Admission Process

As an undergraduate professional degree program, the MU Social Work Program has policies and procedures for selecting students into the social work major. The selection process is required by the Commission on Standards and Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education, the national organization for the accreditation of social work education. The following policies and procedures have been developed to assist both students and faculty through the critical decision-making process of determining the appropriateness of student motivation and abilities in relationship to the professional practice of social work.

Admissions policies, procedures, and forms are available in the Social Work Program Student Handbook.

Admissions Policy

It is the policy of the Manchester University social work program to admit students who have demonstrated the capacity to complete academically the social work major and who have shown evidence that they will be able to practice social work in an ethical and professional manner. It is further the policy that students whose academic capacity, as demonstrated by grade point average, and/or whose value base and personal integration are not compatible with the professional practice of social work be screened out of the social work program. 

Admissions Procedures

The process of screening of social work majors takes place in two phases:  1) initial admission to Program, and 2) admission to the Senior Social Work Practice Block (SOWK 375, 384, 475, 476, and 477). Following are the criteria and procedures:

1.  Admission to the Social Work Program (sophomore year):

Criteria for Admission to the Social Work Program:

• Regular admission into Manchester University; 
• Achievement of sophomore status;
• Minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale;
• Satisfactory completion of SOWK 110 and enrollment in or completion of SOWK 228 (see the Undergraduate Catalog for details);
• Personal integration and aptitude for generalist social work practice; and
• Satisfactory progression toward the program objectives, as evidenced by:

• student's personal statement,
• one reference from a Manchester University social work faculty,
• pertinent work or volunteer experience,
• unofficial transcript, and
• an admissions interview.

• Upon completion of the first year, and of SOWK 110, and enrollment in or completion of SOWK 228, the student completes an Application for Admission to the Social Work Program, which includes a personal self-assessment.
• The student requests a reference from one Manchester University social work faculty member who has taught the student in a social work class.
• The student provides the referring faculty member with a blank Faculty Assessment of Student Aptitude form.
• The faculty member completes the Faculty Assessment, making recommendations regarding the student's admission.
• The student submits the Application for Admission, Faculty Assessment, and an unofficial transcript to the social work program director.
• The director reviews application materials and schedules an admissions interview with the student.
• Following the interview, the director presents application materials to the entire social work program faculty, who, as a whole, make a decision regarding admission;
• The director notifies the applicant in writing of the decision to either:

• Admit to the Program All admitted students will be provided with on-going academic and professional advising by social work faculty and encouraged to develop plans for professional growth and to participate in professional development activities. (Admission to the major does not guarantee admission to the Senior Social Work Practice Block); or
• Admit with Provisions toward which progress must be demonstrated in order for the student to gain admission to the Senior Social Work Practice Block and complete the Program. Specific provisions will be identified in the notification letter, and the Social Work Program faculty will work with the student to monitor progress toward meeting the provisions. In order to remedy academic deficiencies or inadequacies in non-academic performance, students may be referred to services within the university or the community, and will be provided with ongoing academic and professional advising; or
• Deny admission Students denied admission will be provided on-going advising as they redirect their educational objectives.

• Completion of a minimum of 76 credit hours;
• Admission to the Social Work Program;
• Previous participation in a Celebrating Diversity Workshop;
• Demonstration of satisfactory progress (e.g., minimum 2.0 overall GPA, progress toward program objectives); and
• Remediation of any areas of concern identified at admission to the Social Work Program, as evidenced by: 
• student's personal statement and self-evaluation,
• pertinent work or volunteer experience,
• unofficial transcript, and
• an admissions interview.

• The student completes an Application for Admission to the Senior Social Work Practice Block and submits it to the Social Work Program Director.
• The student interviews with the Social Work Program Director.
• The Director makes a recommendation for admission or denial of admission to the Social Work Program faculty, who, as a whole, make a decision to either:

• Admit to the Senior Social Work Practice Block and begin process of selecting a Field Instruction placement; or,
• Deny admission to the Senior Social Work Practice Block, in which case the social work faculty will provide advising to the student regarding a change of major.