Master of Social Work Application Information

Master of Social Work Applicant Requirements

Master of Social Work Application Instructions

We only accept the GSSW online application to our MSW program. A completed online application includes:

• Transcripts

  You may submit unofficial transcripts for an initial review of your application. If admitted, you must provide official transcripts from all institutions attended before orientation day. Taking even a single course requires that a transcript be provided.

  Many schools issue transcripts electronically, either through their own Web services or through vendors. If this option is available through the institutions you attended, request that your transcript(s) be sent to gsswadmission@du.edu.

  If your transcripts are being sent by mail, use the following address:

  Office of Admission
  Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver
  2148 South High St.
  Denver, CO 80208-7100

• Resume

  You will be asked to upload a current resume to your online application. Your resume should include information about your educational and professional experiences as they relate to social work. Be sure to include any volunteer or internship experience that has helped prepare you for a career as a social worker.

• Recommendations

  Letters of recommendation are optional. Our holistic approach to reviewing applications, with or without a letter of recommendation, is a reliable basis for making a final admission decision.

  If you choose to submit an academic and/or professional letter of recommendation, your recommender should know you well and be able to speak about your background, your passion for social work and your ability to succeed in a graduate program. 

  Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application. In the application, you will be prompted to provide an email address and phone number for each reference. You can submit up to two recommendation letters.

• Career Goals Statement

  The average statement length is approximately five pages; submissions exceeding 1,500 words or six pages are discouraged. Please double-space your statement, use a font size of no less than 12 and type your name in the upper right corner of each page. Answer the questions below. Answering the last question is optional. Prior to writing your essay, review the NASW Code of Ethics.

  Career Goals Statement for Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 application

  1. Rationale: Identify significant factors that influenced your decision to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and how you intend to use it in the future. (1-2 paragraphs)

  2. Social work values and ethics: Describe your understanding of the social work profession and its core values. Compare your own values with the professional social work values, any potential value based or ethical conflicts you might experience and how you plan to address or reconcile these conflicts (whether it be in the classroom, in field, in future practice or in any other areas). (1 page)

  3. Personal and professional attributes and liabilities: Describe any cultural, economic or social challenges and/or opportunities that have provided you with a unique perspective about social work issues. What insights did you gain from these experiences about how to maintain professional judgment and performance during times of distress? (1 page) 

  4. Employment and volunteer history: Discuss the relationship between your educational, employment and volunteer experiences and what qualities equip you for the social work profession. Describe your experiences and feelings about working with populations different from your own.

  OPTIONAL: Please address any special academic or other considerations that you would like GSSW to consider in the review of your application.

  Career Goals Statement for Summer 2025 application and on

  1. Rationale: Identify significant factors that influenced your decision to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and how you intend to use it in the future. (1-2 paragraphs)

  2. Social work values and ethics: Social work is guided by professional values and ethics that often serve as a compass when facing ethical or value-based dilemmas. Considering the social work profession, its core values, and your values, describe the following (1 page):

        a. What potential value-based or ethical conflict(s) do you imagine you may experience between your personal values and the professional social work values?

        b. How do you plan to address or reconcile these conflicts (whether in the classroom, during field placement, in future practice, or any other areas)?

  3. Personal and professional attributes and liabilities: Describe any cultural, economic or social challenges and/or opportunities that have provided you with a unique perspective about social work issues. What insights did you gain from these experiences about how to maintain professional judgment and performance during times of distress? (1 page) 

  4. Employment and volunteer history: Discuss the relationship between your educational, employment and volunteer experiences and what qualities equip you for the social work profession. Describe your experiences and feelings about working with populations different from your own.

  OPTIONAL: Please address any special academic or other considerations that you would like GSSW to consider in the review of your application.

• Application Fee

  You can pay the $65 nonrefundable application fee after you submit your online application. The fee can be paid by credit card or check.

Master of Social Work Application Deadlines

Applications for the 2025 summer and fall Master of Social Work programs will now be reviewed on a rolling basis. This means there are no longer early or regular deadlines, but instead, applicants receive an admission decision two weeks after application submission.

Final deadlines still apply — you must complete your application by the final application deadline to be considered.

The regular deadline still applies for the Winter 2025 start term. 

• Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW Program

  Fall 2025 Start Date: Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW Program

  1. Final Deadline: July 31, 2025 —If you complete your application before August 1, you will receive an admission decision within one week of submission.

  Apply Now

  The application for the fall 2026 Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW Program will be available in August 2025.

  Summer 2025 Start Date: Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW Program

  • Final Deadline: June 1, 2025—You will receive an admission decision within two weeks of submission.

  Apply Now

  The application for the summer 2026 Denver Campus Advanced-Standing Program will be available in mid-June 2025.

• Denver Campus MSW Program

  Fall 2025 Start Date: Denver Campus MSW Program

  1. Final Deadline: July 31, 2025—If you complete your application before August 1, you will receive an admission decision within one week of submission.

  Apply Now

  The application for the fall 2026 Denver Campus MSW Program will be available in August 2025.

  Winter 2025 Start Date: Denver Campus MSW Program 

  1. Final Deadline: December 1, 2024—If you complete your application before December 1, you will receive an admission decision within one week of submission.

  Apply Now

  The application for our winter 2026 Denver Campus MSW Program will be available in January 2025. 

• Western Colorado MSW Program

  Fall 2025 Start Date: Western Colorado MSW Program

  • Final Deadline: July 31, 2025 — You will receive an admission decision within two weeks of submission.

  Apply Now

  The application for the summer 2026 Western Colorado Advanced-Standing Program will be available in August 2025.

• Four Corners Advanced-Standing MSW Program

  Summer 2025 Start Date: Four Corners Advanced-Standing MSW Program

  • Final Deadline: June 1, 2025—You will receive an admission decision within two weeks of submission.

  Apply Now

  The application for the fall 2026 Four Corners Program will be available in August 2025.