Master of Social Work Online: Admissions Overview
Find out whether you’re eligible for the program and learn how to apply.
Apply in Four Simple Steps
Ensure you meet the admission requirements.
Complete your GradCAS application.
Prepare and submit additional required items.
Contact our enrollment team for personalized support.
Schedule an application walkthrough with an enrollment advisor.
What you can do
Succeed in a Field With Numerous Opportunities
Earning a Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh is an investment in your community—and your future. Whether you’re seeking to enter or advance in the profession, you’ll gain the skills to address complex social issues impacting people locally and globally.
You’ll also be ready to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in this field. In 2023, there were 713,000 social work jobs in the U.S.—and 119,000 unique jobs posted in the past year, nationally, for relevant roles (Lightcast, 2024). Take the next step in your career and apply today.
Supporting Your Path to Licensure
At Pitt, we’re committed to helping you hone your skills as an advanced practitioner so you can pursue licensure with confidence. In addition to fulfilling the academic requirement to sit for the exam to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Pennsylvania, our program includes free licensure preparation support for all students.
The VanKirk Career Center provides three licensure workshops per term. Each workshop covers the licensing application process and the requirements as related to the state of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has three licensure levels: LBSW, LSW and LCSW. In Pennsylvania, students can take the licensure exam in the last term of their social work education. Because of this unique opportunity, Pitt’s School of Social Work provides students access to two online licensure practice exams to assist in preparation. Students can request an individual licensure consultation by making an appointment. Career services are also available to alums at no cost.
Where Pitt MSW Graduates Make an Impact
Class of 2023 MSW graduates responding to a Pitt survey reported working in the following sectors:
- Nonprofit: 39%
- Medical: 23%
- Government: 18%
“My favorite parts [of the program] are the passion everyone has in advocating for equitable treatment of all individuals as well as the professors who have all been phenomenal and exhibit a vast array of knowledge in the area of social work practice.”
— Jonathan Benka, Master of Social Work, Class of 2025
Program Eligibility
To be considered for admission to the Part-Time Online MSW program, applicants must possess the following:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate work
Applicants are reviewed holistically. Those with a grade point average less than 3.0 may be admitted provisionally to the degree program. However, they may be required to interview with the School of Social Work’s admissions office.
Application Requirements
In addition to a completed GradCAS application, applicants must submit the following:
- Official transcripts from all schools attended
- A current resume
- Two letters of recommendation (preferably one academic and one professional)
- A personal statement (prompts will be provided within the application)
No application fee or GRE is required. Please note there are additional requirements for international applicants within the application.
If you need support with any aspect of the application process, we can help. Connect with us, and a member of our enrollment team will be in touch to answer your questions.
Application Deadlines
Note: The deadlines above are for application submission. Students will have additional time to submit supplemental items. Advanced standing students cannot begin in the fall 2025 term.
Application resources
Admissions FAQs
To be a social worker, you must have earned a bachelor of social work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited institution or program. A BSW will provide the foundation for entry-level positions such as case worker and mental health assistant. To be eligible for state licensure and pursue a career in clinical social work, you must earn a master of social work (MSW) degree.
Yes. Pitt’s Part-Time Online MSW program welcomes applicants who want to enter the field who have earned an undergraduate degree in another discipline from an accredited college or university.
To be eligible for our Part-Time Online MSW program, students must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and achieved a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate work.
Where Social Work Meets Social Justice
At Pitt, we’re committed to transforming our world, our future and ourselves.
We develop and sustain collaborative partnerships to understand, prevent and ameliorate complex social problems with innovative approaches that promote justice and equity.