How to Apply: DSW Program

Online Application

The online application gives you the ability to submit all supporting documents in one form and save your application in progress. You will be asked for the items listed below, which will be required to complete the online application.

• Resume: Professional resume with current/prior work or volunteer experience
• Statement of purpose: Narrative statement addressing your vision and development as a social work practitioner-scholar
• Writing sample: A writing sample that demonstrates your capacity for scholarly writing in a graduate program
• Professional references: Contact information for two former instructors or colleagues positioned to comment on the candidate's ability to succeed in a DSW program
• Transcripts: Official copies of both undergrad and graduate transcripts (find transcript instructions under "Application requirements" at Grad KU apply)

Resume

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. Please double-check your formatting after saving it in WORD or PDF, and before uploading the document.

Statement of Purpose

The KU DSW application requires a statement of purpose that provides students with an opportunity to address how their experiences inform their identity as a scholar.

Applicants are asked to respond to three questions in 1,250 words or less:

1. Discuss your vision and development as an advanced practitioner-scholar, including your practice, leadership, instructional and research experiences you have had to date, and your current scholarly interests.
2. In considering your own vision as a practitioner-scholar and the School's guiding principles and values, describe one or two potential scholarly questions that you would like to explore in a doctoral program. Discuss why these questions are important to the field, how they relate to leadership and macro practice, and how addressing these questions would advance social work practice.
3. Describe why you chose the University of Kansas. If there are KU faculty members whose scholarly work or interests are particularly relevant to you, please mention them in your description.

Writing Sample

The KU DSW application requires a writing sample that demonstrates the applicant's capacity to write in a scholarly way consistent with preparation for further graduate study.

The application includes a sample writing prompt for applicants who do not already have a writing sample to upload to their application.

Additional formatting instructions are on the application.

Professional References

You will be asked to list the contact information for two references in the application. The application system will then email a reference form to each person. 

References for the DSW application should be former instructors or colleagues who can comment on the candidate's ability to succeed in a DSW program.

College Education and Transcripts

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 (such as Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse), 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
  1502 Iowa Street
  Lawrence, KS 66045

For more guidance on transcripts from non-U.S. institutions, see the International applicants webpage.

Non-Native English Speakers Applying to the DSW Program

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.

International Students Applying to the DSW Program

International students interested in the fully online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program should also refer to student eligibility for Jayhawk Global: International Student Eligibility for Jayhawk Global Programs

Graduate international applicants who intend to reside outside the U.S. are eligible to apply for fully online degrees.

Note: Applicants to fully online programs are not eligible for a visa. Visit International Support Services for more information about visas.

Additional information about international admissions requirements is available from KU Graduate Admissions: International Admissions Requirements for KU Graduate Admissions

Live online classes: Classes in the KU DSW program meet online in a live, synchronous format. DSW students must be available to attend online classes at the scheduled meeting times. Find DSW class meeting times on the KU Schedule of Classes.

DSW Application Fees

To complete the application, you must submit the online application and pay the fee.

• Domestic student application fee: $65
• International student application fee: $100

NOTE: The application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

After Submitting Your DSW Application

Applications are marked as complete and reviewed once all transcripts and references have been received. To check the status of your application, or to send a reference reminder, please access your applicant status portal.

DSW admissions decisions are sent to applicants after the application deadline. We expect to make all application decisions and notifications by mid-February.

Accessing Your DSW 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, please access your applicant status portal. 

If an offer is made, you will 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 $100 seat fee to hold your place in the program. This will complete your “acceptance” processing.

DSW Application Dates and Deadlines for 2026

• Oct. 1, 2025 - DSW admissions application opens for fall 2026
• Feb. 3, 2026 - Online DSW application deadline for fall 2026