Applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). 

To be considered for admission into the MSW program, an applicant must submit:

• A graduate application form with a non-refundable application fee of $60
• Letters of recommendation from two individuals who can attest to the your intellectual ability or potential, mailed to the Office of Graduate Admissions
• A copy of your curriculum vita or resume Official transcripts from all institutions previously attended by the applicant
• A personal narrative of 3-5 pages that responds to the following:
  • Explain why you are applying to the MSW program at Ramapo College?
  • Discuss your personal values, philosophy, knowledge of social issues, and any professional and community experiences that have influenced your decision to enter the social work profession.
  • Comment on your skills, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • Discuss your plans for a career in social work including your reasons for choosing a particular focus of service in the field.

Graduate social work students need:

1. An ability to think logically and conceptually and to formulate mature judgments
2. Excellent writing and verbal communications skills
3. Knowledge of the social work field and readiness to be committed to it as a profession
4. Evidence of emotional maturity, concern for people, and capacity for self-awareness and personal growth
5. Demonstrated concern and commitment to the values underlying professional social work
6. Respect for diversity and openness to life-long learning about one’s self and others.

Offered through: School of Social Science and Human Services (SSHS)

The MSW Program at Ramapo College is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Attaining Professional Licensure: Complete all academic requirements necessary to take the ASWB licensing examination for the LSW in NJ and LMSW in NY.

The MSW Program is offered as a full-time hybrid program two nights a week or as a part-time hybrid program one night a week for the  first two years, then two nights per week for the final year. Two courses meet 2 hours each night – Monday and Thursday – with 30 minutes of online work weekly. Students enrolled in the full-time program will complete in two years; students enrolled in the part-time program will complete in 3 years.  The Advanced Standing Program is a one-year program for students who have graduated from a CSWE-accredited BSW program.  1200 hours of field internship are required for the Traditional MSW  Program and 600 for the Advanced Standing Program.

Program Mission:

The mission of the Master of Social Work Program is to prepare competent, compassionate, and research-informed social work professionals who advocate for social and economic justice and human well-being while honoring diversity within the context of the social environment. An emphasis on caring human relationships and freedom from all forms of oppression  while supporting strengths, empowerment, and enhancing the quality of life will be the focus of practice. As advanced generalist practitioners, students will become influential leaders through planning and problem-solving, multi-system and interdisciplinary collaboration, and excellence in service to individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations all from a global perspective. Following the greater mission of Ramapo College, the MSW program emphasizes individual attention to students and promote diversity, inclusiveness, sustainability, student engagement, community involvement through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. 

Program Goals:

The goals of the MSW program are derived from the program’s mission as follows:

• To prepare competent social work professionals for advanced generalist practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in an ever-changing and diverse context, locally and internationally.
• To educate social workers effectively with the knowledge, values, and skills of the profession at the advanced practice level.
• To advance social justice by preparing leaders to effectively advocate for the development of social policies and social service delivery systems that improve the well-being of client systems.
• To prepare social workers who are life-long learners and who will advocate, personally and professionally, for the alleviation and eradication of social problems and the promotion of global social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

The preparation of students for advanced generalist practice is based on a person-in-environment perspective that is global and dynamic, respect for human diversity, advocacy for human rights, a strengths perspective, and scientific inquiry. The program’s aim is to equip students for practice in an ever-changing world fraught with infinite variation and persistent obstacles to justice. Excellent advanced generalist practice results from understanding and acknowledging the transitory nature of human interaction and the incremental development of services necessary to respond with a client-centered approach, whether that client is an individual, family, group, community, or organization.

The central means to accomplish the MSW program’s mission and goals is through an integrated learning process that values classroom and field learning equally.  The classroom integrates on-site learning in agency field internships with knowledge, values, and skills. Field internships are arranged through the Social Work Office of Field Education. Each student completes 600 hours of field internship per year in qualified agencies under qualified field instructors to graduate.

Goal 1: To educate social workers effectively with the knowledge, values and skills of the profession at the advanced practice level.

• Outcome 1: Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
• Outcome 2:  Engage in diversity and difference in practice.

Goal 2: To prepare social workers who are life-long learners and who will advocate, personally and professionally, for the alleviation and eradication of social problems and the promotion of global, social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

• Outcome 1: Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.

Goal 3: To advance social justice by preparing leaders to effectively advocate for the development of social policies and social service delivery systems that improve the wellbeing of client systems.

• Outcome 1: Engage in policy practice.

Goal 4: To prepare competent social work professionals for advanced generalist practice with
individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in an ever-changing and diverse context, locally and internationally.

• Outcome 1: Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
• Outcome 2: Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
• Outcome 3: Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Outcome 4: Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Outcome 5: Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

1. The MSW Degree requires 64 credit hours to complete.  The Foundation Year is offered in the Fall requiring 32 credits and 600 field hours for completion.  The Second Year requires 32 credits and 600 field hours for completion.  Course requirements include 9 credits of electives, including a cluster that prepares you for the License in Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counseling (LCADC) in the State of New Jersey.
2. To remain in good academic standing, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

1. Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree in social work (BSW) within the past five years from an undergraduate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and have a GPA of 3.25 or higher may apply for admission.  The program has limited seats available.  Please apply within the MSW deadline.
2. To remain in good academic standing, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.