Prospective Students

The Office of Admissions provides direction throughout your experience in applying to the Masters of Social Work program. We will assist you from the application process through securing financial aid and locating graduate housing.

As a responsive Admissions Office we are prepared to assist you in your decision to apply and in your application process.

Information meetings are held regularly throughout the academic year to assist prospective candidates in understanding particular aspects of the various plans of study concentrations and specialization offered by the School. Links to the schedule of these meetings at all three campus sites are found on the GSSS Home Page, as well as on the left hand navigation bar on this page.

Representatives from Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Service attend various Graduate School events and fairs during the Academic Year in the Tri-State Area as well as other locations across the country. A link to the current recruitment schedule is located on the left hand navigation bar on this page.

The Admissions Committee seeks candidates who can meet the academic requirements of a graduate level program and who demonstrate personal qualities and hold values compatible with the goals of the social work profession. Each applicant is reviewed and evaluated on his or her own merits. As in the Social Work profession, we want to take the time to evaluate each applicant as an individual.

The application fee is $60.00. Along with the application, you need to submit an Autobiographical Statement in which you discuss six topics suggested by the Admissions Committee. These topics are outlined on the face sheet for the statement which is found in the application package. The Committee also requires three letters of recommendation. Although generally there is no specific type of recommendation requested, these should be from people who know your academic capabilities, your employment skills or the personal qualities that would make you a valued social worker. Of course, transcripts of your undergraduate work and any graduate courses you may have taken would also be a necessary part of the application. Applicants to the Masters of Social Work program must have completed a bachelor's degree with liberal arts content from a regionally accredited college or university. A minimum of 18 credits of  liberal arts content on an undergraduate level is required.

Recommendations and transcripts can be forwarded directly to the Admissions Office.

The deadline for Fall applications is June 1st.

If the admissions committee is unable to review your materials in time to admit you for the fall term, you will be notified and the application will automatically be moved to consideration for spring admission.

The deadline for Spring applications is December 1st.

Please note, however, that these are meant to be priority dates rather than fast deadlines and every effort will be made to review all or as many applications as possible for any given semester.

Please contact the Admissions Office if you have any question or concern regarding application deadlines or priority dates. We will attempt to accommodate your needs. Admissions decisions are made year-round and applicants who have not been reviewed for a particular semester will be "rolled over" to the next available semester.

The Admissions Office is available to answer questions and to respond to concerns of all prospective students.

For a description of the various plans of study offered by the School please click on the link in the left-hand navigation bar.

The Application for Admissions to the MSW program can be downloaded as a PDF file by clicking on this link: MSW Application.  Or you may click on the "Apply to Fordham" button on the left-hand navigation bar on this page.

When you submit your completed application to the Office of Admissions in person or in the pre-addressed envelope that has been provided, be sure to include the following items:

* Application form: Please remember to complete and sign the form.
* Autobiographical Statement: Instructions are printed on the first page of the statement. You must supply additional pages,making sure to sign the completed statement. 
* Transcript(s): Please submit transcripts from all undergraduate schools from which you earned 20 credits or more and from all graduate programs.
* Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required as part of the application.
* Application Fee: A check or money order, made payable to Fordham University,must be enclosed. The application fee amount is $60.

Note: Advanced Standing and Transfer Applicants Only:

* Final Field Work Evaluation: You must submit an evaluation of your field placement in your B.S.W. orM.S.W. program-- this may be a copy of the field work evaluation form used by your school, or you may use the alternative field work evaluation form (PDF Format, found here) which should be filled out by your BSW or MSW program director or faculty advisor.

For information regarding nonmatriculated study please click here.

GSSS Course Catalogue