Advanced Standing Master of Social Work - Edwards Campus
Earn your MSW at KU Edwards Campus
Program Overview
The Master of Social Work degree prepares graduates for advanced social work practice in one of two broad specializations — either clinical social work practice with individuals, families and groups, or social work macro practice aimed at social service administration, social policy development and social advocacy.
Courses guide students on how to engage and assess the needs of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students learn how to intervene and evaluate those interventions at all levels of practice.
KU’s MSW is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and is ranked among the top public institution social work programs by U.S. News & World Report.
Curriculum
The School of Social Welfare requires a total of 38 credit hours for the Advanced Standing Plan of Study, consisting of:
- 24 credit hours of classroom work
- 14 credit hours of practicum
All Advanced Standing applicants admitted to the program begin courses during the summer term.
Both full-time and part-time Advanced Standing MSW students complete two courses during the summer, before they begin clinical or macro concentration coursework and practicum.
Summer Advanced Standing courses include an elective and a social work practice class organized around the school’s major curriculum themes.
Clinical Concentration
The 32-credit-hour clinical concentration prepares MSW students for clinical social work with individuals, families and groups.
We recommend students who anticipate taking the Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Work (LSCSW) examination pursue a clinical concentration.
Macro Concentration
The 32-credit-hour macro practice concentration curriculum prepares MSW students for leadership and administration in social work agencies and social services organizations.
MSW Practicum Placements
Social work internships (practicums) provide each student with real-world social work experience, working directly with individuals, families, and communities.
Our Practicum Education Office works closely with students and agencies to secure skill-based practicum experiences with qualified social work mentors.
The Practicum Education Office arranges all placements with a student’s input. Every effort is made to secure opportunities close to the student’s home, and all practicums are no further than a one-hour drive.
Advanced Standing MSW students have one practicum placement, which lasts for two consecutive semesters or 14 credit hours for the year.
Program Length: Advanced Standing MSW
The Advanced Standing MSW at KU can be completed in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study.
Part-time Advanced Standing MSW students will enroll in their practicum during their second year. Learn more about the Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW curriculum.
Program Format: Advanced Standing MSW at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park
KU MSW class formats and meeting times vary by campus location.
Details for Advanced Standing MSW students at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, Kansas:
- Clinical concentration: Classes for the clinical concentration meet at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park. Various class times and formats are available for the clinical concentration.
- Macro concentration:
- The macro concentration is offered online via Zoom. Macro concentration online classes meet at specific times every other Saturday, with additional online coursework on alternate weeks. Students at all KU MSW campus locations are eligible to enroll in the macro concentration.
- When enrollment is adequate, the macro concentration is also offered in a hybrid format at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, Kansas. The hybrid format includes in-person classes every other Saturday, with additional online coursework on alternate weeks.
- Practicum: MSW students attend their practicum placement in person for a minimum of 16 hours each week.
Note: Not all MSW courses are offered every semester or on all campuses/online. Course options may change based on enrollment. Check the KU Schedule of Classes for current offerings.
The Advanced Standing plan of study is offered on the Lawrence campus, the Edwards Campus, the Kansas State University-Salina campus, and online.
Advanced Standing Application Dates for 2026
Admissions and Application Requirements
Admission Requirements
Applicants who meet the following criteria will apply to the Advanced Standing Plan of Study.
- Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program
- Bachelor of Social Work grade-point average of 3.0 or above is preferred
All Advanced Standing students are admitted for a summer semester start date.
International Students
At this time, the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare cannot accept international applications for the online Master of Social Work (MSW) program.
MSW Application Deadlines
The deadlines to apply for admission to the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program for summer 2026 are:
- Feb. 3, 2026 - Full-time and part-time Advanced Standing MSW application deadline
The summer 2026 application opens on Oct. 1, 2025.
All Advanced Standing MSW students apply to begin classes in the summer.
Application Requirements
The online application gives you the ability to submit all supporting documents in one form and save in progress. You will be asked for the following, which will be required to complete the online application.
Upload a professional resume detailing your current/prior work or volunteer experience. Follow a reverse chronological format and include dates and hours per week worked. For helpful resume writing tips, use the following University Career Center resource.
University Career Center resumes webpage
When submitting your resume, be sure to save as a "WORD" (windows compatible) or as a PDF document. Double-check your formatting after saving it in WORD or PDF, and before uploading the document.
When responding to the following questions, please explicitly reference the School’s Mission and Guiding Principles and the NASW’s Code of Ethics.
Draft a statement that is no more than 3 pages total, typed and double-spaced with one-inch margins. Type each question prior to your answer to that question. This section is also used to evaluate master’s level writing ability. Questions:
- Given that there are many helping professions (e.g., psychology, nursing, public health, public administration, etc.), why have you chosen to apply for a Master of Social Work (MSW) program?
- What do you hope to gain from your graduate education? How do your hopes relate to your future plans as a social worker with an MSW degree?
You will be asked to list the contact information for three references in the application. The application system will then email a reference form to each person.
Note: Choosing to list more than three references will delay application review significantly. Only three references will be included in the review. Applications with fewer than three references are marked incomplete and denied admission.
Advanced Standing Plan of Study: References should be professional in nature and include those who can speak to the applicant’s ethics, experience with social justice issues, readiness for graduate social work education, skills, abilities and work styles.
Applicants should include a practicum supervisor/and or practicum instructor as well as a faculty member if the degree was earned within the past 3 years.
Family members and friends are not recommended except in cases of special circumstance, which may be described within the application.
If you are a current or former KU student, you don’t need to provide official transcripts.
Current and former KU students are not required to request and purchase official KU transcripts, or to provide official KU transcripts or copies of KU transcripts to apply for admission to KU graduate programs. If KU students earned a degree from another institution, they will need to upload copies of those transcripts with their application.
If you have never attended KU, your application must include official transcripts from each college attended.
For processing purposes, you may attach scanned versions of official transcripts to your application. If you are admitted to a program and accept the admission offer, you will be required to submit an official, final transcript that shows your degree has been conferred. Transcripts must be submitted to Graduate Admissions in one of the following ways:
- Electronically (Preferred Method)
If your institution offers a secure electronic transcript delivery service, you may have transcripts sent to graduateadm@ku.edu.
- Via mail
Transcripts must be sent directly from your institution, in a sealed envelope, to:
Graduate Admissions
University of Kansas
KU Visitor Center
1502 Iowa Street
Lawrence, KS 66045
For more guidance on transcripts from non-U.S. institutions, see the International applicants webpage.
Clinical Practice: The clinical social work practice specialization prepares students in the professional application of social work theory and methods to the treatment and prevention of psychosocial problems, disability, or impairment, including emotional and mental disorders. Students expecting to sit for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) examination two years after the MSW must take the clinical social work practice specialization.
Macro Practice: The macro practice specialization prepares students in the professional application of social work theory and skill to the development and management of social service programs in both public and voluntary human services organizations.
Effective with summer/fall 2024 applications, any non-native English speaker applying to an online degree or certificate program must achieve Full Proficiency to be eligible for graduate admission. Please consult the English Proficiency Requirements for Admission to Graduate Study.
Important Information Regarding Colorado Workers’ Compensation Requirements for Field Placements and Practicums
According to the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act, students participating in unpaid, in-person field placements or practicums within the state of Colorado must be covered by Workers’ Compensation insurance. To ensure student protection and institutional compliance, please review the following guidance:
- The University of Kansas is unable to provide Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage for students to meet the requirements outlined by Colorado law.
- Colorado law prohibits students from securing Workers’ Compensation coverage independently. Coverage must be arranged by the academic institution or an approved sponsoring institution within Colorado.
- Students applying to an online program that includes a required in-person field placement or practicum will not be eligible for admission if that placement is intended to occur in Colorado.
- Students enrolled in campus-based programs at the University of Kansas may not engage in field placements or practicums located in Colorado.
Though, in the case of paid, in-person field placements or practicums (i.e., employment-based practicums or EBPs), the employer is responsible for meeting the requirements outlined by Colorado’s Worker’s Compensation law, the impermanence of these EBPs can lead to students being in a situation without required coverage. As such, EBPs should not be considered a workaround to our inability to accommodate students with field placements or practicums in Colorado.
MSW Application Fee
To complete the application, you must submit the online application and pay the application fee.
Application Fees
- Degree-seeking domestic: $65
- Degree-seeking International: $100
- Non-degree-seeking: $40
NOTE: The application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
MSW Admissions Decisions
All applications are reviewed by the School upon receipt.
To check the status of your application or to send a reference reminder, access your applicant status portal.
Accessing Your MSW Admissions Decision
Once a decision has been made on your application, you will receive an email from KU Graduate Admissions stating your admissions decision is ready.
To view your decision, access your applicant status portal.
If an offer is made, you will also receive an additional email from the School of Social Welfare. All decision notifications are sent via email; this is the official notification of a decision. To ensure your privacy, we are unable to provide admission decisions by telephone. Your decision letter will be found in your applicant status portal.
If you are offered admission, please accept or decline the offer of admission by going to your application status portal and clicking on the "Complete Your Decision Form" button. If accepting the offer, you will also receive a secure link to submit a credit card payment for the non-refundable $50 seat fee to hold your place in the program. This will complete your “acceptance” processing.
Next Steps for Admitted MSW Students
Visit the MSW Admitted Students webpage for next steps after accepting your MSW program admission.
Student Support & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Scholarships & Funding
Advising & Practicum Support
Learn more about the KU MSW Program
Get more info on admission, deadlines, tuition and financial aid, career paths and more when you fill out the form below. We’ll be in touch to answer any questions and help you get started.
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