Program Application Information

MSW Program Application & Information

ATTENTION APPLICANTS: When submitting your MSW application please provide us with your Student ID in the top left hand corner of page 8 of the application. We apologize for any inconvience this may cause.

Friday, February 3, 2012 prior to 7:00 p.m. is the deadline to submit your MSW application to the department office, or your application may also be mailed and post-marked by the deadline date.

The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is required (for fall 2012 admissions). You should arrange to take the exam so that you receive your scores in time to include them in your application packet.

Please call the Department of Social Work Education for any questions:

Phone: 559-278-3992

Professional Human Services Building (across from the library)

California State University, Fresno - Campus Map

The application period for admission to the Fall 2012 class begins October 1, 2011 and closes February 3, 2012 (NO EXCEPTIONS).

For additional information on our MSW Program please review the most recent California State University, Fresno General Catalog CSU, Fresno 2011-2012 general catalog. The department's university degree program and information can be found under the College of Health and Human Services section; here you will find our Social Work Education Department's course descriptions. This section of the general catalog also provides information on the PPS credential program.

Another source of information available to you is the current FALL 2011-2012 DSW GRAD HANDBOOK which provides details about the MSW Program including information regarding our faculty, policies, and curriculum. This information should answer many questions you may have regarding our MSW Program.

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HOW THE APPLY TO THE MSW PROGRAM – FILE YOUR APPLICATION BETWEEN OCTOBER 1, 2011 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Reference Form 2012 .pdf

The first step in applying to the MSW Program is to complete an application to the university (Graduate Admissions) at CSU Mentor. This site will provide you with the university (California State University, Fresno) on-line application which you are required to submit prior to completing the MSW Program application. Both applications are due by the February 4th deadline in order to be considered for the MSW program.

COMPLETING THE UNIVERSITY APPLICATION: This application is an on-line application. NOTE: The mailing address you enter on your university application will be used for any communications regarding your MSW application, including the decision letter. It should correspond to the address on your MSW program application. You must notify the MSW program, in writing, of any address changes (in addition to changing it on your university profile) if you want to avoid misdirected mail.

If you are just applying to the MSW program, you need only:

List the names of your references on the university application; the actual reference forms will be included in your MSW application packet.
Indicate that you are submitting your statement of purpose in the MSW program application.

If you are making application to other graduate programs that use only the university application, you may need to submit references and a statement to graduate admissions. You should check with the other graduate programs for their guidelines.

ACCESSING THE MSW APPLICATION/REFERENCE FORM FILES:

Once you have completed and filed the university application at CSU Mentor you will be directed to the Social Work Department web site where the department application and required reference forms are available for download.

The following are instructions on where or how to submit your MSW admissions application packet to the department:

You may deliver the application in person (or by someone you designate) to the department office.
You may mail the application via (regular federal postal mail service, FedEx, or any other form of delivery service of your choice). The application packet must be postmarked no later 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date.

You may mail in your admissions application to :
Department of Social Work Education
Attn: Melissa Castenon
5310 N. Campus Drive, M/S PH102
Fresno CA 93740-8019

DEADLINE FOR FALL 2012 MSW ADMISSIONS: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

7:00 p.m. if you are dropping off your application in person to the Social Work Department Office (in PHS-Professional Human Services Building located directly in front of the (north) of the Henry Madden Library. If you are mailing your application in to the department office it MUST be post-marked no later than 11:59 p.m. by the deadline date mentioned above
(NO EXCEPTIONS).

The Social Work Department office must receive ALL of the documents listed below for you to have a COMPLETE admissions application packet for the MSW program. Applicants submitting INCOMPLETE application packets will not be considered.

A COMPLETED Department of Social Work Education MSW Admissions Application and statement of purpose. Information must be typed.
Official transcripts or unofficial transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended.
Test Scores
3 REFERENCES ONLY (all references MUST be completed on the required forms). References may attach a supplemental letter to the required forms.
A copy of the receipt (verification) that you have completed your csumentor.edu application for graduate study at the university.

FORMS AND INFORMATION: Information about the Admissions process, the application forms and instructions can be accessed via these links below after October 1, 2011

Reference Forms (3 References Required) In addition to completing and submitting the admissions application, you must also request 3 professional and/or academic references; you may submit only 3 references. These references must be completed on the "Reference Form 2010-2011" provided to you on the program application website. A reference may include a separate “Letters of reference” as an attachment to the required form; letters submitted without the form are not acceptable. The references could be requested of your present or past employer(s), instructor(s), field supervisor(s), etc.; family/relatives, social friends are not appropriate reference sources. Please do not have your reference(s) mail the form to our department office. Type your name in the space provided on the form and give it to your reference. The reference form must be completed by them and put in a sealed envelope with their signature along the envelope seal. The reference may then decide to personally return the (sealed) completed form to you or he/she can mail the envelope back to you (you should include a stamped, self-addressed envelope); you will collect the references and submit them with your MSW admissions application.

ADMISSIONS REVIEW PROCESS

The Admissions Committee of the Department of Social Work Education is guided by the following criteria in evaluating applicants for admission to the graduate program:

Academic performance (PDF)
Voluntary and/or paid experience in human service (PDF)
Professional Promise

Admission to the MSW program is competitive. We have many more applicants than we can accept in a given year’s class. We encourage you to attend the information sessions listed above and discuss with the co-chairs of the admissions committee how you might present the strongest application possible. Since an offer of admission can never be assured, you should also consider other options such as applying to other programs (MSW or related areas). If you do not receive an offer of admission, you might consider further strengthening of your academic or work/volunteer experience records.

We do not have “rolling” or “early admissions” so there is no specific advantage to submitting your application packet earlier in the application period. You should use the time you need to put together the strongest materials possible and submit it by the deadline.

NOTIFICATION OF THE COMMITTEE’S DECISION: After the admissions committee has reviewed all of the applications, you will be notified of their decision by regular mail; no information is given over the telephone. THE NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT TO THE MAILING ADDRESS OF RECORD ON YOUR UNIVERSITY APPLICATION UNLESS WE RECEIVE WRITTEN NOTICE FROM YOU OF A CHANGE IN ADDRESS.

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