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Frequently asked questions
Helpful information for students and parents about NAU's Social Work programs
If you have questions about earning a social work degree at Northern Arizona University, we have the answers. Search our frequently asked question topics below and for further information, please contact us.Bachelor of Social Work general questions:
When am I able to start the BSW program? Accordion Closed
NAU students are eligible to apply to the BSW as soon as they have met the eligibility requirements, including freshman.Applicants must have:
- at least 24 units, including SW 220, with a grade of B or better
- a minimum grade point average of 2.25
- or special permission from the admission committee
Is the BSW program offered online and at the Flagstaff campus? Accordion Closed
Yes! A BSW degree can be earned without needing to come to the Flagstaff campus if you are an online student. Students in the online programs are allowed to complete their internship within their local community.Students are also able to attend classes on the Flagstaff campus of NAU in the in-person program.
Am I able to take classes part-time to complete the BSW program? Accordion Closed
Yes! The BSW online and in-person programs are set up to go at your own pace.
When is the deadline to apply? Accordion Closed
Application deadlines:
- To start in the spring semester: October 1
- To start in the fall or summer semester: February 1
- Additional deadline for new Online Campus and Transfer students to start in the fall semester: June 1
How do I submit my application? Accordion Closed
Applications are submitted online: Apply HereThis is an additional application to the NAU admission application. Students applying to the BSW program must first be accepted to NAU.
How do I check the status of my application? Accordion Closed
Log into the account you created when you applied to check on your status.
What if I need to update my BSW application after I submit it? Accordion Closed
Contact socialwork@nau.edu and ask for your BSW application to be re-opened. The Social Work office will re-open your application and then you can make all the necessary updates needed. When you have completed your updates, remember to re-submit your application and then it will be available for the admission committee to review.
Are there class fees? Accordion Closed
Two classes have fees associated with them. SW 408 has a fee of $100 for each 6 credits enrolled. SW 420 has a fee of $25 for the Flagstaff campus only.
Is an internship required? Accordion Closed
Yes! You will complete 450 hours of a field education internship prior to graduation. Students in the online program are able to complete their internship within their local community.
Master of Social Work general questions
Is your MSW program offered online? Accordion Closed
Yes! The 2-year online MSW program begins in August. The 1-year online Advanced Standing program begins in May and January of each year.
Do you offer an advanced standing program? Accordion Closed
Yes! The Advanced Standing is completed in one year. Students who qualify for advanced standing must have:
- Completed their BSW from a CSWE-accredited institution within the last 5 years
- Have a 3.3 GPA
I am currently completing my BSW or other bachelor degree. When am I eligible to apply for the MSW program? Accordion Closed
You may apply for the MSW program prior to completing your BSW or other bachelor degree, if your bachelor graduation date is prior to you beginning your MSW program. If you are accepted it will be a conditional admittance based upon completing your degree prior to the start of the MSW program while maintaining a GPA that meets the admission criteria. In addition, if you earned your BSW within 5 years with a 3.3 GPA, you may be eligible for our 1-year Advanced Standing Master program.
Am I able to complete the MSW on a part-time basis? Accordion Closed
Part-time attendance is not possible at this time.
Will the MSW program accept transfer credits from another accredited university? Accordion Closed
Yes, please refer to the NAU Graduate College guidelines for transfer credits.
How many students are admitted into the program each year? Accordion Closed
Those accepted into either MSW program will be placed in a cohort of 25 students or fewer.
What are the licensure requirements? Accordion Closed
See the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners webpage for information. For the state you plan to obtain a license, contact the State Board of Behavioral Health, or equivalent.
Program requirements and eligibility
How many credit hours is the degree? Accordion Closed
The MSW 2-year program is 60 credit hours. The MSW Advanced Standing program is 39 credit hours.
Do students in the online programs need to come to the Flagstaff campus? Accordion Closed
No, campus visits are not required. All coursework can be completed online. Students are able to complete their field placement internship within their local community.
I do not have a BSW. Am I eligible to apply for the MSW program? Accordion Closed
Yes, students need a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, a 3.0 GPA, and 250 volunteer hours in a human service field to be eligible to apply. See our eligibility and requirements page for details.
What extra-curricular experience counts towards the human service requirement? Accordion Closed
A BSW internship or any other human service-related internship experience counts towards the required 250 hours, as will any structured volunteer experience within the human services field.
Field education requirements
Is an internship required? Accordion Closed
A student in the 2-Year MSW program requires two different internships for a total of 900 hours (450 a year). Each year a different internship at a different location is required.A student in the 1-Year Advanced Standing MSW program requires one internship for a total of 450 hours.
Can I complete my field placements in my home community? Accordion Closed
Yes, you can. We will expect you to work with the Field Education faculty in identifying appropriate agencies within your community. Once students are admitted to the program, they will receive more information about the field placement process.
Applying to the MSW
When are MSW applications available? Accordion Closed
First, apply to the Graduate College at NAU, then you can submit the MSW application. Both applications are available on the NAU Graduate College webpage.For the 2020 academic year:
1-Year Online Advanced Standing with January 2020 start
- Application opens August 1, 2019
- Cohort is limited to 25 students
- Only students with field placements outside of Flagstaff will be considered for admittance
- First round of application review is October 1, 2019 with priority given to these applicants
- Final application deadline is November 1, 2019
1-Year Online Advanced Standing with May 2020 start
- Application opens October 1, 2019
- Agency placements are limited for students desiring Flagstaff placement
- Application deadline is February 1, 2020
2-Year Online with August 2020 start
- Application opens October 1, 2019
- Agency placements are limited for students desiring Flagstaff placement
- Application deadline is February 1, 2020
How do my references communicate with you? Accordion Closed
This is all handled through Graduate Admissions application process. When you complete the MSW application you will be asked to supply name and emails of your references. Then Graduate Admissions will contact your references by email with a reference form to complete and submit.
Do I have to take a graduate entrance exam (ie. GRE)? Accordion Closed
NAU does not require graduate entrance exams for applicants to the MSW program.
Is there a certain format I should follow for my professional resume? Accordion Closed
Your professional resume should include an overview of your professional and volunteer experience, education, and skills.
Who may complete my reference forms? Accordion Closed
References should be able to speak to your professional and academic competencies. Some examples of appropriate references are a professor, employer. or volunteer supervisor.
How many hours of volunteer/work experience in social services do I need? Accordion Closed
All MSW Program applicants must have completed a minimum of 250 hours of volunteer/work experience in human service. These hours must include face-to-face contact with people in need. Please be specific about your duties/activities, and include the hours and dates of your experience.Examples of activities which fulfill the requirement for volunteer/work experience are:
- delivering food to needy families
- helping children in school to obtain resources due to family problems or behavioral health needs
- helping disadvantaged individuals to obtain needed assistance and resources such as serving food to individuals who are homeless
- volunteering in hospitals, human service agencies, Big Brother/Big Sister organizations, shelters, church groups, summer campus, etc.
- advocating for human rights, developing and delivering, or participating in, service delivery
- being involved with community development activities which have an immediate impact on improving living/social conditions of individuals or groups of people
I have not completed either the Statistics and/or Human Biology prerequisites. How do I clear this deficiency? Accordion Closed
Students who have not completed all prerequisites may be admitted conditionally. On the application, you will be asked to include a statement explaining how you plan to complete these requirements before beginning, or during, the first year of your MSW program. Students have until the end of their first year of their MSW program to complete the statistics and/or human biology requirement. If you have questions regarding if a course will fulfill this requirement, contact Anne.Medill@nau.edu with the institution name, course name, and course description for review.
Will a BSW internship or other human service-related internship experience count towards the required 250 volunteer and/or relevant human service work experience? Accordion Closed
Yes, as long as it was volunteer or internship work within the human services field.
Tuition & Fees
How much is the application fee to apply to Northern Arizona University's Graduate College? Accordion Closed
The fee for MSW applicants is $65.00. The application fee is non-refundable.
Where is information about tuition costs? Accordion Closed
Tuition information is located at the NAU Graduate College website. This may fluctuate each academic year.
What are the fees for the MSW program? Accordion Closed
MSW program fee is $600 each semester. This is used to support and enhance the applied nature of our program.
Accreditation
Is your MSW program accredited? Accordion Closed
We are currently pursuing accreditation through the Council on Social Work Education, the same body that accredits our BSW Program. Our program entered candidacy status in October 2018. We have completed our Benchmark I and Benchmark II documents. The MSW program is on track to be accredited by October of 2020, with retroactive status for students entering the program as early as fall 2018.
Will I be able to get licensed? Accordion Closed
Yes, once the program is fully accredited in October 2020, all graduates will be eligible for licensure. In Arizona, consult the Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. For other states consult the equivalent licensing board.