Social Work (Master of Social Work, M.S.W.)

Dr. Grey Endres, Program Director
rendres@missouriwestern.edu
816-271-5965
missouriwestern.edu/social-work

The Missouri Western State University Master's in Social Work program is more than just a graduate degree. It is a trauma informed, applied learning framework to assist all individuals, families, and communities to achieve justice, and well-being while being committed to the guiding principles of competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Traditional MSW Track

• Submission of application for admission to the MWSU Graduate School.
• Two professional references.
• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with a 2.75 or above GPA and successful completion of a Principles of Biology course with a lab and a statistics course.¹
• Statement of Purpose: A one-page narrative which describes his/her purpose for seeking admission to a graduation program, as well as what he/she hopes to gain from the experience.
• Official transcripts of all previously completed university level work, both Undergraduate and Graduate.
• Criminal background checks will be required. An applicant who has been found guilty of a Class A or B felony will not be admitted.

¹ If your GPA was below a 2.75 or you have not successfully completed either or both required classes (Principles of Biology with a lab and Statistics), then you may be considered conditionally admitted and must complete those classes with a B or higher within one year of conditional admittance before being fully admitted.

Advanced MSW Track

• Submission of application for admission to the MWSU Graduate School.
• Two professional references.
• BSW degree from a CSWE accredited university with a 2.75 or above GPA.²
• Statement of Purpose: A one-page narrative which describes his/her purpose for seeking admission to a graduate program, as well as what he/she hopes to gain from the experience.
• Official transcripts of all previously completed university level work - both Undergraduate and Graduate.
• Criminal background checks will be required. An applicant who has been found guilty of a Class A or B felony will not be admitted.

² If your GPA was below a 2.75, you may be conditionally admitted and must earn a 3.00 GPA after the first nine (9) graduate hours before being fully admitted.

Upon admission, all social work students will be provided with and are expected to read the MWSU Student Code of Conduct, the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and the Substance Use Policy. Students will then be asked to electronically sign an acknowledgement that they: (1) have read these documents, (2) are aware of their contents, and (3) will abide by the standards elaborated in the documents. The form will be kept in students' files.

Students who are accepted to this degree program will have no more than 6 years from admission or subsequent declaration to meet the requirements listed below. If certification, accreditation or statutory requirements change and additional requirements become effective during this time, the new requirements take precedence.

Traditional MSW Track

Advanced MSW Track

 Program Graduation Requirement

1. Earn a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, with no more than 6 credit hours of C in all required coursework.

University Graduation Requirements

1. Satisfactorily complete all required coursework in the program;
2. Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours;
3. Satisfactorily complete the required capstone experience.