Application Requirements

We know you are eager to start making the world a better place. To make it easier, we outlined the program requirements for each program at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work in the sections below.

View the application requirements for MSW, PhD in Social Work, Master’s in Special Education: 

Master of Social Work

Includes Summer MSW, Virtual Classroom, and in-person learning.

• Complete the YU Application or SocialWorkCAS — select "Social Work (MSW)" option and not "Social Work (MSW) - Online"
• Write a personal statement on the life experiences that led you to choose the social work profession (500 words maximum)
• Provide one letter of recommendation from an academic or professional reference. Advanced Standing Applicants, your professional reference should be from your program director or an academic advisor from your BSW
• We would like to have your transcripts from any college or university where you have earned 12 or more credits. You can submit an unofficial transcript with your application and submit your official transcript upon acceptance. Advanced Standing Applicants, your bachelor's degree (conferred or pending) must be a bachelor's in social work from a CSWE accredited school
• International Students, if you earned your degree outside of the U.S. or English-speaking Canada, we will require a NACES-member approved evaluation and TOEFL (90 or above) or IELTS (7.0 or above) test scores.

PhD in Social Work

• Complete the YU Application
• Write two personal statements as outlined in the application
• Provide two letters of recommendation
• Attach your current resume
• Submit an academic writing sample
• We would like to have your transcripts from any college or university where you have earned 12 or more credits. You can submit an unofficial transcript with your application and submit your official transcript upon acceptance
• Schedule an interview upon application submission

Master’s in Programs for Special Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent from an accredited university or college with distributions in liberal arts as per NY State Office of higher education
• Certification in Early Childhood or Childhood Education (a plan for pre-requisite work if not complete)
• Completed YU Application
• A personal statement of 3–5 pages double spaced detailing professional goals and any experiences or interest relating to working with children who function below grade 2 or who have disabilities
• Two letters of recommendation
• Attach your current resume
• Overall GPA of 3.0
• GRE scores (code 2636). Find the testing center near you or take it from the comfort of your home. 
• We would like to have your transcripts from any college or university where you have earned 12 or more credits. You can submit an unofficial transcript with your application and submit your official transcript upon acceptance.
• International Students, if you earned your degree outside of the U.S. or English-speaking Canada, we will require a NACES-member approved evaluation and TOEFL (90 or above) or IELTS (7.0 or above) test scores.
• An in-person interview or on-line interview may be requested

The Wurzweiler School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of accreditation (BOA).

Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it meets or exceeds standards of program quality evaluated through a peer review accreditation process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the BOA has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).

Accreditation applies to all program options, which includes locations and delivery methods.

Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.

Review our program’s accredited status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation.