Admissions

Admissions Advising and Info Sessions

The Berkeley Social Welfare Admissions Office guides prospective graduate applicants with online resources, individual admissions advising, group presentations, and recruitment events. Find out more about Berkeley Social Welfare’s admission requirements and application process!

Admissions Inquiries and Advising Appointments

For admissions information inquiries, please contact Berkeley Social Welfare Admissions by email to: swadmissions@berkeley.edu.

Graduate admissions advising appointments for Fall 2025 newly...

MSW Admissions FAQ

MSW Admissions - Frequently Asked Questions collapse all expand all Most Frequently Asked Is the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) required?

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission to the Social Welfare MSW Program.

Applicants considering a Concurrent Degree Program should review admissions eligibility requirements and standards of the respective concurrent degree program, including any examinations...

MSW Admission Eligibility Requirements

Students entering the Berkeley Social Welfare master's program are expected to have acquired a broad education, consisting of significant academic preparation in and knowledge drawn from the behavioral, social, and natural sciences, and the humanities. Conceptual ability and the capacity to integrate knowledge from these varied fields should be demonstrated through competence in writing.

Since successful experience in the human services field provides a good test of commitment and aptitude, we seek to admit students who have begun social work or related careers and demonstrate both...

Can students take courses in other departments to satisfy MSW elective requirements?

It is possible to take elective courses outside the School of Social Welfare; however, students must still satisfy the elective requirements for the MSW degree. Some departments may also have enrollment restrictions that could affect course availability for students from other departments.

Can I transfer into your MSW Program from an MSW Program at another school?

Applicants who have already begun a graduate-level program and are wanting to apply to the MSW program would still need to complete all 60-units required in the MSW degree. Coursework taken in a previous graduate program is unable to be applied to any MSW degree requirements.

What is the experience requirement?

Applicants to the Social Welfare MSW program must have the equivalent of one full year (2,100 hours) of paid employment or volunteer experience related to social welfare or human services, or in a position requiring skills relevant to work with underserved or marginalized populations.

To satisfy the experience requirement for admission eligibility, all experience hours must be acquired...

Do you offer a part-time MSW program?

Berkeley currently only offers a full-time, two year MSW degree program.

How can I qualify for and/or apply for an application fee waiver?

United States citizens or current permanent residents may request an application fee waiver under certain eligibility criteria. International applicants must pay the application fee; they cannot be granted a fee waiver.

Application fee waivers are administered directly by the Berkeley Graduate Division. To learn more about eligibility criteria or to request a fee waiver, please visit Requesting an Application Fee Waiver.

When should I apply for admission?

The online application becomes available in early September each year, and the application deadline is typically on or around Early December each year (see MSW Admissions for current specific dates).

Berkeley Social Welfare admits for the fall semester only each academic year; we do not offer spring or summer admissions.

How do I apply to the Berkeley Master's in Social Welfare (MSW) Program?

All applicants to graduate study at Berkeley apply for graduate admission online, through the UC Berkeley Graduate and Professional Application for Admission. A separate application to the Berkeley Social Welfare is not required.