Before Applying

Before submitting an application to the MSW program, it is recommended to better apprise yourself about the program.

• Attend an upcoming information session in order to learn more about the program and process of admission.
• Review the following about documation about our program
  • FAQ
  • Information about the MSW program
  • Information about field education

GRE Requirement Suspended for Fall 2025 Admission Cycle

Due to the Covid-19 challenges, the School of Social Work has decided to suspend the requirement for GRE scores for applicants to the MSW program indefinitely for admissions cycle. Applicants DO NOT need to submit GRE scores with MSW applications. The School of Social Work reserves the right to implement the GRE at any time or at a future date.

Eligibility Criteria

• Academic Requirement: Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have at least a 2.80 cumulative GPA.
• (Waived for Fall 2026 Admissions) GRE (Graduate Records Examination)

• Human Biology Requirement: Pass an acceptable course with human Biology content with a grade of "C" or better. Course content should include: introduction to the major concepts of biology and their application to humans, reproduction and heredity, energy, metabolism, ecology, evolution, and the levels of biological organization using the human as an example. This must be completed before the start of the fall semester of matriculation. See the list of examplesof acceptable Human Biology
• Statistics Requirement: Pass an acceptable course in statistics with a grade of C or better. Course content should include: descriptive and inferential statistics, sampling, and probability distribution. This must be completed before the start of the fall semester of matriculation. See the list of example acceptable Statistics

Application Process

The Cal State Apply Application includes the application to the University and the MSW program application materials. Applicants applying to the CSUS MSW program apply to the university through the Cal State Apply application. If you have any questions about the university application, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies.

• The Office of Graduate Studies: https://www.csus.edu/graduate-studies/
• How to apply: https://www.csus.edu/graduate-studies/future- students/application-information.html

Step 1: Apply online to the university. The Social Work Supplemental Application is already attached to the Cal State Apply application (Available October 1st)

Before starting application:

• Please read the Fall 2026 MSW Instructions and Application thoroughly.
• Please see the Cheat Sheet below as an example of the Social Work Supplemental application found within the Cal State Apply application.

Fall 2026 MSW Instructions and Application

2026 MSW Application Cheat Sheet

Deadline: Cal State Apply MSW application priority is November 9,2025 and final deadline is December 7, 2025.

Step 2: Once submitting the Cal State Apply and Social Work Supplemental Application, you will receive an email from the Office of Graduate Studies, Sacramento State, with the instruction for setting up or reactivating the SacLink account

If applying online to the Title IV-E application (Available October 1st)

THREE-STEP process:

1) Cal State Apply and MSW Supplemental Application (Same for applying to the MSW application if you haven’t already done it).

2) Create or reactivate the SacLink Account.

3) Title-IV-E Application. The Title-IV-E application form MUST be finished within 20 minutes, and you MUST hit "Summit" when you finish.

Deadline: Priority November 9, 2025, and final deadline is December 7, 2025.

Title IV-E Application

To learn more about the Title IV-E Stipend Program.

Application Timeline

Review of the submitted MSW applications is time-intensive and involves the commitment and work of the faculty within the School. Applicants will be notified of admission via their Sac State email, as early as possible. Typically, notices are sent out by mid April.

PowerPoint for the MSW Info Session