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The Bachelor of Social Work Application for Spring 2025 Admission is now live. The application deadline is Friday, November 15, 2024 at 5:00pm.


Application Information and Procedures

All information, materials, and forms needed to apply to the Bachelor of Social Work program can be found here. Please review all requirements and instructions before proceeding to the application. If you have any questions regarding the admissions process or application material, please email nkelley@southalabama.edu.

Overview of Application Procedures

  1. Verify that you have completed all prerequisites requirements.
  2. Read and understand the USA BSW program policies, and familiarize yourself with and pertaining to social workers.
  3. Download your Unofficial Academic Transcript, update your resume, and write your Personal Statement. You will be required to upload these documents on the BSW electronic application.
  4. Fulfill the Letter of Recommendation Requirement (instructions below).
  5. Complete the USA BSW Electronic Application.

Application Instructions and Information

â–¼   Step 1: Prerequisites
  • Minimum 2.60 overall GPA in courses taken at USA
  • Minimum of 56 credit hours
  • Complete prerequisite courses:
    • SW 200, SW 214, and SW 220 with minimum grade of C
    • BLY101 / BLY101L and second natural science course with lab with minimum grade of C
    • EH 101 and EH 102 with minimum grade of C
    • SY 109 with minimum grade of C
    • PSY 120 with minimum grade of C
    • MA 110 or MA 112 (or higher)
â–¼   Step 2: Unofficial Academic Transcript

The BSW Electronic Application requires applicants to upload their Unofficial Academic Transcript.

Directions to access Unofficial Academic Transcript:

  1. Login to PAWS
  2. Click Student Services & Financial Aid
  3. Click Student Records
  4. Click Academic Transcript (Unofficial)
  5. Select "All Levels" and "Web"
  6. Click the print icon, then select "Save as PDF" to save the file to your computer.
â–¼   Step 3: Resume

The BSW Electronic Application requires applicants to upload an updated resume.

This allows you to showcase your academic achievements, skills, and accomplishments. Here are some tips to help you craft your resume:

  • Use plain font, 10- to 12- point type, and normal page margins.
  • Keep it short: your resume should be no longer than 1 page.
  • If possible, place focus on experiences and skills that are relevant to the BSW program.

Tip: Schedule a Resume Development appointment with a career advisor to perfect your resume for submission. Visit the Career Development website for more information and to schedule an appointment. 

â–¼   Step 4: Personal Narrative

The BSW Electronic Application requires applicants to upload a Personal Statement.

The personal narrative is a critical part of your application. This is your opportunity to communicate and present yourself to the BSW Admissions Committee, who will be reviewing your application materials.

Personal Statement Instructions and Guidelines

Tip: Along with your response to the prompts, you will also be heavily evaluated on your proficiency in writing, including sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and overall clarity. If you need additional assistance, we strongly suggest contacting the Center for Academic Excellence Writing Lab.

â–¼   Step 5: Letters of Recommendation and Forms

As a part of the application to the BSW program, you are required to provide two (2) letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your ability to be successful in a professional ³ÉÈË¿ì²¥ program. Additionally, for each letter obtained, the applicant and the recommender must also complete and sign the USA BSW Letter of Recommendation Form. The Letter of Recommendation Form, instructions, and guidelines are linked below. These materials are separate from the BSW Electronic Application, and should be submitted according to the instructions linked below.

Required Form, Guidelines, & Instructions for Submission:

 

Applicants are responsible for providing their recommenders with instructions for submitting materials and the deadline for submission. The deadline for submitting letter of recommendation materials is November 15, 2024, at 5:00pm.

â–¼   Step 6: Minor Requirement

Conditional upon acceptance into the program, BSW majors are required to declare a minor.

When preparing to complete the BSW application, please consider which minor you might want to declare. Most BSW students opt for a minor in Sociology, as many of the upper-division Social Work curriculum requirements also fulfill the Sociology minor requirements. However, social work majors may choose to minor in any discipline offered at USA. Click here to view a list of minors offered at USA.

Whatever you decide, having a minor in mind will help streamline the application process and ensure that you are ready to provide this information when prompted on BSW application. 

Upon acceptance into the Social Work Program, your major and minor will be updated administratively. 

â–¼   Step 7: Complete the BSW Electronic Application

Once you have completed the steps above, you are ready to complete the USA Bachelor of Social Work Electronic Application!

Tip: Have your Unofficial Academic Transcript, Resume, and your Personal Statement ready to upload before beginning the electronic application. It may help to add these documents to their own folder on your computer, so they are all in one place!

 

Bachelor of Social Work Admissions Policy

Students who want to major in social work are admitted to the pre-professional social work major, where they remain until they meet requirements to be admitted into the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) major. Prior to entering the major, please consider consulting with a pre-professional social work advisor from Academic Advising and Transfer Services at the earliest opportunity. 

Admission to the University of South ³ÉÈË¿ì²¥ Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program requires the completion and submission of the electronic application. Students who meet the minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission into the social work major. The application process is competitive and dependent upon space available. The admissions policy is applicable to all students: new freshmen, transfer students, students seeking a second bachelor’s degree, and students changing their major. Transfer students must apply for admission and be accepted to the University of South ³ÉÈË¿ì²¥ before applying to the Bachelor of Social Work program.