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 11 months.

To be considered for admission to the advanced standing 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 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
Transcripts from all previous institutions
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

Field Evaluation Criteria:

A final field evaluation must include:

Rating/commentary of performance in social work competencies as outlined but the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Signature from Field Instructor

If you are currently pursuing your field placement a field midterm evaluation can be submitted to be eligible for review. The field midterm evaluation must include:

Rating/commentary of performance in social work competencies as outlined by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Signature from Field Instructor

If your midterm evaluation is not currently available. You may submit a learning contract to be eligible for review. The learning contract must include:

A description of roles/tasks that demonstrate expected performance across all social work competencies as well as the micro, mezzo, and macro levels

If students applying for the Advanced Standing program are unable to submit the required documentation listed above, the GSSW Field Verification Form may be used.

Note: Preference will be given to students who submit required documentation listed above.

Prerequisite Requirement

Students pursuing the MSW degree are also required to obtain a baccalaureate degree which includes coursework that demonstrates a strong liberal arts background including:

Statistics (3 semester hours) OR by taking and passing the online GSSW statistics course

Note: Students admitted to the MSW program are expected to complete the prerequisite requirement prior to their New Student Orientation.

For more information regarding the prerequisite requirement or information about the GSSW statistics exam, contact the School of Social Work via email at MSW_Admissions@baylor.edu