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Why a choose UK Social Work?

• No GRE required
  Learn your way, with online and hybrid options
• Choose the pathway that fits your background:
  • Advanced Standing for qualified BSW graduates
  • Regular Standing for applicants with bachelor’s degrees in any field
• Complete your degree in approximately 30 credit hours (Advanced Standing) or 60 credit hours (Regular Standing).
• Career-driven curriculum that prepares you to lead in diverse settings
• Quality you can trust: Quality Matters-certified, CSWE-accredited online program
• Top-tier results: Our grads consistently score 10–20 points higher than the national average on licensing exams
• Unmatched support in coursework, practicum, and career planning.
• Endless career options, with pathways in clinical practice, policy, nonprofit management, and beyond

Additional Information

• Review the MSW Student Handbook for detailed program information.
• Applicants who do not meet minimum GPA requirements may submit a Petition for Exceptional Consideration with supporting documentation.
• Admission decisions are made by the MSW Admissions Committee.
  • Program admission decisions are communicated by email and/or phone.
  • Admission requirements may differ between Regular Standing and Advanced Standing applicants. Applicants seeking admission through the Advanced Standing pathway should review eligibility requirements carefully before applying.

Regular Standing

For applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum cumulative GPA requirements as established by the College of Social Work and Graduate School
• Completion of all required application materials

Advanced Standing

For applicants who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program
• Degree earned within the past 7 years
• 3.0 cumulative GPA (if applicable)
• 3.5 Social Work GPA
• Completion of all required application materials

Advanced Standing students may complete the MSW program in as few as 30 credit hours, while Regular Standing students complete approximately 60 credit hours.

Application Process

To apply, you must:

• Connect with an Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Health Care Recruiter (HCR) to begin your application
• Be selected by the USAREC accession board for long-term health education
• Be admitted to both the University of Kentucky Graduate School and College of Social Work

Get Started

• Find a recruiter: http://www.goarmy.com
  (Select “Healthcare Students and Professionals” and search by zip code)

Next Steps to Apply to UK

• Earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by June of the application year
• Have a minimum 3.25 undergraduate GPA (4.0 scale)
• Submit GRE scores (minimum 290 combined verbal + quantitative; taken within the last 5 years)

Important Notes

• Applications must be submitted through an AMEDD recruiter (not directly to UK)
• The USAREC selection board typically reviews applications in early February
• Applicants are notified of results through their recruiter before completing UK admission.

Why UK Social Work?

• Affordable, 100% online program with flexible learning schedule that lets you learn anytime, anywhere
• Built for experienced practitioners in clinical practice, administration, education, and policy
  Earn your degree in 2 years (full-time) or 3 years (part-time)
• Choose your track:
  • Administrative Leadership
  • Clinical Social Work
  • Social Work Education
  • Military Behavioral Health
  • Sport Social Work
• Embedded capstone project with faculty support and annual Virtual Showcase of DSW Scholars
• Access to state-of-the-art research labs
• Graduate into a growing job market with high demand
• Take courses that are certified for excellence in online learning

Admissions Overview

To apply, you must:

• Hold a CSWE-accredited MSW
• Have a minimum 3.0+ cumulative graduate GPA
• Have at least 2 years of post-MSW professional experience at the time of application
• Demonstrate proficiency with online learning tools

Submission materials:

• Unofficial Transcripts from every institution of higher education with attempted coursework (officials required upon admission)
• Résumé or CV
• Contact information for two references who can provide letters of recommendation.
  • These references must be obtained from individuals in the following categories:
    • Professor
    • Social Work Professor
    • Professional Social Worker/Field Instructor
    • Work or Volunteer Supervisor
  • Please exclude personal, pastoral, and relative references. Applicants who are currently, have been enrolled, or attempted academic credit in any post-secondary education program within the past five (5) years, must provide at least one academic reference who can speak specifically to the applicant’s academic ability to be successful in a graduate program.
• Personal statement (4–5 pages)

AI Disclosure Requirement

The University of Kentucky is committed to the responsible and ethical adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), consistent with the University’s Commonwealth AI Transdisciplinary Strategy (CATS AI). Use of AI at any stage of the application process, whether for brainstorming, outlining, editing, or revising is permitted. However, you must include a brief disclosure describing how it was used in the DSW application before submission. This supports our shared commitment to transparency, integrity, and professional accountability. Applicants remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, and final content of all submitted application materials.

International applicants:

• $75 application fee
• TOEFL (79 iBT) or IELTS (6.5) required
• No visa sponsorship (I-20 or DS-2019) available
• Up to 9 transfer credits allowed with approval

Why choose UK Social Work?

• Funding opportunities available through scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships
• Full-time and part-time paths for working professionals
• Individualized mentorship from expert faculty
• Conduct research that fits your interests with the potential to influence policy and change lives
• Advance your career in higher education, policy development, and leadership

Admissions Overview

To apply, you’ll need:

• A master’s degree in Social Work or a related field
• Strong academic background and commitment to advancing the profession

Submission materials:

• Online application and required fee
• Unofficial Transcripts from every institution of higher education with attempted coursework (officials required upon admission)
• Résumé or CV
• Personal statement explaining research interests, goals, and motivations
• Writing sample (thesis, published article, or research paper preferred)
• Contact information for three references who can provide letters of recommendation.
  • These references must be obtained from individuals in the following categories:
    • Professor
    • Social Work Professor
    • Professional Social Worker/Field Instructor
    • Work or Volunteer Supervisor
  • Please exclude personal, pastoral, and relative references. Applicants who are currently, have been enrolled, or attempted academic credit in any post-secondary education program within the past five (5) years, must provide at least one academic reference who can speak specifically to the applicant’s academic ability to be successful in a graduate program.
• To be considered for teaching or research assistantships, include a cover letter and name of preferred faculty collaborators

Why a MSCJ at UK?

• Flexible, 100% online program allows you to earn your degree on your schedule
• Apply research, leadership, and policy to real-world settings
• Job-focused curriculum that helps you graduate with the professional tools you need to succeed
• Faculty mentorship from seasoned professionals
• Specialized coursework in Criminal Justice Policy & Analysis; Forensic Science & Investigations; Criminal Justice Leadership; and Ethics in Justice.
• Endless career options within high-demand fields including law enforcement, corrections, policy, research, and the private sector

Admissions Overview

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited institution
• Must be accepted by both the College of Social Work and the UK Graduate School with a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA and 3.0 graduate GPA, if applicable

Submission materials:

• Transcripts
• Application fee
• TOEFL/IELTS scores, if applicable
• Standard Graduate School materials (no GRE required)
• All applicants must meet UK Graduate School requirements.