Admissions Information

Rolling Admission for Fall 2025 Admission Consideration 

For Domestic Applicants Application Closes: March 1, 2025

For International Applicants Application Closes: January 15, 2025

Applicants are encouraged to apply early and to complete the application by the end of December 2024.

More information about our rolling admission process can be found below.

ROLLING ADMISSIONS PROCESS:

Florida State University College of Social Work Doctoral Program will conduct rolling admission for the fall 2025 admission consideration from when our application opens on August 1st, 2024, until our application deadline on March 1st, 2025, or when our incoming cohort is filled, whichever is first. 

It is beneficial for prospective students to prepare and submit all required application materials as soon they are ready, and completion of the application by December 2024 is encouraged. The Doctoral Program Committee will review applications and aim to provide applicants with an admission decision within 8 weeks from submission of a fully completed application. Once an application is reviewed, an application will either be denied, or the applicant will be offered an interview with the Doctoral Program Committee. Following the interview, applicants will receive an admission outcome of Admit, Deny, or Waitlist. Applicants who are placed on the waitlist will be provided a final admission outcome of Admit or Deny at the latest May 1st, 2025.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

An admission application should be completed online. Please see the Admissions Toolkit (link below) for additional details about the admissions process and for descriptions of the application materials.

Click HERE to view the Fall 2025 Doctoral Program Admissions Toolkit 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

*Additional details on these application requirements can be found in the Admissions Toolkit above*

  • An MSW degree with a Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 from a graduate school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
  • “Good standing” status at the last school attended.
  • A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the previous 5 years OR an approved GRE Waiver Request (more information below).
    • Please visit the GRE website at www.ets.org/gre for more information about the GRE, including registration information. Official GRE scores must be sent from ETS directly to FSU. The FSU institutional code is 5219.
  • Transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate academic work.
    • Note: As of November 2023, the FSU Graduate School requires all internationally earned degrees must be evaluated by SpanTran or another NACES approved credentialling service. More information on FSU’s transcript and credential evaluation requirement can be found here. 
  • Resume/Curriculum Vitae 
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Writing Sample
    • Applicants may include a maximum of two writing samples
  • Three letters of reference 
    • Applicants must include a minimum of three letters of reference and may include up to four letters of reference.
  • Interview
    • Every applicant being considered for admission after an initial application review will be interviewed.

GRE WAIVER INFORMATION:

The GRE could be waived for students who meet at least one criterion from each of the two categories below. To be considered for a waiver from the FSU College of Social Work Doctoral Program application for fall 2025 admissions consideration, please submit your current resume/CV and any relevant additional supplementary materials.

  1. Success and Aptitude for Research:
    • Undergraduate or graduate research-based thesis in a relevant field.
    • Post-undergraduate research experience in a relevant field.
    • Post-graduate research experience in a relevant field.
    • Participation in the FSU Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) or equivalent experience.
    • Extensive (at least 2 years) relevant research or clinical experience related to the applicant’s research interests.
    • Co-authored research paper published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
    • Extensive (at least 2 years) relevant employment related to the applicant’s graduate training goals.
  2. Academic Preparation:
    • Upper-division undergraduate GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher from any nationally or internationally accredited college or university.
    • MSW GPA of 3.75 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher from any Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited college or university.

If you believe you meet these criteria, please complete our GRE waiver here.

Please email Charlotte Hayes (chayes4@fsu.edu) with any questions regarding the GRE waiver process. 

ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS:

Evidence of English language proficiency is required as demonstrated by acceptable scores on one of the following: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet Based Test or Paper Based Test, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Pearson Test of English (PTE academic), Cambridge C1 Advanced Level, the Michigan Language Assessment, or Duolingo. The minimum scores required are as follows:

  • Internet based TOEFL (IBTOEFL): 80
  • Paper based TOEFL (TOEFL): 550
  • International English Language Testing System (Academic IELTS): 6.5
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE): 55
  • Duolingo: 120
  • Cambridge C1 Advanced Level: 180
  • Michigan Language Assessment: 55 

* For international applicants with an earned degree from a U.S. University, please inquire about exemption from Test of English as Foreign Language tests.

International applicants or degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through the SpanTran pathway portal, or from another NACES approved evaluator. SpanTran has created a custom application for Florida State University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. Florida State University recommends SpanTran as our preferred credential evaluation because it offers an easy way to streamline the application process. More information on FSU’s transcript and credential evaluation requirement can be found here.

Ready to apply? Start an application HERE

*If you meet or exceed these requirements, we encourage you to continue with the application process. However, please keep in mind that meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission, only admission consideration. The admissions process is limited and competitive. Only those applicants who have complete application files will be considered for admission.*