Master of Social Work

Institutional Accreditation

Information on FGCU institutional accreditation is available at www.fgcu.edu/accreditation

Getting Started

Applicants must submit an application online per the individual program’s instructions below. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.

Summer Master of Social Work (MSW) Supplemental Application Deadline is January 15, 2025

Note: The GRE is not required for admission to the MSW program at FGCU. If your GPA is below 3.0 you will be required to submit an exception letter stating why you should be considered for the program and what steps you have taken to mitigate the low GPA. Submitting an exception letter in this circumstances does not guarantee admission to the program.

General Program:

• Submit an FGCU Graduate Admissions Application and satisfy all applicable university admissions requirements.
• Earned baccalaureate degree from an institution that maintains accreditation by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting body (https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html) or equivalent foreign institution.
• Evidence of broad coursework in the liberal arts: 6 hours General Science (must include Human Biology); 6 hours English Composition; 6 hours Humanities; 6 hours Social Sciences; 6 hours Quantitative Math.
• Successful completion of a course in statistics
• One year's (40 hours per week) paid experience in a social service agency (in a service capacity) is preferred.
• Earned a 3.0 GPA or higher for the final 60 hours of your undergraduate degree.
• Three professional references including one from a former instructor, if available.
• A written personal statement (to be evaluated by the Graduate Admissions Committee for commitment to social work values, social justice, diversity, writing skills, etc.).
• Interviews may be required.
• Completion of MSW Application Package (PDF). (See link provided above.)
• International students must demonstrate English language proficiency in accordance with University regulation.
• Meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee acceptance into the MSW program at FGCU.

Advanced Standing Program:

• Submit an FGCU Graduate Admissions Application and satisfy all applicable university admissions requirements.
• Earned baccalaureate of social work degree within the past 5 years from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• Successful completion of a course in statistics.
• One year (40 hours per week) paid experience in a social service agency (in a service capacity is preferred) is preferred.
• Earned a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher in all undergraduate Social Work courses.
• Three professional references including one from a former instructor, if available.  
• A written personal statement (to be evaluated by the Graduate Admissions Committee for commitment to social work values, social justice, diversity, writing skills, etc.).
• An interview may be required. Completion of MSW Application Package (PDF). (See link provided above.)
• Completed Advanced Standing Application Packet.  (Included in MSW Application Package, link provided above.)
• Copy of complete BSW Field Performance Evaluation.
• International students must demonstrate English language proficiency in accordance with University regulation.
• Meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee acceptance into the Advanced Standing MSW program at FGCU.

These materials must be submitted in order for the applicant to be considered for admission for the summer semester. Students will be admitted to the two-year MSW program during the summer semester of each year. Note that only elective courses will be offered during the summer semester, core courses will begin in the fall semester.  All admitted students are required to attend an orientation held during the fall immediately prior to classes beginning. In addition, students planning to enroll full-time must plan to be available during the summer months for the field placement search process. Although student "life" or work experiences are highly valued by the faculty, no academic credit is given in whole or in part, in lieu of the field practicum or courses in the professional foundation areas specified in the Curriculum Policy Statement.

Program Requirements for the 2024-2025 Catalog Year

Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements

• The Department of Social Work has formal policies and procedures concerning the transfer of credit from other accredited colleges and universities, including the transfer of credit from other Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited schools and departments of social work. A student who has previously earned graduate level credit from a Master of Social Work program accredited by the CSWE may submit their transcript as part of the application process. Students may request that courses taken prior to enrollment in the FGCU M.S.W. program be accepted as substitute for social work elective courses provided the course meets certain criteria as determined by the M.S.W. Program Coordinator and/or Department Chair. The following rules will apply in such cases: (a) the course was graduate level and offered by an accredited college or university, (b) the course was taken in a CSWE accredited M.S.W. Program, (c) the course bears direct relevance to the master's level of social work education, (d) the course was not used to meet requirement for another degree, (e) the student earned a grade of "B" or better and provides an official transcript attesting to that fact, and (f) the course was completed within five years prior to admission to the M.S.W. program at FGCU. These determination of elective credit will be made after the student has been admitted to the program. Transfer of credit from another accredited Social Work Program requires a final grade of "B" or better and approval of the M.S.W. Program Coordinator and/or Department Chair. Transfer requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may require course syllabi or a course description so that it may be compared to an equivalent course at FGCU with input from the faculty who teaches the course. Students may also be asked to provide details regarding course content and examples of written work if available. Credit is not given for life experiences.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework in the program.
• Each course for this program must be completed with a grade of B or better.
• Submit an application for graduation by the semester deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
• A maximum of 12 credits of coursework may be transferred from other institutions.
• Students must register for a minimum of 1 credit during the semester in which they apply for graduation.
• Earn more than 50% of the credits toward the degree through FGCU.
• Earn a minimum of 39 credits.

Program Requirements

1. Required Courses in the Major (39 credits)
   SOW 6105 Human Beh in SocEnv I: Micro (3)
   SOW 6124 Psychopathology Clinical (3)
   SOW 6186 Macro SW Theory and Practice (3)
   SOW 6235 Social Welfare and History (3)
   SOW 6236 Social Policy Analysis (3)
   SOW 6305 Social Work Practice I (3)
   SOW 6306 Social Work Practice II (3)
   SOW 6344 Adv. Clinical Group Practice (3)
   SOW 6369 Advanced Practice Seminar (3)
   SOW 6405 Research I: Methods (3)
   SOW 6435 Research II: Practice Eval (3)
   SOW 6611 Adv. Clin. Pract.: Fam/Couples (3)
   SOW 6616 Adv. Clin. Practice with Ind. (3)
   
   
2. Field Experience (12 credits)
   Select one of the following groupings:
   
   Full-time Field Experience
   SOW 6532 Field Education I (3)
   SOW 6533 Field Education II (3)
   SOW 6535 Field Instruction III (3)
   SOW 6537 Field Education IV (3)
   
   Part-time Field Experience
   SOW 6565 Field Education IA-Part-time (2)
   SOW 6554 Field Education IB (2)
   SOW 6552 Field Education IC (2)
   SOW 6566 Field Education IIA-Part-time (2)
   SOW 6570 Field Education IIB (2)
   SOW 6571 Field Education IIC (2)
   
   
3. Concentration (9-12 credits)
   Select one of the following groupings:
   
   Medical Social Work Concentration (12 credits)
   Complete each of the following:
   SOW 6678 Loss and Bereavement (3)
   SOW 6603 Medical Social Work (3)
   SOW 6696 Trauma-Informed Care (3)
   
   Plus an additional 3 credits from the following list or other courses as approved by the MSW Program Coordinator.
   SOW 6624 SW Practice with Latinos/as (3)
   SOW 6644 Issues in Aging (3)
   SOW 6710 Chemical Dependency (3)
   SOW 6786 Human Trafficking (3)
   
   No concentration on transcript (9 credits)
   Select three 6000-6999 SOW courses. Students may take two additional electives above the 60 credits required for graduation.

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Advanced Standing Program:

1. Required Courses in the Major (18 credits)
   SOW 6124 Psychopathology Clinical (3)
   SOW 6344 Adv. Clinical Group Practice (3)
   SOW 6369 Advanced Practice Seminar (3)
   SOW 6435 Research II: Practice Eval (3)
   SOW 6611 Adv. Clin. Practi.:Fam/Couples (3)
   SOW 6616 Adv. Clin. Practice with Ind. (3)
   
   
2. Field Experience (6 credits)
   Select one of the following groupings:
   
   Full-time Field Experience
   SOW 6535 Field Instruction III (3)
   SOW 6537 Field Education IV (3)
   
   Part-time Field Experience
   SOW 6566 Field Education IIA-Part-time (2)
   SOW 6570 Field Education IIB (2)
   SOW 6571 Field Education IIC (2)
   
   
3. Concentration (6-12 credits)
   Select one of the following groupings:
   
   Medical Social Work Concentration (12 credits)
   Complete each of the following:
   SOW 6678 Loss and Bereavement (3)
   SOW 6603 Medical Social Work (3)
   SOW 6696 Trauma-Informed Care (3)
   
   Plus an additional 3 credits from the following list or other courses as approved by the MSW Program Coordinator.
   SOW 6624 SW Practice with Latinos/as (3)
   SOW 6644 Issues in Aging (3)
   SOW 6710 Chemical Dependency (3)
   SOW 6786 Human Trafficking (3)
   
   No Concentration on transcript (6 credits)
   Select two 6000-6999 SOW courses.  Students may take two additional electives above the 30 credits required for graduation.

Total Credits Required: 30-60 HRS