Social Welfare Admissions

Applications for the Masters in Social Welfare (MSW) generally open in early-September. Please check the Division of Graduate Education website for the most up to date information.

Applications for both the MSW and PhD programs must be complete and all letters of recommendation received by the final deadline, December 1st. This includes submission of the completed application, application fee (or an approved waiver), and all 3 letters of recommendation.

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. Be sure to check the box indicating your interest in the GOP award within the application. If you do not see this option, you may not be eligible for the award. Incomplete or late applications received after the final deadline will not be reviewed.

While the department can recommend whether a student should be offered admission, the Division of Graduate Education has final authority in all admission decisions.

Decisions will begin to be sent beginning mid-February through mid-March.

Applicants must meet the following requirements for admission:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B).

• At the time of application submission, applicants must have completed one course in elementary statistics with a grade of B* or better.
• Completion of a total of four (4) courses in the Socio-Behavioral Sciences 
  • Including one (1) course with Human Cognitive Development content (e.g., Intro to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Child and Adolescent Development)
  • And a minimum of three (3) courses in the Humanities, as a prerequisite undergraduate preparation for graduate study in the field of social work. (e.g., anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, education, gerontology, political science, public health, psychology, social ecology, social welfare, sociology, women’s studies).

*Required courses can be taken at any community college.

*Courses may be in progress during the application process. However, all courses must be completed by the end of spring quarter to be considered for admission.

*In some cases, proof of enrollment may be required and/or a letter from the instructor stating that the applicant is on track to complete the course with a grade B or better.

The UCLA MSW program requires that all students obtain a health clearance.  In certain limited circumstances, students may be granted a medical exception, an accommodation based on religious beliefs or disabilities, or a deferral based on pregnancy.  While we do understand that UCLA is allowing for exemptions under special/certain circumstances, please be aware that your agency may or may not allow such exemptions.  While we will do our best to find an agency that will allow an exemption or that does not have a vaccination policy, please be advised that practicum education is an integral part of the MSW program and that if we are unable to find a suitable placement, you will not be able to meet the program requirements.

We do not require the GRE and submitted scores will not be considered during the review process.

E-transcripts are the preferred method to receive official transcripts. Official transcripts will be required to be sent in after admission. Please request transcripts sent directly to sw@luskin.ucla.edu

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. Student progress reports are not accepted.

If physical official transcripts are the only option offered by your institution, please request they be sent to:

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Department of Social Welfare Admissions
3250 Public Affairs Building, Box 951656
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656

Domestic applicants (U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents) is $135. The fee for all other applicants is $155.

Application fee must be submitted online by credit or debit card before the application can be processed. Fees are subject to change. Check here for the most current fee schedule.

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. This should be uploaded directly to the website.

All fee waivers are administered and determined by the UCLA Graduate Division at the time of application submission. You can read more about how to qualify for a fee waiver here.

Please make sure to include the required documentation related to your fee waiver request. Failure to do so may impact your ability to receive award consideration.

1. Complete the UCLA Graduate Online Application
2. 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. Student progress reports are not accepted.
   • Evaluations are not necessary for international transcripts as we will evaluate them internally.
3. 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. International transcripts not on the 4.0 scale also do not require a worksheet as these will require internal review.
4. 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. (The TOEFL or IELTS) is required of all non-native speakers unless they have completed two years of university-level coursework in an English-language institution).*
   • *TOEFL/IELTS scores can take several weeks to verify, therefore we consider self-reported scores during the review process. We will then verify scores directly if an offer of admission is to be made.
5. 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. Upload on the UCLA Graduate Online Application.
6. 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. Enter your recommender’s name and email address on the UCLA Online Application. Do not provide more than three recommenders. Upload instructions will be sent to them through the online system. Applicants do not need to wait for all letters of recommendation to come in before submitting their application.
7. 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. It is also used to assess your ability to write coherent and convincing prose.
   • Instructions: Please respond to the following.  Your statement can be up to 500 words in length (approximately 1-page, single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point font). You do not need to answer every question; focus on the elements that you feel are most relevant to your candidacy.
     • What is your purpose in applying for graduate study in your specified degree program?  Describe your area(s) of interest, including any subfield(s) or interdisciplinary interests.
     • What experiences have prepared you for advanced study or research in this degree program? What relevant skills have you gained from these experiences? Have your experiences led to specific or tangible outcomes that would support your potential to contribute to this field (examples:  performances, publications, presentations, awards or recognitions)?
     • What additional information about your past experience may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UCLA?  For example, you may wish to describe research, employment, teaching, service, artistic or international experiences through which you have developed skills in leadership, communication, project management, teamwork, or other areas.
     • Why is the UCLA graduate program to which you are applying is the best place for you to pursue your academic goals? If you are applying for a research master’s or doctoral program, we encourage you to indicate specific research interests and potential faculty mentors.
     • What are your plans for your career after earning this degree?
8. A 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. It will also be used to consider candidates for the Cota-Robles and Graduate Opportunity fellowships.
   • Instructions: Please respond to the one or more of the following prompts.  Your statement can be up to 500 words in length (approximately 1-page, single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point font). To be considered for a Cota-Robles or Graduate Opportunity fellowship, be sure to describe your contributions to diversity.
     • 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? Have any of these experiences provided unique perspective(s) that you would contribute to your program, field, or profession?
     • 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? What is the evidence of your persistence, progress, or success?
     • What leadership experiences, community outreach, service initiatives, or research projects have you participated in or plan to pursue that aim to positively impact others of the broader community?
     • Describe ways in which your perspectives, experiences, or aspirations have aligned with UCLA’s Principles of Community

Applications for the Doctoral program in Social Welfare (PhD) generally open in early-September. Please check the Division of Graduate Education website for the most up to date information.

Final Application Deadline: December 1st

Our doctoral program receives numerous applications from highly qualified applicants around the world. The majority of our admitted students have an MSW degree but we also accept students with a master’s degree in a related field (such as public policy or psychology). The doctoral committee seeks applicants who have a commitment to a research career in social welfare and who show great scholarly promise. Applications are assessed individually based on all components of the portfolio. Contact with potential faculty mentors is invited, but not required for admission to our program.

PhD: Applicants are expected to hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from an accredited school of social work with a superior academic record. Students who possess a master’s degree in social science and professional experience in a related field may also be admitted under one of the following plans:

(1) Applicants who wish to obtain an MSW (Combined MSW/PhD option) are required to complete the first-year MSW program. Students can be exempted from some second-year MSW. Requirements via examinations on the basis of preparation received in doctoral courses. This plan is also available to applicants with a BA degree who possess an outstanding academic record. For applicants to the MSW/PhD program, please note that space in this program is often limited to 1-2 students per year. The admissions committee may refer some very well-qualified combined applicants to the MSW program, with an option to reapply to the PhD program in the future.

(2) Applicants who do not wish to obtain an MSW may be required to take certain MSW courses as prerequisites to doctoral courses.

Admission criteria include quality of performance in previous undergraduate and graduate study, capacity for doctoral-level scholarship, ability to express oneself clearly in writing, success in professional employment and other qualifications indicating eligibility for advanced study and research

A typewritten statement of professional and educational objectives is required including relevant research experiences. To exemplify communication skills, applicants may submit any of the following: published articles, a master’s thesis, unpublished papers, or term papers written in graduate courses.

Although a personal interview is not normally required as part of the application procedure, it may be arranged at the request of the doctoral committee. Applicants will be notified in writing as soon as possible regarding decisions on admission.

Domestic applicants (U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents) is $135. The fee for all other applicants is $155.

Application fee must be submitted online by credit or debit card before the application can be processed. Note: Fees are subject to change. Check here for the most current fee schedule.

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. This should be uploaded directly to the website.

All fee waivers are administered and determined by the UCLA Graduate Division at the time of application submission. You can read more about how to qualify for a fee waiver here.

Please make sure to include the required documentation related to your fee waiver request. Failure to do so may impact your ability to receive award consideration.

1. UCLA Graduate Online Application.

2. ONE official copy of transcripts from each college or university attended in the United States or abroad. Unofficial transcripts are uploaded on the UCLA Graduate Online Application.

Evaluations are not necessary for international transcripts as we will evaluate them internally.

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. Please request e-transcripts sent directly to sw@luskin.ucla.edu

If physical official transcripts are the only option offered by your institution, please request them mailed to:

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Department of Social Welfare Admissions
3250 Public Affairs Building, Box 951656
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656

3. GPA Worksheet. This worksheet calculates Grade Point Average for the end of your undergraduate education and graduate school. Use separate worksheets for each. Upload this form with transcripts or in the supporting documents section of the online application.

4. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores, if your native language is not English taken within the last two years. (The TOEFL or IELTS is required of all non-native speakers unless they have completed two years of university-level coursework in an English-language institution).*

*TOEFL/IELTS scores can take several weeks to verify, therefore we consider self-reported scores during the review process. We then verify scores directly if an offer of admission is to be made.

7. Personal Statement (*UCLA requirement uploaded as a separate document. Please see prompts above in the MSW section and in the application)

8.1 Statement of Purpose (*UCLA requirement uploaded as a separate document. Please see prompts above in the MSW section and in the application)

8.2 Research Essay (*Departmental requirement accessible within the application in a text field) Please provide your reasons for pursuing doctoral education at UCLA Luskin at this time. Please provide more information related to your past research experience, current research interests, and long term professional research objectives and how they have prepared you for doctoral education, you can type an essay up to 1,000 words in length. For past research experience, your essay should include the major problem being addressed, the specific aims/goals/questions your project addressed and how these help address the major problem, what approaches you used (no need to go into technical details), the results you obtained, and how these results advanced understanding of the major problem. Please also include your educational and research objectives while in the doctoral program.

*The Statement of Purpose can be an abbreviated version of your Research Essay and both will be reviewed and graded as one essay.*

10. Curriculum Vitae

11. Writing Sample

5.  The PhD in social welfare is a research degree. At least one letter of recommendation should come from an instructor who has overseen your academic work. The remaining two letters of recommendation should come from academic and/or professional references that can speak to your qualifications for doctoral training, including research skills, practice experience, community and policy-related endeavors.