Admissions

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the MSW program must hold a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. See specific requirements for the Standard Program and Advanced Standing program below.

  • An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution (or equivalent)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended
  • Two references (forms are in the online application)
    • Applicants who are fewer than five years from completing a bachelor's degree: One academic reference and one professional reference
    • Applicants who are five years or more from completing a bachelor's degree: Two professional references
  • Professional resumé including Social Work-related experience (employment, volunteer, internship and/or other)
  • Essay: A two page / 500 word statement of purpose which addresses your readiness for graduate work, what influenced your decision to pursue a MSW and your professional goals.
  • Sample of scholarly writing from your undergraduate program. Examples include an academic research paper, literature review, report, etc. If scholarly writing is not available, please contact the admissions counselor for an alternate option.

Advanced Standing applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for the accelerated degree:

  • An undergraduate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. No other degrees or life experience can be substituted for this requirement.
  • Completion of the undergraduate degree no more than five years prior to application. (Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for social workers who have been in practice with regular continuing education.)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended
  • Two references (forms are in the online application)
    • One from either the undergraduate program director or field faculty
      • If your BSW program director or field faculty are no longer available or would not be able to write a knowledgeable reference on your behalf, you may seek a reference from another faculty member within your BSW program.
    • One professional
  • Professional resumé including experience related to social work (employment, volunteer, internship and/or other)
  • Essay: A two page / 500 word statement of purpose which addresses your readiness for graduate work, what influenced your decision to pursue a MSW and your professional goals.
  • Sample of scholarly writing from your undergraduate program. Examples include an academic research paper, literature review, report, etc. If scholarly writing is not available, please contact the admissions counselor for an alternate option.
  • A copy of the field evaluation from the baccalaureate social work field experience(s) documenting satisfactory generalist practice experience and skills in the internship.

Prerequisite Courses

  • Statistics

Please contact Admissions Counselor for options if you don't have a course in statistics

How to Apply

  1. 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 ApplicantsReturning Applicants

  2. Request an official transcript from every regionally accredited college or university where you completed even a single course. 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 97132

Students in MSW class

Fall 2024 Admissions Timeline

Application opens October 1, 2023
Priority application deadline* January 16, 2024
   *Recommended for those seeking accelerated option
Application deadline  May 1, 2024*
File Review appointments November - May
MSW Ignite (Preview) April 25, 2024

File Review Appointments are held virtually over Zoom. The MSW Preview Day is held in person at George Fox University's Portland Center.

*Accepting applicants after May 1st for standard programs (students who don't need practicum placement in the first year) until cohort is full.

Additional Information

  • We don’t require the GRE or any other standardized test.
  • Contact information for your references will be entered in the online application. Reference forms will then be sent to them from our application system. Please be sure to submit your references before submitting your application to ensure they arrive on time.
Two students talking in class

International Applicants

Additional requirements for international students are described on the International Graduate Admissions website. Those students whose first language is not English must meet the required English proficiency standard as demonstrated in passing the following minimum international iBT (Internet-based TOEFL) scores: 25 points in each of the following – Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.

International applicants whose primary speaking language is not English will need to demonstrate an advanced level of writing, speaking, spelling and comprehension in the English language to be admitted into the program.

International applicants with a bachelor's degree in social work from outside of the United States will need to complete the International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES).

Kyra Brown

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

Trisha Stickler

Admissions Counselor, Master of Social Work Program