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BSW Application

The School of Social Work at Southern Adventist University is committed to providing students with an education that enhances their understanding of service to individuals and communities in generalist practice by reinforcing the connection between the shared purpose and values of social work and the Christian faith. 

Application Deadlines

During the second semester of the sophomore year and/or prior to enrolling in any junior-level social work course, social work majors must submit a formal application to the Social Work program and be accepted into the program. Applications should be submitted using the online BSW application link below. The official application deadline for acceptance into the starting Fall 2025 cohort is March 30, 2025 for current social work majors, and July 31, 2025 for students transferring to Southern.

For upcoming Fall semesters, applicants are encouraged to complete the application as soon as they are eligible. Be aware that while we accept applications year-round, there are certain times of the year when processing applications may be delayed. 

Minimum requirements for admission to the program and upper-division courses

  1. Acceptance to Southern Adventist University.
  2. Completion of the application form, submission of three recommendations and a personal statement.
  3. Having an overall (cumulative) grade point average of 2.50 or higher.
  4. Having completed (with a grade of C or higher) SOCW 211: Introduction to Social Work, SOCW 212: Social Welfare as an Institution, and SOCW 213: Interviewing Skills. Having completed cognate courses BIOL 103: Principles of Biology, PSYC 122: General Psychology, and SOCI 125: Introduction to Sociology. Exceptions may be made for persons who do not meet introductory course and cognate requirements if they are strong candidates on the basis of other criteria.
  5. Participation in social work sponsored activities (convocations, vespers, community service activities).
  6. Having demonstrated ethical behavior as outlined by the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. Further references may be required regarding character, attitude, and coping ability in case of a question in this area.
  7. Students whose native language is not English must achieve at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
  8. Completion of a successful interview with the BSW Leadership Team (if necessary). 

Application Process

The application process consists of:

1. Providing three references and their contact information. The three references should include a social work faculty member, a non-social work professor (preferred) or work-related supervisor, and a personal (non-familial) reference. You will need the full name, title, place of employment, phone number, and email address for each reference.

2.  Preparing a Social Work Personal Statement. The statement must be prepared prior to completing the online application. Using a word-processing program, create a statement. The file will be uploaded to the online application. Guidelines for writing the personal statement are below. 

Personal Statement Guidelines: Answer the following questions to help us understand more about you and why the profession of social work is important to you. Your paper should be written professionally and should demonstrate your writing skills. 

  1. How did you become interested in the field of Social Work? What specific experience or person(s) influenced you the most in your decision to major in social work.
  2. Please share any volunteer or community service experiences you have been involved in. What values, skills, and lessons did you gain from these experiences, and how might they support your future work in the field of Social Work?
  3. Discuss how your life experiences, personality, values, and beliefs support your decision to major in social work. Discuss your strengths and weaknesses.
  4. Social workers need to be able to relate to other people, communicate effectively (both orally and in writing), and demonstrate responsibility in their professional activities. How do you judge your abilities relative to these characteristics?
  5. It is important for social workers to demonstrate empathy, acceptance, and tolerance towards diverse populations. What types of people do you feel most comfortable working with and why? What types of people do you feel least comfortable working with and why?
  6. Discuss your views and beliefs on the following issues: abortion, homosexuality, and capital punishment. How will your views and beliefs impact your ability to function as a professional social worker?

3. Once the above information is gathered, it's time to apply!  Apply Now