​Social Work Major Application Requirements and Process

Your interest in social work as a career path is commendable! Professional social work is a demanding and rewarding career in which you can positively influence individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and society as a whole.  Please read on to learn about how to apply for the UWSP Social Work Program. For questions, please contact Amy Zlimen Ticho, Director of the Social Work Program at azlimen@uwsp.edu

Applicati​on Requirements

Students may declare the social work major at any time but must apply and be formally accepted into the program to complete their degrees.  Seats in the social work major are limited to ensure an acceptable faculty-to-student ratio, with a commitment to providing quality classroom, advising, and internship experiences. Meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee acceptance. Students who meet the admission guidelines and show strong potential to succeed in social work practice by demonstrating interest, commitment, interpersonal skills, relevant experiences, and academic ability will be considered. 

Students seeking admission must:

• Have completed (or be in progress to complete) at least 45 credits of undergraduate coursework at the time of application.  Application for admission ideally takes place during sophomore year but ​may occur later.
• Have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.5 from all accredited institutions attended.
• Have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.5 in the required pre-admission coursework (SOC 101 and SW 261).
• Have earned a minimum grade of C- in SW 261.
• Be in good academic standing in the semester of application.
  

Application Process 

All students seeking admission to the major, including transfer students, are required to submit an online application.  Applications can be submitted at any time but are only reviewed by the Social Work Program Committee twice per year, in mid-October and mid-March. Any applications received after the standard review times may not be reviewed until the next cycle, with exceptions being made for students applying late due to transferring from another institution.  The link to the online application is below.  Before clicking on it, please have the following items ready.  You will not be able to revise your application once it has been submitted. 

1.  A current UWSP Degree Progress Report (or transcript if transferring from another institution).
   
   
2. ​Two letters of recommendation from professional sources. Letters can be from professors or advisors not in the Department of Sociology & Social Work, work or volunteer supervisors, high school teachers or coaches (if you are a recent high school graduate and have kept in touch with them), or other mentors who know you well.  They should not be from family members/relatives, friends, or fellow students.  Please ask letter writers to address their letter to the UWSP Social Work Program Committee and to indicate:
   
   - How long and in what capacity they have known you.
   - What they perceive as your strengths for a career in social work.
   - What they perceive as your weaknesses for a career in social work.
   - Any specific examples of situations they know of in which you have demonstrated values or skills relevant to social work, such as helping others either directly or through advocacy efforts.
   - Their job title, position, agency (if relevant).
   
   

3. ​A personal statement (600-800 words).  The statement should be written in a professional manner, with ideas organized into paragraphs with themes, and using proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.  It should include responses to the following:

   - What is causing you to pursue a career in social work? Feel free to include experiences from your personal background that have affected this decision.
   - What are your interests at this point?  Include any particular areas of social work or types of client issues that interest you. 
   - What experiences have you had that have involved helping/serving others and/or using other relevant skills? This may include work, volunteer, military, community, and/or research experiences.
   - What experiences have you had in working with people from diverse backgrounds? Include examples from any of the above experiences, work/study abroad experiences, and/or other experiences you have had learning about diversity and difference.
   - What are your strengths for entry into the social work profession? This may involve personal qualities, skills, and abilities.
   - What do you see as your personal limitations for entry into social work? This may include areas you need to improve upon or potential barriers you may face in your social work education and/or career. 

Once the Social Work Program Committee reviews your application, you will be notified via email of their decision and next steps.  The Committee may: 1) accept you into the program 2) decline your application into the program, or 3) request additional materials or an interview before making their decision. Note: Interviews (Zoom or in-person) are sometimes used to assess an applicant's potential to succeed thorough exploration of the applicant's interest, commitment, interpersonal skills, relevant experiences, and academic ability.​

NOTE: Conviction of past criminal activity or conduct will not be used as criterion for denial of admission into the Social Work Major. However, past or future criminal activity may limit or inhibit students from securing a social work internship which is required for completion of the social work degree. In addition, students may be ineligible to earn state certification or licensure to practice social work after graduation. Students should discuss any questions about criminal activity with their advisers or the director of the Social Work Program.

Notice of Nondiscrimination:  The University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, sex, gender identity/expression, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, relationship to other employees, sexual orientation, disability, veteran's status, membership in the National Guard, state defense force or any other reserve component of the military forces of the United States or this state, arrest or conviction record, political affiliation, or other protected status.​

​Applications may be submitted using this online form: Social Work Major Application. Please contact the Sociology and Social Work office if you have any questions.