College of Health Sciences and Human Services

Fall 2025 Applications*

*The Department of Social Work is no longer accepting applications to the 24-25 cohort.

The application window for admission to the 2025 - 2026 academic year opens on October 1, 2024, and closes on February 1st, 2025. 

Applications need to be submitted no later than 11:59 pm on January 31, 2025.

The CSUMB MSW program follows a cohort model and accepts applications for students to begin the program solely in the fall semesters.

All applications are reviewed holistically. Application strength is based on GPA, graduate-level writing ability, essay responses, compatibility with social work professional values, volunteer and/or paid experiences, and letters of reference.

Things to know when applying:

Basic Requirements:

• A regionally accredited Bachelor's degree and a GPA of 2.75 or higher for the last 60 semester/90 quarter units of college studies are required.
• Applicants with a GPA of 2.50 - 2.74, will be considered for admission under a "Conditional Acceptance" wherein they contractually agree to obtain a 3.0 or above during their first semester of the program or they will be dismissed from the program. 
• The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is no longer accepted or required.

Prerequisite Requirements:

• After careful consideration, the Department of Social Work will no longer require course prerequisites for admission to the Master of Social Work Program at California State University Monterey Bay, effective August 2023.
• It is an expectation that students possess computer literacy in Microsoft software including Excel, PowerPoint, & Word. 

Transcripts Requirements:

• All official transcripts for every university and/or college attended should be sent to CSUMB Admissions, Graduate Admissions, Office of Admissions, 100 Campus Center, Seaside, CA 93955, and received by February 15.
• Please do not send transcripts to the Department of Social Work office.
• Transcripts need to be received and processed by the University's Graduate Admissions office.
• Applicants who attended CSUMB do not need to submit official transcripts from CSUMB. However, they will need to submit official transcripts to the Office of Admissions for all other universities or colleges attended.
• Please note that unofficial transcripts will also need to be submitted at the time of application.

Letters of Recommendations/ Evaluations Requirements:

• Three letters of recommendation are required for admission. Within the online application system, letters of recommendation are referred to as an evaluation.
• While it is highly desired that one of the letters be from an individual with an MSW, it is not required.
• Evaluations are completed online using the application system and are essentially a rating form with a section for a narrative.
• Letters of recommendation will not be accepted in lieu of an electronic evaluation.
• Applicants are encouraged to direct their evaluators' questions to the CalState Apply Letter Help Center.

Additional Information:

• CSUMB no longer supports Alumni email addresses, therefore, all applicants, including those expected to graduate shortly, are encouraged to apply with a NON-CSUMB email address to prevent any disruption in communication.
• Social work-related experience is an important factor in the evaluation of applicants. An ideal applicant will have a minimum of two years or approximately 2,000 hours of social work-related experience.
• The course schedule accommodates working students. Classes are offered in the following time blocks 1-3:50 pm, 4-6:50 pm, & 7-9:50 pm, with 960 hours of practicum education.
• The MSW Program does not give course credit for work or life experience.
• Currently, the MSW Program meets California clinical licensing requirements.

Please review the website. If there are any questions, contact the Department of Social Work at msw@csumb.edu or schedule a 15-minute Zoom meeting with a Department of Social Work representative https://calendly.com/csumbmswadmissions/15min

Licensing Information

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or taxpayer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements are available from the Department of Social Work Chair, 100 Campus Center, Valley Hall 82-B102, Seaside, CA 93955, msw@csumb.edu, 831-582-5316 or reference the Board of Behavioral Sciences webpage.