MSW Graduate Credit Transfer Applicants

The Brown School welcomes applications from students wishing to transfer from another graduate institution, subject to our policies for credit earned prior to enrollment.

Eligibility Requirements:

Master of Social Work program applicants who have completed graduate-level coursework may request to have previous coursework evaluated for transfer credit towards MSW program requirements. Applicants who have completed coursework in an MSW program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) may be eligible to transfer up to 19 credit hours. Applicants who have completed graduate coursework in a related discipline may be eligible to transfer up to 9 credit hours.

Courses completed in a CSWE accredited MSW program may be considered for credit towards foundation-level coursework, concentration-level coursework, or elective requirements. Courses completed in a related discipline will be considered for credit toward elective requirements only.

Courses are evaluated independently and must meet the following criteria to be considered for transfer credit:

  • Course must have been taken at the graduate level in a regionally accredited U.S. college or university; courses taken at an international institution are not eligible for transfer credit.
  • Course must have been campus-based; online courses will not be considered.
  • Course must have been taken within six years prior to matriculation at the Brown School.
  • Course must not have been used towards the completion of another graduate degree.
  • Student must have received a minimum course grade of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale; official transcript required).
  • Student must be able to provide a copy of the course description and syllabus.
  • Academic credit will not be offered for life or work experiences.

Meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee transfer credit will be granted.

Transfer of Credits:

Applicants interested in receiving graduate transfer credit must notify the Brown School Office of Admissions & Recruitment once the application for admission is submitted. Instructions for completing the MSW Transfer Credit Request form will be provided.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to request transfer credit evaluation by submitting the MSW Transfer Credit Request form and all supporting documents as early as possible in their admissions process. Requests for credit evaluation will not be accepted after September 1 of the first term in which a student matriculates. Incomplete submissions will not be evaluated.

Courses are evaluated in conjunction with the MSW Program Office. Applicants will be notified of evaluation results via email from the Brown School Registrar within two to three weeks of submission.

Students transferring MSW course credit may be required to complete the four-credit hour Advanced Standing Bridge to Brown program. Students transferring nine (9) or more credit hours are not eligible to pursue elective credits outside of the Brown School during their MSW enrollment.

Transfer credits will be reflected on the student’s Brown School academic transcript.