Admissions

The online Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program seeks to admit aspiring social change leaders who meet our high standards for academic excellence and demonstrate a commitment to solving pervasive social problems.

We offer start dates throughout the year, and our admissions team accepts and reviews applications year-round. Space in each cohort is limited. We recommend that you complete your application as soon as possible so you are able to enroll in your preferred semester.

Please refer to the application deadlines below to determine when you would like to begin the program.

Prospective DSW students must hold a master’s degree. This may include an MSW from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)–accredited program, any master’s degree from a regionally accredited program or any professional doctorate.

Five years of post-master’s professional employment experience is strongly preferred. Experience should demonstrate the following qualities:

Please note that applicants currently residing in Puerto Rico are ineligible to apply for this program at this time.

For any student applying to the program with international transcripts, regardless of current residence or citizenship, will need to have all application items completed by the following dates to ensure proper processing of your international transcripts. 

The following components are required to complete your DSW application:

Resume: Upload your current resume to the “Employment Information” section of the online application. Your resume should specifically highlight your social work–related experience.

Writing Prompts: This portion of the application demonstrates your ability to write and communicate at a high academic level. You will upload your writing prompts to the “Supporting Documents” section of the online application.

Your response to each of the two prompts must be three pages long, and double-spaced, for a total of six pages, and answer the following questions:

Writing Prompt #1: Statement of Purpose

Writing Prompt #2: Writing Sample
What single social problem keeps you up at night? Select a social problem you would like to solve through your professional career, and describe this problem in behavioral terms. In other words, elaborate upon which behavior(s), and by whom, must change in order for this problem to be solved, and not the solution itself. Contextualize your discussion around one or two of the Grand Challenges for Social Work.

Formatting and Tips

Letters of recommendation: Submit three letters of recommendation through the online application. Recommendations can come from academic instructors or professionals who have worked with you in a leadership capacity (paid, volunteer or internship). Personal recommendations are not acceptable.

Official transcripts: We recommend a sense of urgency when requesting transcripts from your undergraduate university as the turn around times vary from school to school. When requesting application items, please be aware that we only accept official electronic transcripts sent to applicationservices@msw.usc.edu.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If your college or university utilizes National Student Clearinghouse to process electronic transcripts, you will need to follow the instructions outline below:

Instead, select one of the following options:

Then provide the following email as the recipient address: applicationservices@msw.usc.edu

Once your order has been placed, please forward your order confirmation directly to your admissions counselor for tracking purposes.

Alternatively, your school can email official, password protected electronic transcripts directly to: applicationservices@msw.usc.edu or mail them to the address below:

University of Southern California (USC)
Application Processing Center
MSW@USC
PO Box 30096 024-007
College Station, TX 77842

If you, or your school, will be sending transcripts via UPS, FedEx, or DHL Priority Mail, we request that you use the following alternate address, as these services do not deliver to a PO box:

University of Southern California (USC)
Application Processing Center
MSW@USC
211 Quality Circle
Box 30096 024-007
College Station, TX 77842

Please note: To be considered an official transcript, the transcript must be sent directly from your institution(s) or through an electronic transcript vendor retained by that institution. Transcripts submitted by enrolled or prospective students are considered unofficial documents, even if they are in a sealed envelope provided to you by the issuing university.

If your official transcript does not include a degree conferral date, you must submit an additional form. This form acknowledges that you have read and will abide by the University of Southern California’s Concurrent Enrollment policy. You can find the form online here (PDF, 63K) or reach out to your Admissions Counselor for assistance.

Verification of all previous post-secondary degrees earned outside of the United States is required. Students who have earned a degree from an institution outside of the United States must engage the International Education Research Foundation. Please review this service’s requirements and fees on their special USC web pages and follow their instructions. The evaluation service will send a verification report directly to USC.

Please note that graduate coursework at USC is viewed cumulatively.  This means that if you have prior coursework at USC that falls below a 3.0 GPA, it will be calculated into your overall USC graduate GPA and you may be on academic probation until your overall USC graduate GPA rises to a 3.0.

Application fee: There is an $90 application fee paid through the online application.

The University of Southern California maintains a progressive degree policy for its students. This means students cannot earn an MSW at USC after completing the DSW@USC program. Students may, however, earn a master’s degree in another discipline after earning their doctorate. 

Anyone with an active faculty appointment (full-time or flexible) in the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is by policy ineligible to apply for admission to the school’s Doctorate of Social Work program.