Admissions
Ready To Be a Bridge Builder of Hope?
Our MSW program equips you to become a compassionate leader in service and justice through rigorous, accredited training and meaningful field experiences.
We’ve detailed the application process here. As you apply, keep your end goal in mind – a career where you promote hope and healing for individuals, families and communities. As a social worker, you’ll advocate for equity, foster resilience, and make a lasting impact across diverse professional settings.
Admission Requirements
The following admission requirements apply to the traditional MSW program, the advanced standing MSW program, and the stand-alone school social work program – except as otherwise noted.
Bachelor’s Degree & GPA
Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, with preference given to applicants with a 3.0 or higher. (Don't have a bachelor's degree? )
Prerequisite Course: Statistics
Students may apply while working on or planning to take a statistics course. If admitted, the statistics prerequisite must be met by the time the MSW program starts in August.
We accept Statistics and Research-Based Statistics courses from accredited universities and community colleges, as well as this specific self-paced online course offered through Coursera: Stanford's Introduction to Statistics.
To show proof of prerequisite completion, email your official college transcript or Coursera completion certificate to admissions@georgefox.edu.
U.S. Residency
This program is open only to students who reside in the United States. Because the program is delivered online, we are unable to issue I-20 documents or sponsor F-1 student visas.
No GRE Required
We don’t require the GRE or any other standardized test.
Additional Requirements
If you already have a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), you can apply for admission to the Master of Social Work advanced standing program, which enables you to complete your MSW at George Fox in eight to 20 months.
No other degrees or life experience can be substituted for this requirement.
You must have completed this bachelor’s degree no more than five years before applying. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for social workers who have been in practice with regular continuing education.
In addition, you must submit a copy of the field evaluation from your baccalaureate social work field experience(s) documenting satisfactory generalist practice experience and skills in the internship.
The school social work program can be completed as an integrated part of either the traditional or advanced standing MSW program, or it can be completed as an eight-month stand-alone program.
If you want to take it as a stand-alone program, you must have a master of social work (MSW) degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
No other degrees or life experience can be substituted for this requirement.
Fall 2027 Admissions Timeline
Applications will be reviewed as they are received until the cohort is full. Once the cohort reaches capacity, qualified applicants will be placed on the waitlist.
How to Apply
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Apply Online
Create an account with a username and password and complete a Master of Social Work application online. It's free to apply!
New Applicants Returning Applicants
The online application includes:
- Professional resumé including experience related to social work (employment, volunteer, internship, and/or other)
- 500-word essay
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Submit Academic Writing Sample
Note: An academic writing sample is not required for the stand-alone school social work program.
In the online application, you will be asked to submit a sample of a college paper from your undergraduate or graduate program (e.g., a research paper, literature review, or analytical report) that demonstrates your academic writing skills and proper use of citations.
If you don't have access to a past college paper, please contact admissions at msw@georgefox.edu for an alternative.
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Submit Recommendations
All MSW applications require two recommendations, as detailed below.
Contact information for your recommendations will be entered in the online application. Recommendation forms will then be sent to them from our application system.
Recommenders can include current or former supervisors, managers, colleagues, professors, academic advisors, or department chairs. Recommendations from family or friends not accepted.
Traditional MSW Program
Two professional recommendations, OR one professional recommendation and one academic recommendation
Advanced Standing MSW Program
- Two professional recommendations, OR one professional recommendation and one academic recommendation
Stand-Alone School Social Work Program
- Two professional recommendations
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Request Official Electronic Transcripts
Request an official transcript from every regionally accredited college or university where you completed even a single course. Exception: Applicants to the stand-alone school social work program only need to submit a transcript for their MSW program.
Electronic transcripts are preferred for speed and accuracy. They must be sent directly from the institution to admissions@georgefox.edu.
If an electronic option is not available, unopened official transcripts can be sent via mail to:
Office of Admissions
George Fox University
414 N Meridian Street #6089
Newberg, OR 97132All international transcripts must be evaluated by one of our transcript evaluation partners.
Once Your Application Is Complete
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Interview
If you are invited for an interview (also known as a file review appointment), you will interview with MSW faculty via Zoom.
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Submit $200 Deposit
If you are accepted to the MSW program, you must pay a $200 enrollment deposit.
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Complete the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens each year on October 1 for the following academic year. You must submit the FAFSA annually in order to apply for federal, state, and some institutional financial aid. While this is not required, it is highly recommended.
Our Title IV Federal School Code is 003194.
Have questions about the FAFSA? Visit our FAFSA resource page.
Kyra Brown, MSW, CSWA
School social worker, Beaverton School District
I wanted an accredited MSW program where I could get the education and field experience I needed. I didn’t originally select George Fox due to it being a faith-based program, but found that it pushed me to learn how to discuss these topics in my experiences with social work. This is a unique skill set that I think only George Fox MSW students gain.
Questions?
Trisha Stickler
Admissions Counselor, Master of Social Work Program