Graduates of social work baccalaureate programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education may apply for consideration for "advanced standing" status. Individualized education contracts are developed between the applicant and the director of admissions, indicating the number of semester hours to be waived (not to exceed 30 semester hours). Additional courses beyond 30 semester hours may be required. The criteria for advanced standing eligibility include:

1. A bachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE accredited program (received within five years of enrollment in the M.S.W. Program);
2. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 in all the social work courses in the undergraduate program;
3. A cumulative average of at least 3.2 in all courses applied toward the bachelor's degree;
4. A minimum of B in each social work course;
5. A recommendation from the chair of the undergraduate program explicitly supporting admission directly to the advanced year of the M.S.W. program, as one of the three reference letters; and
6. Satisfactory completion of an undergraduate generalist practicum that is comparable to that expected in the NCSSS foundation practicum, including 480 hours of field education, as evidenced in the final field evaluation submitted as part of the admissions packet.

Applicants must include with their application a copy of their senior field evaluation for both first and second semesters. Provisional offers of admission are made pending receipt of the final evaluation showing successful completion of the second semester field placement.