About Master’s Program,
The NASW Code of Ethics offers a set of values, principles and standards to guide decision-making and everyday professional conduct of social workers. It is relevant to all social workers and social work students regardless of their specific functions or settings (NASW website).
- The primary mission of the social work profession is to “enhance human wellbeing and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty” (NASW, 2008, p.1).
- This profession is committed to the pursuit of social justice to enhance the quality of life, and the development of individulas, groups, families, and communities to its full potential!
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
The MSW degree requires the completion of 60 graduate units, and may be completed in one, two or three years. Our program specialization is advanced generalist, which prepares students for a broad scope of practice in a variety of settings. The first half (30 units) of the MSW program addresses foundation or generalist practice (as dictated by accreditation standards) and the second half (30 units) focuses on our area of specialization, advanced generalist practice. The program’s area of specialization, advanced generalist practice, directly builds upon and subsumes an established foundation of generalist social work practice and integrates all of the social work competencies.
We do not require that the undergraduate degree be in any particular field. We accept all majors.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
The Department of Social Work is committed to finding opportunities for our students to obtain scholarships, stipends, and other supports to ease the financial burden of higher education.
The Department of Social Work offers various stipend programs for MSW students that range from $5,000 to $25,000 per year. Currently, we offer the CA Title IV-E Stipend Education Program, the Public Behavioral Health MSW Training and Fellowship Program, the Adult Protective Services Training Program, and other internship site and/or agency specific stipends (handled externally by community agencies/organizations). The Department regularly applies for grants and stipends, so we may have additional student scholarships and stipend opportunities in the future.
The Department of Social Work has been awarded the Social Work Education Capacity Expansion (SWECE) Grant, which is funded by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) for 2023-2027. The purpose of the SWECE Grant Program is to fund institutions and organizations to increase the number of Social Workers serving in California, especially with children and youth. The SWECE grant will support 30-60 need based MSW student scholarships, covering up to the full tuition and fees of the program for an academic year.
Application Requirement,
A Personal Statement (2 pages maximum)- must follow prompt below
upload to the “Program Materials” section of the Cal State Apply application
A resume that includes a minimum of 300 hours of experience as a volunteer or employee in a social service setting. These 300 experience hours must be clearly indicated in the resume and the name and email address(es) of the supervisor(s) of these hours must be provided. A “social service” setting is an agency or organization that provides services designed to enhance or support the well-being of individuals, families, and communities in need.
upload to the “Program Materials” section of the Cal State Apply application
Three (3) current references
applicant will enter the name and email addresses of their references in the Cal State Apply application
Online Application through Cal State Apply
One set of official transcripts from every college or university ever attended reflecting official verification of graduation and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. *Applicants cannot be admitted with a GPA under 2.50 in accordance with the Office of Graduate Studies policy.
Application Deadline,
Jan 31, 2025
Application Fee,
Application Fee of $70.00 paid
