Applications for Fall 2025 are closed.
BSW Program Admissions Requirements
- Submit a $50 non-refundable application fee. Please see the application for more information about fee waivers.
- Applicants must complete a total of 60 undergraduate credits, including program prerequisite courses* with a letter grade of C (B or higher preferred), before beginning the program, and have a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- Applicants are strongly recommended to complete a Pre-Application Worksheet before submitting their application to ensure program prerequisite courses are fulfilled.
- Upload all unofficial transcripts** for any college credit earned (including college courses taken while in high school).
- Please do not send transcripts to the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Applicants must upload transcripts through their application portal or mail them to the School of Social Welfare. Transcripts sent to the Undergraduate Admissions Office may cause a delay in admissions review.
- Complete a personal essay that displays your understanding of the profession, the School of Social Welfare's mission, and readiness for undergraduate social work education through the manner in which you address the identified issues and your use of examples that illustrate your points. Although you may include any information that you believe is pertinent to your application, please be sure to discuss the provided essay questions clearly indicated on the application.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation are required from past or current professors and/or employers, supervisors, or health care professionals for whom you have worked in a paid or volunteer position.
- Resume.
See Application Material Guidelines for more information about the admissions requirements.
New Admissions Requirement (Effective Fall 2026)
Students applying for admission to the upper-division Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program beginning Fall 2026 must have completed one three-credit lower-division Introduction to Social Work course before enrollment. This course must be equivalent to HWC 220: Introduction to the Social Work Profession at Stony Brook University.
Acceptable equivalents include:
- Completion of an equivalent course at another SUNY institution, following SUNY Transfer Path policies.
- Completion of an equivalent course at a CSWE-accredited social work program.
Exceptions:
This requirement will be waived for students transferring with a completed associate’s degree in human services from a partner community college with which we have an approved articulation agreement.
Students admitted without a completed degree may petition to waive the requirement if they have taken a comparable introduction to social work course at another institution.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
At the discretion of the School of Social Welfare Admissions Committee, interviews may be required.
Admission to the BSW & MSW Program is conditional and contingent on the successful completion of all admission requirements of the School of Social Welfare.
The School of Social Welfare Admissions Office will make an effort to inform applicants of any missing materials. However, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their application is complete for review. Incomplete applications may result in delayed admissions review. All admissions correspondence will be emailed. Please check your email frequently for notifications.
Forty-three (43) percent of applicants to the MSW program are accepted, and 45 percent are accepted to the BSW program. Ninety-five (95) percent of enrolled MSW students and 98 percent of enrolled BSW students complete the requirements for the degree. A survey of MSW graduates indicated that 90 percent of those responding to the questionnaire were employed in social work, and 85 percent had obtained employment within three months of graduation.
For questions, please send an email to ssw_admissions@stonybrook.edu.
