MSW Advanced Standing Program

Advanced Standing is an admission option for students who have earned a baccalaureate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program within the past five years. This option provides the opportunity to complete the MSW in 12 months.

Students qualifying for Advanced Standing must begin the MSW Program during the Summer Quarter prior to their advanced academic year. All application materials must be submitted by January 15 of the enrollment year (exceptions may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis).

This policy ensures that content and competencies already mastered at the undergraduate level are not duplicated in the MSW curriculum, in alignment with CSWE accreditation standards.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for Advanced Standing, students must:

• Successfully complete their generalist field practicum with a minimum grade of B (or equivalent); and
• Complete their generalist-level coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher.

After verification of practicum completion, students participate in a Generalist Course Waiver Review. This includes a transcript evaluation and a content review of coursework to determine whether previously completed courses are equivalent in scope and depth to LLU's MSW generalist courses. Differences in semester versus quarter systems and variations across BSW programs are taken into consideration.

Advanced Standing students who completed generalist courses with grades below a B may still demonstrate competency through comprehensive waiver exams. Exams must be taken during the term before the equivalent MSW course is scheduled.

Non-Advanced Standing BSW graduates earned a CSWE-accredited BSW but do not meet all Advanced Standing criteria. This may include:

• Completing the degree more than five years before admission
• Insufficient field hours or a practicum grade below a B
• A cumulative GPA below 3.0 in generalist coursework

These students may still request course waivers for generalist courses with grades of B (3.0) or higher. They also participate in the Generalist Course Waiver Review and may choose to take comprehensive waiver exams for courses that did not meet the minimum grade requirement.

However, Non-Advanced Standing students cannot waive generalist field practicum requirements and must complete the full first-year field education sequence.

The following foundation-level MSW courses may be waived or challenged via a comprehensive waiver exam:

• SOWK 510: Diversity Theory in Practice and Research (3 units)
• SOWK 513: Human Behavior in a Culturally Diverse Environment (4 units)
• SOWK 514: Social Welfare History and Policy (4 units)
• SOWK 517: Practice I – Individuals (4 units)
• SOWK 518: Practice II – Groups (3 units)
• SOWK 519: Practice III – Organizations and Communities (3 units)
• SOWK 548: Research Methods (5 units)
• SOWK 574: Practice V – Administration, Management, and Supervision (3 units)
• SOWK 585: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health and Behavioral Health Services (3 units)
• Two upper-division electives (4 units total)

Courses Waived for Advanced Standing Students Only

These courses are waived only for Advanced Standing students and cannot be challenged through examinations:

• SOWK 757ABC: Generalist Practice Consultation (40 seminar hours)
• SOWK 700: Generalist Practice Practicum (280 field hours)

Note: Per California Board of Behavioral Sciences regulations (effective 1995), all MSW students must complete coursework in family systems during the MSW program. This requirement cannot be waived based on BSW coursework.

Students with grades below a B (3.0) in BSW coursework may opt to take a comprehensive waiver exam, offered in essay or objective format. Preparation materials and the corresponding MSW course syllabus are provided.

A minimum score of 83% is required to receive a course waiver. Exams must be completed before the start of the term in which the course is offered.

Students admitted under Advanced Standing who do not pass—or choose not to take—waiver exams may not be able to complete the MSW within the 12-month Advanced Standing track. These students may be advised to follow a part-time schedule extending over two academic years (typically seven quarters). Advising will reflect the final number of approved waivers.