For BSW Degree Holders: Earn an MSW with Advanced Standing

• CSWE-accredited Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited or internationally recognized college or university.
• International applicants applying to the Advanced Standing pathway whose undergraduate social work degree is NOT from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution or a Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE-ACFTS) accredited institution will need to have their international credentials evaluated by the CSWE Office of Social Work Accreditation to determine if their international degree in social work is comparable to an accredited baccalaureate in social work in the United States. More information about the International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service can be found at the CSWE International Degree Review website.
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher with a 3.0 or higher in all Social Work courses.
• Two Letters of Recommendation from past professors, professionals, supervisors, or community leaders who can attest to your readiness for social work graduate studies.
• Write your personal statement. Please write your response in paragraph format.

The Director of Graduate Admissions for Social Work considers your personal statement to be an essential part of your application. It provides you with an opportunity to tell us about yourself, your professional interests that have influenced you to pursue an MSW degree. Your personal statement also gives the Director a glimpse into your ability to write and think critically. Your statement should be typed, doubled spaced, in APA format, and consist of at least 500 words.

Please choose one of the following prompts and provide a minimum 500 word response in the form of an essay.

• Think back to a situation in your life where you had to decide between taking a risk and playing it safe. - Which choice did you make? What was the outcome of your choice?
• Would you have made the same decision looking back on the experience or would you have made a different decision?
• What movie, poem, musical composition, or novel has most influenced your life and the way that you view the world? Why?
• Describe an experience that forever changed your life and how it changed your outlook on life.
• If you were given the ability to change one moment in your life, would you do so? Why or why not? If so, what moment would you change and why?
• How has the neighborhood you've grown up in molded you into the person you are today?

Application Fee

$30 nonrefundable fee must be paid at the time of application.

At BarryU, our tuition is competitive, affordable and still promises all the perks of a private school education. Our cost per credit is in-line with other institutions, but we offer a mission-driven educational experience and provide our students with small class sizes, personalized attention, and academic excellence. Scholarships, graduate assistantships, and financial aid can also be explored to help offset overall costs.

Barry University participates in the full array of federal and state financial aid programs. At Barry, we are committed to doing all we can to help you finance your education.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, the tuition cost of an MSW degree is $675 per credit. 

The MSW is affordable given the strong demand for social workers. This investment supports entry into a high-impact profession with diverse career opportunities, addressing critical workforce needs in mental health, healthcare, and community services, while offering long-term financial and professional rewards.

If you are an international student, applying as early as possible is in your best interest in order to allow ample time for immigration processing. Please be aware that admission to Barry University does not guarantee that you will be granted a student visa by the United States Embassy or Consulate in your country of origin.