Applying to Spalding University’s Doctor of Social Work Program
To be considered for our Doctor of Social Work* program, applicants must:
Complete an application to the Doctor of Social Work program
Admission applications may be obtained from the University’s Admissions Office or the School of Social Work office
Hold an MSW degree from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Minimum of a 3.3 out of 4.0 grade point average during their MSW studies
Applicants with a GPA below a 3.3 out of 4.0 grade point average during their MSW studies may be considered for admission to the DSW program given extenuating circumstances (e.g., significant improvement is shown in upper-level grades, professional accomplishment) deemed appropriate by the DSW Program Director or the Chair of the School of Social Work
Minimum of two (2) years of post-MSW practice experience
A resume/CV highlighting their years of social work practice
Three (3) letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic sources (e.g. former professors, supervisors, etc.)
Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended
A written statement of purpose describing:
Professional goals and how a DSW degree will help the applicant achieve them
Area of interest the applicant wishes to focus on during their DSW studies
How their MSW education helped inform their practice at the micro, mezzo and macro levels
How their professional practice and/or academic experience has contributed toward their collaboration with community stakeholders in an area of practice interest
Interview with the DSW Program Director and/or faculty members of the School of Social Work
For non-native English speakers who apply to Spalding University’s DSW program, TOEFL scores must be submitted
Acceptable TOEFL scores are 600 for the paper version, 120 for the computer version and 95 for the web version
The application deadline for the DSW Fall 2026 cohort is May 31.
You will be notified by letter of our admissions decision.
You can log in to your applicant portal at any time to view your status, update information or submit documents to your application.
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