The Social Work Program operates under a selective admissions policy.  Students are considered "premajors" until they meet the minimum requirements to be accepted as a Social Work major. Admission to the Social Work Program involves the completion of an application packet which students can obtain from a social work advisor or on this web site. Minimum requirements for admission into the major include:

• completion of the general studies math requirement;(Mat 112 suggested for statistics,-Psychology statistics requires MAT 112 or higher, Nursing Statistics requires MAT 110 or higher; MAT 116 suggested for graduate school);
• completion of the ENG 108 general studies requirement;
• completion of Biology 101 (or equivalent); and
• completion of SWK 250, SOC 110, PSY 101, and SOC 230 with a minimum grade C.
• must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
• Must have earned a C or better in all completed SWK prefix classes required for the major;
• must agree to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with accepted professional social work practices and the current NASW Code of Ethics;
• cannot have exhibited behavior that will infringe on their present or future ability to adequately fulfill professional social work responsibilities.  The Social Work Program's Admissions Committee reserves the right to require applicants to submit additional materials if the Committee questions the student's ability to adequately fulfill professional responsibilities (see Social Work Student Handbook on this web site).  

Students must complete the Social Work admission process prior to enrolling in SWK 360 and must submit completed application packets no later than the first Friday in October or March.  The Social Work Program's Admissions Committee will review all application packets and interview all applicants.  Admission decisions are based on a student's academic performance; professional, personal, and academic conduct; references; and responses to application and interview questions. 

Once admitted to the Social Work Program, Social Work majors are expected to maintain professional and academic standards of conduct.  The Social Work Program at Missouri Western reserves the right to place a student on probationary status or remove a student from the major because of violations of these standards (see Social Work Student Handbook).

Eligible students should submit the formal application packet (an application, a personal statement, three letters of reference, and a signed Student Handbook form, and Code of Ethics form) by the first Friday in October or March. The Social Work Admissions Committee will review application materials and interview all applicants.  Admission decisions are based on a student's:  

• interview responses,
• academic performance,
• personal statements,
• references, and
• application responses
• prior personal and academic conduct

All members of the Admissions Committee, by a simple majority vote will then make one of the following decisions:

• To unconditionally accept a student into the Program;
• To conditionally accept a student into the program
• To place a student on probationary status; or
• To deny formal acceptance.

Students may appeal admission decisions based on criteria contained in the Social Work Student Handbook.  The Social Work Program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, age, creed, ethnic or national origin, disability, or political or sexual orientation.

Your type-written summary should be approximately four-five pages in length and  double-spaced.

Personal Statement Outline

• Discuss your perceptions of the social work profession.
• Discuss at least two major reasons you chose to pursue a social work career.  
• Describe your successes in school, work, and your personal life.
• Describe the barriers you have had to overcome to pursue your educational, work, and/or personal goals.
• Describe your experiences working with people (voluntary and/or paid). Please indicate the type of setting and the length of your experience in each setting.
  • In your opinion, what experiences have prepared you to work effectively with diverse populations (e.g., racial, ethnic, age, disability, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, and/or religious diversity)?
  • In your opinion, what difficulties might you encounter working with any of the groups listed above? (Please be specific.)
• Describe your professional career plans.
• List or provide a summary of your strengths that equip you for the social work profession.
• All social workers exhibit personal limitations that sometimes interfere with effective social work practice. What limitations have you identified and targeted for change? 

In addition to the item listed above, applicants should include any additional information pertinent to the admissions decision.