Important Dates
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS TO APPLY TO THE MSW PROGRAM
The MSW Program at UW‑Stevens Point is a cohort‑based program with summer start terms only. Students begin the program together and progress through the curriculum as a cohort. Applications for regular and advanced standing students for the Summer 2027 MSW cohort opened on August 1, 2026. The application deadline is January 15, 2027. All applications must be complete and received by the application deadline to be considered.
The MSW Program admissions committee reviews applications after the deadline has passed, and admission decisions are issued once the full applicant pool has been reviewed. The admissions committee will only review complete applications, so applicants are encouraged to apply early and carefully follow all application instructions. Depending on the number of applications received and available space in each cohort, a second application deadline may be offered in the spring. If a second application date is warranted, it will be posted on this website.
Admission to the MSW Program requires two separate acceptances:
- Admission to UW-Stevens Point, and
- Admission to the MSW Program.
Because these are separate processes, applicants must complete two distinct applications (see steps below). UWSP admission decisions are typically made quickly, while MSW Program decisions take longer and will be issued after the application deadline has passed. Applicants will receive separate communications from UWSP for each component.
Step 1. Review Admission Standards.
Review the admission standards carefully for your intended admission type before beginning your application.
Regular Standing Students Advanced Standing StudentsNot Sure Which Admission Type to Choose?
- Regular Standing is for applicants who do not hold a recent Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
- Advanced Standing is for applicants who hold a recent BSW from a CSWE-accredited program and are eligible for an accelerated MSW pathway.
Step 2. prepare your application materials
Before submitting your applications, review the requirements below and prepare all required materials. The information in these sections will help you prepare your application and avoid delays in processing.
Important: All applicant-submitted materials, including reference contact information, must be submitted by the application deadline of January 15, 2027.
apply to uw-stevens point
- Complete the University Application.
- Pay the $56 application fee.
- Upload your resume.
- Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended.
complete the msw program application
- Be prepared to indicate your:
- Enrollment Preference (full-time or part-time)
- Admission Type (regular standing or advanced standing)
- Specialization Pathway (clinical, medical, school, or student-designed)
- Upload your personal statement.
- Provide academic and/or professional reference information.
Financial aid (optional)
- Complete the FAFSA if you intend to apply for financial aid.
format requirements (all applicants)
- Approximately 4-5 pages.
- Double-spaced.
- Times New Roman font.
- Written entirely in your own words. AI-generated content is not permitted.
- Build upon information in your resume rather than repeating it.
Complete only the personal statement prompts associated with your admission type.
Respond to all three prompts. Consider using headers to structure your statement.
- Motivation and Professional Goals
What is leading you to pursue a graduate degree in social work? Please discuss the reasons you want to be an advanced practice social worker. Describe how any internship, employment, volunteer, or other experiences have laid a foundation for your pursuit of this degree. Discuss your goals as they relate to this career path. - Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice
How will earning an MSW at UWSP allow you to advance equity, inclusivity, and/or social justice? Briefly yet critically describe a social issue or problem that is important to you and discuss how pursuing an MSW will help you address it. Include experiences that will help you serve clients from diverse backgrounds. - The Dignity and Worth of the Person
What is your understanding of the core social work value “the dignity and worth of the person”? Discuss how your attitudes and values align with this value as expressed in the NASW Code of Ethics. Describe a situation in which you have demonstrated this value in your personal or professional life.
Respond to all three prompts. Consider using headers to structure your statement.
- Motivation and Professional Goals
What is leading you to pursue a graduate degree in social work? Discuss the reasons you want to be an advanced practice social worker and your goals for earning an MSW. - Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice
How will earning an MSW at UWSP allow you to advance equity, inclusivity, and/or social justice? Briefly yet critically describe a social issue or problem that is important to you and discuss how pursuing an MSW will help you address it. Include experiences that will help you serve clients from diverse backgrounds. - Preparation for Advanced Study and Your Specialty Practicum
How have your BSW and other experiences prepared you for advanced study? Describe how your BSW internship, as well as any employment, volunteer, or other experiences, have prepared you for graduate work. What experiences have prepared you specifically for the specialty practicum experience you hope to pursue in the MSW Program? Describe how your background has prepared you for practice within your intended specialization pathway.
Provide contact information for two academic and/or professional references in the MSW Program Application. You will be asked to provide the following information for each reference:
- Name
- Organization
- Position/Title
- Relationship to applicant
- Telephone number
- Email address
selecting references
References should be selected based on their ability to evaluate your academic preparation, professional skills, and potential for graduate-level social work study. If you completed your undergraduate degree within the past five years, you are strongly encouraged to include an academic reference from a professor or advisor. Appropriate references may include:
- Professors
- Academic advisors
- Field instructors or internship supervisors
- Employment supervisors
- Other individuals who know you in a professional capacity
uw-stevens point bsw alumni
Applicants who earned their BSW from UW-Stevens Point are strongly encouraged to list their BSW faculty advisor as one of their two references.
reference submission process
Applicants are only required to submit reference contact information by the application deadline. Letters of recommendation do not need to be submitted by the deadline.
After receiving your MSW Program Application, the MSW Office will contact your references directly with instructions for completing a recommendation form and submitting a letter of recommendation.
References will have two weeks from the date they receive the request to submit their recommendations. References will be asked to evaluate your readiness for graduate study and advanced social work practice.
Step 3. Complete the University Application.
Click on the button below to submit your application to UWSP. With this application, you will:
- Pay the nonrefundable $56 application fee.
- Upload your resume.
- Submit official transcripts. Click here for more information on how to submit transcripts.
Step 4.Complete the MSW Program Application.
Before you start your MSW Program Application, make sure you have completed all items outlined in Step 2.
MSW Program ApplicationCONTACT US
Master of Social Work Program
2001 Fourth Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Phone: 715-346-2727
Email: msw@uwsp.edu