If you’re applying to the Full-time pathway (online or in-person) or the Extended-time pathway (online or in-person), you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, but it can be in any major.

Applicants to the Advanced Standing pathway or the Advanced Standing Extended-time pathway (in-person or online) must have earned a BSW from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education within five years of beginning the MSW program.

The Statement of Purpose is a critical component of your application. For instructions and required prompts, visit here.

Visit here for international applicant requirements.

 

No. Effective August 1, 2026, applicants will be charged a $50 fee

Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended for credit must be uploaded in your application.

If you are admitted to the MSW program and accept the offer of admission, official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended for credit must be sent to the Graduate School using the directions here .

University of South Carolina students and graduates do not need to request their official transcript be sent to the Graduate School.

We review your application once it is complete, meaning all required supplemental materials (e.g., transcript(s) and recommendations) have been received. Application review typically takes 4-6 weeks.

Once your application has been reviewed, you are notified via email by the College of Social Work and the Graduate School of your admission recommendation and official decision. Visit here for more information.

The confirmation fee must be submitted after accepting your offer of admission. At that time, you will receive access to the MSW enrollment requirements, which provide confirmation fee payment directions.

Admission can be deferred for only one academic year. To defer admission, submit the MSW Student Intent form linked in the College of Social Work’s admission recommendation email.

• The Full-time pathway (both in person and online) is designed to be completed in 4 semesters over two years.
• The Advanced Standing pathway (both in-person and online) begins in the summer semester and is designed to be completed in 3 semesters over 11 months. 
• The Extended-time pathway (both in-person and online) is designed to be completed in 8 semesters over three years. 
• The Advanced Standing Extended-time pathway (both in-person and online) begins in the fall semester and is designed to be completed in 5 semesters over 2 years.

Advanced Standing (in-person and online) students begin their graduate studies during the summer term. Students in all other program pathways begin their graduate studies during the fall term.  

• Full-time pathway: Required courses in the in-person option are offered in Columbia during the week (Monday through Thursday). Required courses in the online option are mostly asynchronous with some synchronous touchpoints on select weekday evenings (6 – 8pm). In the first-year generalist curriculum synchronous touchpoints are on Tuesday evenings. In the second-year advanced generalist curriculum synchronous touchpoints are on Wednesday evenings.
• Advanced Standing pathway: Required courses in the in-person option are offered in Columbia during the week (Monday through Thursday). Required courses in the online option are mostly asynchronous with some synchronous touchpoints on Wednesday evenings (6 – 8pm).
• Extended-time pathway: Applicants for the in-person option must select one program location where they will take classes: Charleston, Columbia, or Greenville. Required courses in the in-person option meet mostly on Saturdays. Required courses in the EXT online option are mostly asynchronous with some synchronous touchpoints on select weekday evenings (6 – 8pm).  In the first-year generalist curriculum synchronous touchpoints are on Tuesday evenings. In the second and third-years advanced generalist curriculum synchronous touchpoints are on Wednesday evenings.
• Advanced Standing Extended-time pathway: Required courses in the in-person option meet on Saturdays. Applicants must select one program location where they will take classes: Charleston, Columbia, or Greenville. Required courses in the ADST-EXT online option are mostly asynchronous with some synchronous touchpoints on select weekday evenings (6 – 8pm).