How We Evaluate Applicants

The Brown School considers each applicant holistically. Our students come from a wide variety of academic backgrounds.

Although we welcome students with an undergraduate degree in social work, it is not a requirement for the MSW program. Admissions and scholarship decisions are based primarily on a review of the following:

• Your commitment to the mission of the Brown School and ability to introspectively articulate your reasons for pursuing a master’s degree in social work.
• Your undergraduate GPA over the last 60 – 75 semester credit hours on transcripts provided at the time of application. The Brown School prefers a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. NOTE: If applicable, an optional field in the Academic History section of the application provides the opportunity to describe any significant or extenuating circumstances that you would like to be considered in reviewing your academic history.
• Additional academic work you may have undertaken following completion of an undergraduate degree, if applicable.
• Specialized training(s) relevant to the degree program you completed.
• Your human service-related experience (paid, volunteer, research and internship).
• Your leadership experience and/or potential.
• Your ability to think critically about issues related to the field of social work.
• Recommendations received from academic and professional references.