Navigating the UCLA MSW Application: Deadlines, Requirements, and Holistic Review

The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, incorporating social work, urban and regional planning, and policymaking, aims to cultivate leaders who advance solutions to society’s pressing problems. The Department of Social Welfare at UCLA offers both a Master of Social Welfare (MSW) and a Ph.D. in Social Welfare, guiding policy makers and shaping practices in areas like welfare, aging, health care, and family well-being. Understanding the application deadlines and requirements is crucial for prospective students.

Key Application Deadlines for the MSW Program

Applications for the Masters in Social Welfare (MSW) generally open in early-September. To be considered for the Graduate Opportunity Program (GOP), applications are due December 1st. This includes submission of the completed application, application fee (or an approved waiver), and all 3 letters of recommendation. The final application deadline is December 1st. It's important to note that all materials, including letters of recommendation, must be received by this deadline. For applicants considering fellowships through the Graduate Online Application, the deadline to submit the application is December 15th. Poco D. Be sure to consult your specific UCLA graduate program for the specific deadline for your proposed major. Applications to some programs may be considered if received after a program’s stated deadline, provided that the enrollment limitations have not been exceeded.

General Admission Requirements for the MSW Program

Admission to the Luskin School of Social Work is competitive and is restricted to the fall term only. Each fall, roughly 125 new students enter the MSW program and approximately 6-8 enter into our Ph.D. program.

Academic Prerequisites

A student is a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a bachelor’s degree from the University of California. Graduate admission through the regular process requires an overall scholastic average, including any post-baccalaureate study, of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better, or its equivalent if the letter grade system is not used. And a minimum of three (3) courses in the Humanities, as a prerequisite undergraduate preparation for graduate study in the field of social work. However, through the “Dean’s Special Action” (DSA) process, departments are able to admit applicants who do not meet this GPA requirement when other aspects of the applicant’s file suggest readiness for graduate study. The DSA process requires no additional action on the applicant’s part; it is at the department’s discretion to initiate it.

Application Components

The application process begins with the UCLA Graduate Division Online Application. In addition to the University's minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit the program application through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS). Here's a breakdown of the required components:

Transcripts: Upload one copy of transcripts to the UCLA Graduate online application. All transcript uploads are considered unofficial. Official transcripts will be required only after admission into the program. Community college transcripts are not necessary. Transcripts must contain the name of the institution, name of the student, conferral date, and degree awarded need to be included when applicable. Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded to your online application portal. Official transcripts will be required only after admission into the program. ONE official copy of transcripts from each college or university attended in the United States or abroad. Due to the pandemic, e-transcripts are the preferred method for official transcripts. Please upload unofficial transcripts to your application for admissions review purposes. Official transcripts will only be required if admitted.
GPA Worksheet: Complete the GPA Worksheet for Calculating Jr/Sr GPA (Grade Point Average). Upload on the UCLA Graduate Online Application with transcripts or in the additional document section. The worksheet must be converted and uploaded to the application portal as a PDF. Do not include P/NP grades. The worksheet is only required for undergraduate studies, do not include graduate coursework. Do not include non-graded classes. Do not include any grades prior to junior year even if that leaves you below 90 quarter units or 60 semester units. You must convert the excel file to a PDF in order to upload it to the application portal. Do not include P/NP. The worksheet is only for undergraduate transcripts. You can count backward from the end of your degree and leave off the first couple of units that would push you past the maximum threshold. It is okay if the total is not perfect, again, do not include more than the 90/60 units being asked.
English Language Proficiency (if applicable): Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) OR International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores, if the applicant is a student whose native language is not English. *TOEFL/IELTS scores can take several weeks to verify, therefore we consider self-reported scores during the review process. TOEFL/IELTS scores, if your native language is not English taken within the last two years. *TOEFL/IELTS scores can take several weeks to verify, therefore we consider self-reported scores during the review process.
Resume: Resume or chronological list (starting with the most recent) of all relevant employment, including summer jobs and internships you consider significant. Please also include all relevant volunteer or other experience with service-oriented groups. For each job or volunteer experience, please include your title, the number of months and/or years you held the position, and the number of hours worked each week.
Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation submitted directly by individuals who have supervised your work (academic, scholarly, and/or professional). At least one academic letter and one professional letter are preferred. Academic letters can be from a professor or doctoral student. Letters from colleagues, peers, and general character recommendations are not suitable. Do not provide more than three recommenders. Upload instructions will be sent to them through the online system. At least one letter of recommendation should come from an instructor who has overseen your academic work. All materials, including all three letters of recommendation, must be received by the deadline.
Statement of Purpose: The statement of purpose is an integral part of your application for graduate admission and consideration for the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship. It is used to understand your academic interests, and to evaluate your aptitude and preparation for graduate work, as well as your fit with the proposed program of study. Your statement can be up to 500 words in length (approximately 1-page, single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point font). What experiences have prepared you for advanced study or research in this degree program? What relevant skills have you gained from these experiences? Why is the UCLA graduate program to which you are applying is the best place for you to pursue your academic goals? What is your purpose in applying for graduate study in your specified degree program? What experiences have prepared you for advanced study or research in this degree program? What relevant skills have you gained from these experiences? Why is the UCLA graduate program to which you are applying is the best place for you to pursue your academic goals?
Personal Statement: The Personal Statement is an opportunity for you to provide additional information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UCLA. Are there educational, personal, cultural, economic, or social experiences, not described in your Statement of Purpose, that have shaped your academic journey? If so, how? Describe challenge(s) or barriers that you have faced in your pursuit of higher education. What motivated you to persist, and how did you overcome them? This is your opportunity to expand on your background, highlight unique experiences, challenges and triumphs and give the committee a more compelling reason to accept you. If a personal statement is not requested, consider incorporating this content into your statement of purpose. Describe your academic and career goals and highlight how graduate school will advance them. Address any particular challenges you’ve faced, and how you worked to overcome them. Even if your life has been less than dramatic, you still have a story to tell. Highlight research you have conducted that addresses underserved populations, such as issues of race, gender, equity and inclusion, disparities in health or educational access, and human rights. Mention artistic and cultural works you have produced that reflect diverse communities and voices not well represented in the humanities.
Application Fee: Application fee must be submitted online by credit or debit card before the application can be processed.

Additional Notes on Application Materials

Transcripts: Official transcripts will be required only after admission into the program.
GPA: If your grades suffered because of a misfortune, such as an illness, explain how you persevered.
Essays: In the first paragraph, you will either grab attention or you will lose it. Use the lead to set the tone and direction for the statement. Note: the lead can, but does not have to be an attention-grabbing story. Admissions committees want to hear your voice: your academic goals, personal experiences, and unique perspective. These are what make your essay compelling. Your application must be truthful and reflect your own work. Essays that rely heavily, or entirely, on AI may be treated as academic dishonesty. Your story, in your own words, is the most powerful part of your application.
Fee Waivers: Waivers will only be granted to those who fall under one of the categories listed on the UCLA Graduate Division application and on the Admissions FAQ’s. Alternatively, the university will grant fee waivers for students currently enrolled in school who can submit a letter from their financial aid officer indicating that payment would be a hardship. All fee waivers are administered and determined by the UCLA Graduate Division at the time of application submission. Please make sure to include the required documentation related to your fee waiver request. Applicants who are sponsored by the Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship Program are eligible for a deferral of the application fee. In the application, on the Plans for Graduate Study page, select PPIA under Program Participation. Participants in the following programs are eligible for fee waivers. Federal Income Tax return. Event-based waivers may waive the 2026-2027 application fee for PhD and state-supported doctoral programs. Please note that this program is subject to change or termination. Inquire about event-based fee waivers at designated conferences and recruitment events.

Concurrent Degree Programs

For concurrent degrees, you need to submit a complete application to each school separately. The articulated degree program in Latin American Studies and Public Health with concentration in Community Health Sciences has no additional admissions requirements except those that are noted above. Applicants are required to satisfy the admission requirements of both programs, and students must meet all requirements of both programs to be awarded the degrees. The articulated degree program in Medicine and Public Health with a selected concentration in Community Health Sciences has no additional admissions requirements except those that are noted above. Applicants are required to satisfy the admission requirements of both programs, and students must meet all requirements of both programs to be awarded the degrees. Applicants interested in this articulated program should contact the School of Medicine and the Student Affairs Office in the School of Public Health. The concurrent degree in African Studies and Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Sciences has no additional admissions requirements. Applicants are required to satisfy the admission requirements of both programs, and students must meet all requirements of both programs to be awarded the degrees. The concurrent degree program in Asian American Studies and Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Sciences has no additional admissions requirements. Applicants are required to satisfy the admission requirements of both programs, and students must meet all requirements of both programs to be awarded the degrees. The concurrent degree program in Law and Public Health with a selected concentration in Community Health Sciences has no additional admissions requirements except those that are noted above. Applicants are required to satisfy the admission requirements of both programs, and students must meet all requirements of both programs to be awarded the degrees. Applicants interested in this concurrent program should contact the School of Law and the Student Affairs Office in the School of Public Health. The concurrent degree program in Social Welfare and Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Sciences has no additional admissions requirements. Applicants are required to satisfy the admission requirements of both programs, and students must meet all requirements of both programs to be awarded the degrees. The concurrent degree program in Urban and Regional Planning and Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Sciences has no additional admissions requirements. Applicants are required to satisfy the admission requirements of both programs, and students must meet all requirements of both programs to be awarded the degrees.

Holistic Review Process

Admission is selective. Decisions will be based on a multifaceted evaluation of the applicant’s overall academic record, applicable test scores, and potential success in the public policy field, as evidenced by work experience and community, extracurricular, or other relevant experience. Submitted application materials are reviewed by faculty admissions committees in each major program who select the best qualified applicants. These admissions committees base recommendations for admission upon a careful comparison of applications, and this may take considerable time. Recruitment, Outreach and Admissions, therefore, cannot guarantee that the applicant will receive a response, favorable or unfavorable, on or before any specific date.

Notification Timeline

PhD applicants are generally notified of their admission status in January.

MSW Program Structure and Options

UCLA Luskin’s Master of Social Welfare is a two-year period of full-time study or a three-year period of part-time study. The UCLA MSW degree requires a total of 91 academic units taken over a two-year period of full-time study or a three-year period of part-time study. First-year foundation courses are required for all students, whereas program attendees have considerable discretion in selecting their advanced year(s) concentration courses, electives, and practicum placements. The Master of Social Welfare is a two-year period of full-time study program (6 quarters) merging theory, leadership, and research with generalist and specialized practicums of practice. As of fall 2021, a three-year period part-time program (8 quarters or 9 quarters with Pupil Personnel Services Credential) is available as an option for students interested in the Child and Family Well-Being area of concentration. Students in this program take classes in the mornings and work with their practicum agencies to complete their required internship hours over the course of their academic program.

Areas of Concentration

During the spring quarter of your first year, you will select an Area of Concentration (AoC) as a focus for your second-year practice, leadership and theory curriculum and practicum. UCLA Luskin’s MSW program blends theory, leadership, and research with generalist practice and three unique advanced concentrations.

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Child and Family Well-Being: The Child and Family Well-Being Area of Concentration prepares students to recognize and understand the determinants of well-being for children and families within and outside of the family system. In addition, this concentration prepares social work students to intervene utilizing methods that promote child and family functioning in physical, behavioral, affective, social, and cognitive areas. The theoretical and evidence bases, for this concentration include knowledge about normative and nonnormative developmental trajectories, stressful life transitions, interpersonal processes, environmental conditions and circumstances that support the growth and development needs of children and the social justice needs of disadvantaged families. Students go on to work in various settings such as public and private welfare agencies, school systems, mental health settings, and health care practice.
Health and Mental Health: This concentration emphasizes expertise in health and mental health across the lifespan through the integration of research and critical thinking, practice, leadership and policy analysis. Drawing from the social determinants of health model, issues of quality of life and longevity are linked to the exacerbation of social and economic disparities. Courses in the concentration examine wellbeing and resilience as well as disease and disability. The practice emphasis is on prevention and behavior change, by means of theoretically driven, empirically tested, culturally tailored and technology-supported interventions. Barriers and obstacles impeding individuals from gaining access to, and using, affordable and personalized services in health, mental health, and social services are analyzed from various perspectives. Students pursue employment in a wide range of health, mental health and substance abuse oriented settings in communities and institutions, including private practice.
Social and Economic Justice: This area of concentration prepares students to promote social justice and equity in a variety of domestic and global social welfare settings through an integrated model of theory, policy advocacy, research, and advanced generalist practice skills. Through course work and field experiences, students can expect to pursue domestic or global careers in community development, voluntary/non-profit sector services, criminal and juvenile justice settings, or in various spheres of policy advocacy and implementation, grassroots organizing, and government agencies.

Financial Support and Diversity

UCLA is committed to increasing diversity in graduate education. Our graduate population reflects broad intellectual interests and includes students from many cultures and backgrounds. UCLA Graduate Division awards numerous fellowships supporting diversity. Luskin School-wide fellowships support our commitment to social justice. The department offers merit-based fellowships to top applicants regardless of citizenship status. All eligible Social Welfare students receive a need-based fellowship award. Although very limited, there is a variety of financial aid available.

Additional Information

Prior academic or professional experience in public health or a related field is not required as a condition of admission.
There are no citizenship requirements to be considered for admission.
AP coursework is not acceptable for graduate admission.
Does the Department admit students mid-year?No.
The UCLA application for graduate admission should be used to apply for all programs with the exception of the M.D. in Medicine, the J.D., S.J.D, and L.L.M. in Law, the D.D.S. in Dentistry, and M.B.A. and M.F.E.
If you applied to UCLA before (or were an employee or a student), there may be a mismatch between your name or other personal data on the application and what is already in UCLA’s database. Many of these discrepancies (such as a name change) are resolved by the Division of Graduate Education staff without further need for communication, and the situation does not impede review of your application by the program.
Although sometimes casually referred to as such, April 15th is not a deadline for graduate decision notification.
In most cases, UCLA does not offer deferrals for graduate admission.
Active military service: Admitted students with active military orders may request a deferral for the duration of their service.
Graduate Council-approved temporary allowances: On occasion, the Graduate Council may authorize programs to offer deferrals under specific circumstances.
The University of California, Los Angeles actively encourages persons with disabilities to apply for admission. Federal Law (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) prohibits the University from requesting disability related information prior to admission.

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