Social Work - Advanced Standing, M.S.W. - CHHS, UNH

Advanced Standing Program

The M.S.W. program considers advanced standing for exceptional students with undergraduate degrees from accredited baccalaureate social work programs. This program option is offered in Durham and online.  Applicants must have graduated from the B.S.W. program within five years of matriculation into the M.S.W. program with a 3.2 cumulative GPA or a 3.3 Social Work major GPA. Advanced standing students complete required coursework including a 10-week summer practicum and seminar, which students must take prior to their advanced practice and internship placement.

MSW Program Advanced Standing (post B.S.W./B.S.S.W.) Courses

Complete a minimum of 35 credits.

Accelerated Master's Overview

Accelerated Master’s programs offer qualified University of New Hampshire undergraduate students the opportunity to begin graduate coursework in select graduate programs while completing a bachelor’s degree. Accelerated master's programs are designed to provide students with an efficient and cost-effective pathway to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree or graduate certificate, enhancing career opportunities and long-term earning potential.

Accelerated Master's Highlights

• Begin studying advanced topics while an undergraduate student with the opportunity to complete a master’s degree or graduate certificate early.
• Master’s degree program students: Earn up to 12* graduate (800-level) course credits while completing a bachelor’s degree. This coursework will count as dual-credit toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
• Graduate certificate program students: Earn up to 8* graduate (800-level) course credits while completing a bachelor’s degree. This coursework will count as dual-credit toward both the bachelor’s degree and the graduate certificate.
• Students complete the bachelor’s degree, and then officially matriculate into the master’s or graduate certificate program to complete the remaining required graduate-level coursework.

*Some exceptions apply. 

Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements

• A minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA is required.*
• A minimum of 90 undergraduate credits must be completed prior to enrolling in graduate (800-level) courses.
• Streamlined Graduate School Application (two letters of recommendation; most standardized tests and application fee are waived).*

*Some exceptions apply.

Accelerated Master's Requirements

• Students must attend a mandatory orientation session.
• Students must submit a special registration form each semester for dual-credit courses and note any DegreeWorks exceptions.
• Students may defer graduate matriculation for up to one year after earning their bachelor’s degree in most programs.
• See the Accelerated Master’s Catalog Policy and Accelerated Master’s Website for additional information and a list of programs. Note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher-grade expectations) compared to the general policy.

Social Work - Advanced Standing (M.S.W.) Accelerated Option

This graduate degree program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with the following undergraduate program(s):

• Student demonstrates ethical and professional behavior.
• Student engages diversity and difference in practice.
• Student advances human rights and social, economic and environmental justice.
• Engage in practice informed research and research-informed practice.
• Engages in policy practice.
• Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Intervenes with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Evaluates practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

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Deadline

To be reviewed for admission, applications must be completed by the following deadlines. Applications received after the deadline may be considered if space is available. 

If you have questions about the deadlines, please contact UNH Online for details.

• Fall: 
  • June 1 (Deadline extended to July 1 for Fall 2026)
  • April 15 (Accelerated/Early Entry UNH Undergraduate students Only)
• Spring: N/A
• Summer: N/A

Application fee: $65

Campus: Durham

New England Regional: No

Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)

New Hampshire Residents

Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.

Distance Education Licensing Requirements

NC-SARA does not cover professional licensing board approval for programs leading to state licensure or certification. If the online program that you are considering is designed to lead to professional licensure or certification in your state, please read the professional licensure page at the UNH Online website for more information.

Transcripts

If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

• Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
• Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

Letters of recommendation: 3 required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

At least one letter must attest to observed skills in an employment setting that would be indicative of success in the social work and outdoor education field.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

Applicants must provide a well-constructed double-spaced essay of 4-5 pages. Please respond to the questions below:

1. Explain the personal, academic, organizational, volunteer and/or paid work experiences that have influenced your choice of social work as a profession.
2. Social workers are bound by the NASW Code of Ethics, which state in part: "Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice." With this in mind, discuss a current social issue of great concern or interest to you and how you hope to make an impact as a social worker.
3. In alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics, the UNH Department of Social Work strives to operate from an anti-oppressive perspective and broadly promotes Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP). Discuss at least 2 examples of oppression prevalent in society. Reflect on how these issues of oppression may influence your work/role as a social worker.
4. Given the rigorous nature of a graduate social work program, what personal attributes do you possess that will enable you to balance school, internships, and personal commitments? How will you engage your supports/resources when you need help?

Note: The UNH Department of Social Work does not consider protected class identities in admissions decisions. As such, you are not required to share information in your response that would reveal your race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability status, military, law-enforcement, or veteran status.

Resume

A current resume is required with your submitted application.

Additional Department Requirements

Applicants must have graduated with their Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) with a minimum of a 3.2 GPA from a CSWE accredited institution within the past 5 years.

Enrollment Deposit

This program requires an enrollment deposit of $200. If admitted the deposit will be due by the deadline specified in your admit letter. For more information please see our enrollment deposits help page.

International Applicants

Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.

Questions

For program-specific application questions, please contact the UNH Online Student Success Coaches: unh.online@unh.edu or 855.250.6699