Online Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW

The Online Part-Time Advanced Standing Program is completed in five semesters (1.5 years) and begins in the spring only.

Field placements are specialized field training opportunities that allow students to explore the practice areas that interest them the most. Online students complete the in-person field placements in their home region, and take an active leading role in the field placement process with our Office of Field Education.

Field Placements:

• Are completed over the course of two semesters each
• Require a minimum of 15 hours a week
• Are during weekday daytime working hours
• Cannot be satisfied using past or current employment or volunteer work 

The 35-credit MSW Advanced Standing MSW Online program requires one 480 hour advanced field placement.

• The online MSW program can be completed without any time on campus, provided students choose from the list of elective, advanced topics and advanced interventions courses that are offered online. 
• Online courses can have both synchronous and asynchronous components to them. Synchronous means that you may need to log on at a specific day and time for a live video chat with your professor and/or classmates. Faculty members will advise students on the number of synchronous sessions required in any course up front. 

*Rates above are based on fall 2019 rates and subject to change.

Online MSW students are able to request a waiver for some (not all) of the fees.

Part-Time Online MSW students can apply for financial aid via the FAFSA. 

In order to apply for Advanced Standing, you must meet ALL the following:

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program, with no more than six years between BSW conferral and start date of the MSW program
• A minimum of 24 credits of undergraduate liberal arts coursework
  Of those 24 credits:
  • 6 must be in the social or behavioral sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science)
  • 6 must be in the arts or humanities (e.g., history, English, foreign languages, philosophy, ethnic or gender studies)
  • 12 credits may be made up with any combination of the above or with courses from the natural sciences or mathematics
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater
• B- or better in ALL undergraduate social work major courses
• A Human Biology 3 cr. undergraduate course (must be completed prior to the second semester

Don't meet the above requirements? Apply for our 60-credit traditional online MSW program that begins in fall instead. 

Apply to the University at Buffalo School of Social Work using our electronic graduate application system.

Be sure to read the drop-down list of program options thoroughly, since each track has different application questions (traditional, advanced standing, on-campus, online, dual-degree, etc.). If you are unsure of which program you need to select, contact us. If you do not see your program listed, it means that it is not currently open. Check our deadlines page for information about when program applications open and close.

On the application form, you will be asked to send electronic recommendation requests to three professional references who are best able to assess your potential for graduate-level academic work and for the profession of social work. This includes: 

• Faculty
• Classroom instructors
• Academic advisors
• Current or past employers, supervisors or professional colleagues

Do not use personal friends, relatives, friends of the family or other personal relationship sources. In addition, do not use clients or individuals you provide services to, or therapists or other individuals you receive services from. 

When you send the requests, your recommenders will receive an email with a link to complete the brief evaluation form and upload their letter of recommendation for you electronically. You will receive a notification email when a recommendation has been received.

Copies of transcripts should be uploaded to the application portal. You must provide transcripts for all previous schools attended at the undergraduate and graduate levels, regardless of whether a degree was received. Transcripts must include the institution name, all courses taken with semesters, grades received, overall GPA, and transcript key if available (often printed on the back). Do not upload web printouts or advising reports. If you prefer to send official transcripts for the application review process instead of uploading copies, you may do so (see mailing address below).

If accepted to the program, you will be required to submit final official transcripts from your bachelor's (and any graduate degree or graduate coursework, if applicable) institutions (except from the University at Buffalo) if you have not already.

Official transcripts must be mailed to:

University at Buffalo 
School of Social Work- Admissions
685 Baldy Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-1050

or sent via secure and official electronic delivery to: swinfo@buffalo.edu. 

After you submit your application form, you will be able to upload your personal statement to your application checklist. This is a key component of your application. Your essay should reflect strong technical writing and critical thinking skills. Write a full essay answering ALL questions in the Guidelines for Writing the Personal Statement. 

After you submit your application, you will be redirected to your status portal, where you can find the secure payment link, allowing you to pay the non-refundable application fee by credit card or e-check.

The Advanced Standing Part-Time Online MSW application fee is $100.