Before Applying

Before submitting an application to the MSW program, it is recommended to better apprise yourself about the program.

• Attend an upcoming information session in order to learn more about the program and process of admission.
• Review the following about documation about our program
  • FAQ
  • Information about the MSW program
  • Information about field education

GRE Requirement Suspended for Fall 2025 Admission Cycle

Due to the Covid-19 challenges, the School of Social Work has decided to suspend the requirement for GRE scores for applicants to the MSW program indefinitely for admissions cycle. Applicants DO NOT need to submit GRE scores with MSW applications. The School of Social Work reserves the right to implement the GRE at any time or at a future date.

Eligibility Criteria

• Academic Requirement: Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have at least a 2.80 GPA in the last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of coursework.
• (Waived for Fall 2025 Admissions) GRE (Graduate Records Examination)

• Human Biology Requirement: Pass an acceptable course with human Biology content with a grade of "C" or better. Course content should include: introduction to the major concepts of biology and their application to humans, reproduction and heredity, energy, and metabolism, ecology, evolution, and the levels of biological organization using the human as an example. This must be completed before the start of the fall semester of matriculation. See the list of example acceptable Human Biology
• Statistics Requirement: Pass an acceptable course in statistics with a grade of C or better. Course content should include: descriptive and inferential statistics, sampling, and probability distribution. This must be completed before the start of the fall semester of matriculation. See the list of example acceptable Statistics

Application Process

MSW Application is a TWO-STEP process: 1) Cal State Apply, and 2) MSW Supplemental Application. The application form MUST be finished within 20 minutes, and you MUST hit "Summit" when you finish.

Step 1: Apply online to the university (Available October 1st)

Please read the Fall 2025 MSW Instructions and Application thoroughly before start application.

Deadline: December 20th, 2024

1. Once submitting the Cal State Apply, you will receive an email from the Office of Graduate Studies, Sacramento State, with the instruction for Step 2
2. Create or reactivate the SacLink account.

Step 2: Apply online to the Social Work MSW Supplemental Application (Available October 1st)

Deadline: January 10th, 2025

1. You should use the SacLink Account created in Step 1 to log in.
2. Using the Cheat Sheet (below), complete all required fields for the MSW Supplemental Application.

Fall 2025 MSW Instructions and Application

MSW Application Cheat Sheet 2025

Application Timeline

Review of the submitted MSW applications is time-intensive and involves the commitment and work of the faculty within the School. Applicants will be notified of admission via their Sac State email, as early as possible. Typically, notices are sent out by mid April.

PowerPoint for the MSW Info Session