Your Mission Starts Here 

Master’s of Social Work (MSW)

Transform Lives—Starting With Yours

Our flexible, nationally recognized master’s programs are designed to elevate your career and prepare you for advanced practice in a variety of settings, from clinical social work to community leadership. With an emphasis on real-world experience and social justice, our MSW sets you up to create meaningful change.

Your Degree+

Customize your path and stand out in the field with graduate certificates designed to match your goals. Choose from seven specialized options, including:
Rural Health and Wellbeing, Military Behavioral Health, Child Welfare Practice, School Social Work, Clinical Social Work, and more!

Admissions Overview

MSW Admission Pathways

Submission Materials

• Current professional résumé
• Unofficial transcripts from every institution of higher education where coursework was attempted
  • Official transcripts will be required upon admission
• Contact information for two references who can submit letters of recommendation.
  • Recommended reference types include: Professor, Social Work Professor, Professional Social Worker or Field Instructor, Work Supervisor, Volunteer Supervisor
  • Please exclude personal references, pastoral references, and relatives
  • Applicants who have attended or attempted academic credit in any post-secondary education program within the last five years must provide at least one academic reference who can speak specifically to the applicant’s academic ability to be successful in a graduate academic program.
• Personal Statement (Autobiographical Statement)
  • Motivation for social service, social work education, and a career in the profession: State your reasons for wanting to pursue an MSW degree. Why are you applying to the University of Kentucky College of Social Work? What are your social service interests and career goals?
  • Personal life experiences and relevant events: Briefly describe your personal history as it relates to your interest in the profession of social work. What do you consider to be your particular strengths, skills and abilities that will contribute to your success in this field?
  • Capacities for professional social work education: Briefly describe your professional, volunteer and/or educational history as it relates to your capacity for success in graduate study in the field of social work. What characteristics, circumstances, or challenges could serve to enhance or limit your capacity to pursue graduate level education in the field of social work?
  • Requirements:
    • 3 to 4 pages
    • Double spaced
    • Adhere to APA formatting
• Writing Sample
  • As AI tools become more widely available, graduate applicants are increasingly using them to support their writing. This trend raises meaningful questions about how future social workers engage with emerging technologies while upholding the values of our profession.We invite you to reflect on the role of AI in your writing process through the lens of the NASW Code of Ethics, which emphasizes specifically, Integrity and Competence. Please review the NASW Code of Ethics in preparation for your response.
  • In 250 words or fewer, respond to the following:
    • In what ways might using AI tools to write your admissions application be helpful or harmful?
    • How do the NASW Code of Ethics and social work values apply to the use of AI in writing?
    • What does your response reveal about your values and judgment as a future social worker?
• Additional Advanced Standing Verification – This is required for those applying for Advanced Standing only.
  • Documentation demonstrating eligibility for Advanced Standing admission
  • Verification of BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program
  • Verification that degree was earned within required timeframe

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.

Additional Information for International Applicants

In addition to standard graduate admissions requirements, international students may be required to submit additional materials for their graduate school application. Visit the International Center website for more detailed information and requirements.

• Must demonstrate English Language Proficiency for admission. This can be achieved by (more information about English Language Proficiency can be found here):
  • An awarded degree from a fully accredited US institution (bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree)
  • Official, valid English Language Proficiency Test Score
  • Statement on the official transcript or an attestation letter sent directly from the registrar of the degree-granting institution confirming that English was the language of instruction
• International students in CoSW online programs at UK are not eligible for Visa sponsorship

Advanced Standing Applicants

Individuals applying for Advanced Standing who wish to begin practicum in the Fall or Spring term must meet the applicable priority deadline.

International Applicants

International application deadlines are April 15 for Fall admission and September 15 for Spring admission.

Hybrid applications are currently accepting Fall admission only.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Review all admission requirements before beginning your Graduate School application.

Army-UK Master’s of Social Work (MSW)
Serve with purpose—at a higher level.

The Army–UK MSW Program educates over two-thirds of all new social workers entering active-duty Army each year and provides an essential function to help maintain the readiness and enhance the well-being of our military service members, family members, and retirees.

After receiving notification of admission through the U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention College, applicants must complete the University of Kentucky admissions process and submit all required application materials listed below.

• Current professional résumé
• Unofficial transcripts from every institution of higher education where coursework was attempted
  • Official transcripts will be required upon admission
• Contact information for two references who can submit letters of recommendation.
  • Recommended reference types include: Professor, Social Work Professor, Professional Social Worker or Field Instructor, Work Supervisor, Volunteer Supervisor
  • Please exclude personal references, pastoral references, and relatives
  • Applicants who have attended or attempted academic credit in any post-secondary education program within the last five years must provide at least one academic reference who can speak specifically to the applicant’s academic ability to be successful in a graduate academic program.
• Personal Statement (Autobiographical Statement)
  • Motivation for social service, social work education, and a career in the profession: State your reasons for wanting to pursue an MSW degree. Why are you applying to the University of Kentucky College of Social Work? What are your social service interests and career goals?
  • Personal life experiences and relevant events: Briefly describe your personal history as it relates to your interest in the profession of social work. What do you consider to be your particular strengths, skills and abilities that will contribute to your success in this field?
  • Capacities for professional social work education: Briefly describe your professional, volunteer and/or educational history as it relates to your capacity for success in graduate study in the field of social work. What characteristics, circumstances, or challenges could serve to enhance or limit your capacity to pursue graduate level education in the field of social work?
  • Requirements:
    • 3 to 4 pages
    • Double-spaced
    • Adhere to APA formatting
• Writing Sample
  • As AI tools become more widely available, graduate applicants are increasingly using them to support their writing. This trend raises meaningful questions about how future social workers engage with emerging technologies while upholding the values of our profession.

    We invite you to reflect on the role of AI in your writing process through the lens of the NASW Code of Ethics, which emphasizes specifically, Integrity and Competence. Please review the NASW Code of Ethics in preparation for your response.

  • In 250 words or fewer, respond to the following:
    • In what ways might using AI tools to write your admissions application be helpful or harmful?
    • How do the NASW Code of Ethics and social work values apply to the use of AI in writing?
    • What does your response reveal about your values and judgment as a future social worker?

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.

Doctorate of Social Work (DSW)

Practice with Purpose

Take the next step in your social work career with our fully-online Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program. Built for experienced practitioners, this program equips you to lead with confidence and tackle complex challenges, with specialized tracks to fit your goals.

Why UK Social Work?

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 MSW granting institution and any subsequent coursework attempted after the earned MSW (officials required upon admission)
• Current 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 doctorate level academic program
• Personal statement:
  • No more than 5 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font.
  • Your personal statement serves as a writing sample and should demonstrate critical thinking, graduate level writing, and be formatted in APA style (7th edition), including a title page and reference section (not included in the 5-page limit). All prompts listed in the three paragraphs below are to be addressed in your statement.
    1. Why are you interested in pursuing a DSW at this stage in your career? Two pieces to address are: how your practice experience informs the concentration area you are interested in (i.e., administration and leadership, clinical social work, military behavioral health, or social work education) and what impact do you expect a DSW education to have on your career?
    2. Contemporary social work calls for practice informed research and research informed practice. Identify a social work practice domain of your interest and practice that has been overlooked or lacks adequate research and attention in academia. How does the contemporary literature influence your understanding of your identified issue and how does it impact your identified population? Articulate how you might tackle this concern.
    3. Your discussion should demonstrate critical thinking about social work practice, application of current literature, a basic understanding of the practice problem or challenge identified and reflect an interest in improving practice.

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:

• TOEFL (79 iBT) or IELTS (6.5) required
• International students in CoSW online programs at UK are not eligible for Visa sponsorship

Application Deadlines

Spring Priority

Oct. 1

Summer Priority

Mar. 1

*Applications for DSW admission may close after the priority deadline based on application volume and cohort capacity. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all required application materials by the priority deadline to ensure consideration for the intended semester.

Ph.D. in Social Work

Shape the Future of the Field

Level up your career in social work education, research, and practice with a Ph.D. in Social Work. Built for scholars and practitioners, our program prepares you to drive real change through research, policy, and leadership.

Why choose UK Social Work?

Admissions Overview

To apply, you’ll need:

• An earned master’s degree from an accredited institution recognized by the US Department of Education.
• 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:
  • Describe your motivation for pursuing a PhD in social work.
  • Articulate what specifically attracts you to the University of Kentucky social work PhD program specifically.
  • Describe your career goals and how a PhD in social work would help you achieve those goals.
  • Describe the primary areas of research that you would like to explore during your PhD training and articulate the significance of these lines of inquiry to social work.
  • Identify up to three UK CoSW faculty whose research aligns with your area of interest (topic, theory, method, etc.). You can review the profiles of assistant, associate, and full professors here.
  • Describe any other factors that should be considered in the evaluation of your application.
• Writing sample:
  • Applicants to the PhD program must submit a recent, single-authored scholar writing sample.  The sample should provide evidence of writing ability, creative and critical thinking, and potential for independent research. The submission should be a “clean” copy (i.e., free of editorial markings).
  • The following are examples of appropriate submissions of scholarly writing:
    • Published article or book chapter
    • Master’s thesis
    • Unpublished research report or white paper
    • Term paper written in an upper-level graduate course
    • Grant application
• 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

Additional Information for International Applicants

• In addition to standard graduate admissions requirements, international students may be required to submit additional materials for their graduate school application. Visit the International Center website for more detailed information and requirements.
• Must demonstrate English Language Proficiency for admission. This can be achieved by (more information about English Language Proficiency can be found here):
  • An awarded degree from a fully accredited US institution (bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree)
  • Official, valid English Language Proficiency Test Score
  • Statement on the official transcript or an attestation letter sent directly from the registrar of the degree-granting institution confirming that English was the language of instruction.

Unlock Funding Opportunities

You’re passionate about your education, research, and career. Secure the funding you need to take your degree to the next level. From teaching and research assistantships to fellowships, scholarships, and travel and research grants, UK offers funding opportunities to help you stay focused on your impact, not expenses. Reach out to explore options.

Application Deadlines

Upcoming Fall

Dec. 1

PhD applications for admission are only accepted for Fall start.
More information regarding Ph.D. application deadlines will be coming soon.

Ready to Get Ahead in Social Work?