San Jose State University : School of Social Work

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MSW Program Application

For Fall 2012 Entry

Master of Social Work Program - School of Social Work
College of Applied Sciences and Arts
San José State University

MSW Program Information Meetings

(For Prospective Social Work Graduate Students Applying for Fall 2012)

Our MSW Program will host the following informational meetings regarding admission for the Fall 2012 semester, attendance is encouraged, but not required.

Basic Application Information

If you are applying to our MSW Program, please note the following basic information. Click here to view the basic information.

Additional required documents-2012 MSW Application:


Your application will not be reviewed until all required documents are received. Early application is strongly encouraged! You will be notified if an interview is required.

Welcome!

Thank you for your interest in the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program at San José State University (SJSU). Founded in 1969, and fully accredited, our MSW program has maintained an integrated and diverse student body. The Mission of the School of Social Work at San José State University is to prepare social work professionals for effective, ethical practice and leadership from a transcultural perspective with diverse individuals, families and communities.

In the service of this mission, we are active in scholarship and professional leadership endeavors that advance the field of social work and respond to the emerging needs of our communities. The transcultural perspective is infused throughout our curriculum, informs our scholarship and reflects our enduring commitment to advocating for social justice, honoring the strengths of diverse cultures, and enhancing the well being of individuals and communities.

MSW Program Bulletin

Please read the latest available version of the MSW Program Bulletin for details about our full-time and 3-year program, curriculum, and other important information. A printed version may be accessed online via our web site at http://www.sjsu.edu/socialwork/docs/2011_MSW_Bulletin.pdf.

Applicant Prerequisites and Preparation

Applicants for admission to the MSW Program must demonstrate academic preparation and professional commitment to social work. Applicants must have:

  1. Undergraduate Degree. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university in any field, although it is preferred that this undergraduate degree be in social work or a related field;
  2. 2.50 GPA or Better. Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 for their last 60 semester units;
  3. Social Work Experience. Applicants must have significant volunteer, internship, and/or paid work experience with groups such as Latinos, African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and other marginalized, oppressed, or disadvantaged groups;
  4. Liberal Arts Foundation. Applicants must have a foundation in liberal arts, usually achieved through general education or major coursework in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. Your transcripts and Liberal Arts Foundation Worksheet must demonstrate this foundation.
  5. 550 minimum paper-based, 80 minimum internet, or 213 computer-based TOEFL Score or 7.0 Minimum IELTS Score. All applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English, must demonstrate competence in English. Those who do not possess a bachelor’s degree from a post-secondary institution where English is the principal language of instruction must receive a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score of 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

MSW Program Admissions Review

The MSW Program Admissions Committee evaluates each applicant on the basis of all submitted materials and information. Because admission into graduate degree programs is competitive and enrollment space is limited, many qualified applicants are not accepted into the MSW Program. The MSW Program Admissions Committee will notify applicants as soon as possible as to their status. These notifications, depending on the applicant pool and available space, can occur as early as March and as late as June.

Applicants admitted will be notified and sent an acceptance package. MSW students will be admitted to the full-time or 3-year program as indicated on the application AND according to available space. Applicants not admitted will also be notified, and must reapply the following year if they wish to be reconsidered for admission. Admitted applicants cannot defer their admission to another year. Admissions decisions are final and applications will not be reconsidered.

Checking Admission Status: SJSU and MSW Program Applications

Applicants should periodically check their SJSU admissions status on-line through MySJSU. You can confirm if your SJSU-level application has been processed or if materials are missing. The MSW Program will notify you as to your application status via email. Admission to SJSU does NOT guarantee admission to the MSW Program.

Transfer of Credit and Course Substitutions

Academic credit for life and/or work experience cannot be given in lieu of the field practicum or for courses in the professional foundation curriculum. Students who have taken CSWE accredited MSW-level courses at other universities may request a transfer of a maximum of 12 units of credit, but these requests must be made with the MSW Graduate Advisor prior to application.

Although we do not currently offer advanced standing, requests can be made on a case-by-case basis to substitute certain foundation level courses. Please place your request immediately after gaining admission to the program with the MSW Program Admissions Director and Graduate Advisor.

Taking MSW Courses Before Being Admitted

Only those admitted to the MSW Program may take graduate-level social work courses at SJSU;

MSW classes are NOT available through Open University.

Additional Information and Questions

Please visit our web site at www.sjsu.edu/socialwork/. If you have any questions, please contact the MSW Program at the address above, call the Social Work office at (408) 924-5800, or email Professor Barry Goldman-Hall, MSW Admissions Director at  barry.goldman-hall@sjsu.edu .

Thank you again for your interest in our MSW Program!

Applicant Information

Applicant Personal Information


Sex



Are you a U.S. Citizen?

Permanent Mailing Address



Local Mailing Address






MSW Program Information (See the MSW Program Bulletin for Details)

1. Please indicate your MSW Program preference (choose only one)

2. Have you applied to this program before?
3. Desired field of practice for Transcultural Multi-Systems Practice study (choose only one*)



*The School of Social Work field of practice may not be available for Fall 2012 due to budget constraints. Please choose two fields of practice if School of Social Work is your 1st choice.
4. Are you applying for the Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program and Stipend?
5. Are you applying for the Mental Health Training Program and Stipend?
6. Are you applying for the Gerontology Certificate? No
7. Are you applying for Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC)? No

Liberal Arts Foundation Worksheet

To assess your liberal arts foundation and your preparedness for the MSW Program, please complete and submit this worksheet.

Please specify the manner in which you acquired knowledge about the liberal arts content areas below. If you list specific coursework, specify the course by name and number, and identify the educational institution where you took the course(s). Specialized training in each area also may be listed.














RESUME AND SOCIAL WORK RELATED EXPERIENCE WORKSHEET – FALL 2012

Resume Instructions

A resume must be included as part of your application. Please specify your educational background including the educational institutions, dates of attendance, and graduation date and degree(s) awarded. Include employment history, and volunteer and internship experiences. For employment and volunteer experience, list employer or agency name, dates of employment, responsibilities, and average hours worked per week. Also include any language skills and degree of proficiency, and any other relevant skills or qualifications. Social Work Related Experience Worksheet

Use the worksheet below to report your amount of social work related experience in hours. This may be employment, internship, or volunteer experience. If you are unsure whether a particular experience is social work related, please list it anyway; the MSW Program Admissions Committee will determine its relevance. For the experiences you list, please comment in your autobiographical statement how specifically how these experiences are social work related and how they have prepared you for graduate study and a career in social work. This information will assist us in evaluating your application. Please complete the worksheet below by filling in the appropriate information in the spaces allotted. You may type or print clearly. If you need more space, fill-out additional worksheets or attach your own similarly formatted document. Please attach this worksheet IN FRONT of your resume.

Agency/Organization NameJob PositionDates of EmploymentTotal Weeks (or Days) & Average Hours Per Week (or Day)Total Hours
Example: SafeHouse Inc.Example: Volunteer Family CounselorExample: March 1, 2003 to April 1, 2004Example: 56 weeks at 5 hours per weekExample: 280 hours

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT – FALL 2012

Please submit an autobiographical statement as part of your application. This will serve both as an example of your writing ability and a basis for better understanding your background, characteristics, experiences, and interests related to your pursuit of an MSW degree at San José State University.

The autobiographical statement should be sent as an email attachment to msw.autobiography@gmail.com

Content of the Autobiographical Statement


The mission of the MSW Program at San José State University is to provide quality, professional education which prepares MSW students for culturally competent practice with Latinos, African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and those communities, groups, families, and individuals who are disenfranchised, oppressed, or marginalized. The unique transcultural perspective, which has historically guided the curriculum, promotes commitment of its graduates to enhance the well-being of individuals and their communities, to build upon the strengths of diverse cultures, and to advocate for social justice. Please note the recommended page lengths for each component. In your autobiographical statement, please include:

Applicant name and ID

  1. A general introduction of who you are, your career goals in the profession of social work, and your primary reasons for pursuing a degree in social work (1 page);
  2. How your background and experience influenced your decision and prepared you to become a social worker, specifically experience with each of the following (3 to 4 pages):
    1. Personal and professional experiences (e.g., experiences that have helped shape and define who you are; experiences giving and receiving help, etc.) Please note how you have resolved or overcome any personal adversity or challenges.
    2. Your experience, interest with different cultures and oppressed groups (e.g. meaningful experiences in groups, communities and organizations; thoughts about issues of classism, sexism, homophobia, racism, poverty, and other forms of oppression), including specific experience with EACH of the following populations-at-risk:
      • Latinos, Asian Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, and other ethnic minority groups;
      • Gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered populations; and
      • Communities, groups, families, and individuals who are disenfranchised, oppressed or marginalized;
  3. What contribution to the profession and society you expect to make as a social worker, especially in terms of our program's mission emphasizing culturally competent practice with Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans and those communities, groups, families, and individuals who are disenfranchised, oppressed, or marginalized (1 to 2 pages);
  4. Your strengths (e.g., bilingual skills, leadership abilities, personal characteristics, unique experiences, etc.) and areas of growth (e.g., needing additional experience with certain populations, character development, maturity, etc.) that influence your abilities to be a professional social worker (2 to 3 pages); and
  5. Why San José State University's MSW Program is the best place for your education, and plans and adjustments in priorities you are willing to make in order to earn your MSW degree (1 page)

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