Admission Requirements


In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria of St. Ambrose Graduate Studies, the MSW program requires a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university* with evidence of a liberal arts foundation to include the following minimum credit hours:

  • social and behavioral sciences (18 hours)
  • humanities (9 hours)

The Admissions Committee will review the applicant's transcript to determine if the liberal arts requirement is satisfied. The following list of liberal arts distribution areas will be used to determine where a course belongs:

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences: Anthropology, Biomedical History, Communications, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, History, International Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Urban Planning, Women's Studies, all Ethnic Studies courses.
  • Humanities: Architecture, Art, Art History, Classics, Comparative Literature, Dance, Drama, English, Landscape Architecture, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Speech Communication, all foreign languages and literature.

Additional requirements include:

  • Demonstrated potential for graduate studies by maintaining a 3.0 or better undergraduate grade point average for the last 60 credit hours
  • Preferably previous experience in the field of human services as an employee, student, or volunteer
  • Evidence of interest, ability, and potential for professional social work practice on an advanced level as demonstrated by your letters of recommendation.

*Advanced Standing applicants must have earned a Bachelor of Social Work from an institution accredited by the Council of Social Work Education.

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Admission Deadlines

Master of Social Work

Full-Time (Fall Start) - May 1
Part-Time (Fall Start) - August 1
Advanced Standing (Summer Start) - April 1


Application Information

How to Submit Your Application

To apply to the Master of Social Work program at St. Ambrose University, follow this process:

  1. Fill out the online application for SAU Graduate Studies.
  2. Fill out the MSW program application *This form does not save. Have your personal statement and 2 names and emails of references ready* 
  3. Submit official transcripts from all Universities attended (Send Attn: MSW Program)
  4. Send this confidential letter of reference link to 2 professional or academic references. 

If you'd like a complete paper packet mailed to you, or need more information about the program, contact the School of Social Work via email at msw@sau.edu or call 563-333-3910.

Submit all application correspondence to:

St. Ambrose University
School of Social Work
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
or msw@sau.edu

Contact


Chris Martin, PhD, Director

Master of Social Work
North Davenport Education Center
1950 E. 54th St.
Davenport, IA 52807
563-333-3916
MSW@sau.edu

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