Advanced Standing Requirements

Students who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from an accredited CSWE institution within the last five years can apply for the advanced standing program at the Garland School of Social Work. Full time, advanced standing students can complete their MSW at Baylor in 10 months.

Note: Students applying to the Waco campus must have a degree conferred date by July 15th to be eligible to apply for the upcoming academic year.

To be considered for admission to the advanced standing program, students must submit a completed application which includes:

• MSW-Waco Application 
• $45 Application Fee*
  • You may qualify for an application fee waiver. If you are interested in applying for an application fee waiver, complete the Application Fee Waiver Qualification Form here.
    • Fee waiver is only applicable for prospective students applying to our residential program (Waco, TX campus) 
• GSSW Financial Aid Form
• 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) or CSS International Profile for international applicants
  • The CSS Profile opens on October 1 and should be submitted by the deadline of your chosen admission plan. The FAFSA will open December 2023 and should be completed as soon as possible to secure your financial aid award letter. Check the FAFSA website for updates through December 2023
• Letters of recommendation: At least two of your three letters of recommendation must be from an academic professor who has direct knowledge of your academic work. Of these two academic references, one must be the undergraduate program director, the director of practicum education, or the social work supervisor
• Transcripts from all previous institutions. Prior to graduation, transcripts should include grades earned at least one semester into your final year.
• A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• A grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in social work coursework, including a minimum grade of B in all practice and internship courses
• A final practicum evaluation

Practicum Evaluation Criteria:

Applicants applying to the Advanced Standing program are required to submit a final practicum evaluation to be reviewed for admission in the Baylor MSW program. The admissions committee expects to see the following components on a final practicum evaluation*:

• Student Name
• School Name
• Agency Name/Placement Site Name
• Rating/commentary of performance in social work competencies as outlined but the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Signatures from social work supervisor and student

If an applicant’s internship placement is still in progress at the time their application is complete, a midterm practicum evaluation may be submitted for admission decision review. If admitted into the program, a final practicum evaluation is required prior to enrolling in the program. All the above requirements also apply to any midterm evaluations that are submitted.

Applicants applying for the Advanced Standing program who are unable to submit the documentation listed above may submit the GSSW Practicum Verification Form. For information about the form, contact email MSW_Admissions@baylor.edu.

*Note: Submitting a practicum evaluation that is missing any of the components outlined above may impact admissibility into the program. Applicants should use the open-ended “Additional Factors for Consideration” question on the application to explain any missing components or special circumstances.