission to the advanced standing program, students must submit a completed application. In addition to the application requirements for the standard program, students must meet these additional requirements:

Letters of recommendation: At least two of your three letters of recommendation must be from an academic professor who has direct knowledge of your academic work. Of these two academic references, one must be the undergraduate program director, the director of field education, or the field instructor.
A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale
A grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in social work coursework, including a minimum grade of B in all practice and field courses
A final field evaluation (please be sure to include all the necessary final field evaluation criteria)

Submit Early for the Best Aid Consideration!

The Garland School of Social Work will begin accepting Master of Social Work (MSW) applications for the next academic year in August. The School of Social Work operates on a rolling admissions process. Applications will be reviewed and financial assistance will be dispersed on a first come, first served basis. Submit your application as soon as possible for the best financial aid consideration.

Pro tip: for more information on financial aid, download and explore the full Financial Aid Infographic.

If you have any questions about your application or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are excited to hear from you and thrilled that you are considering Baylor University as the place to pursue your dream of becoming a social worker!