Master of Social Work

Classification Status

Students who do not meet all admissions requirements may be accepted as "Conditionally Classified" students. In most programs, students must achieve full "Classified" standing prior to completing more than 12 units of graduate course work. Students cannot graduate from the university until/unless they achieve full Classified standing in addition to meeting all other degrees/program/department requirements.

Once a Conditionally Classified student has met all of the requirements to achieve full Classified standing, it is the responsibility of the student to notify their department's graduate coordinator. The coordinator must, in turn, notify Graduate Evaluation Services within the Office of Research and Graduate Studies by filing the "Request for Classification" Form. This process should be completed as soon as possible within the student's first year of graduate studies.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to nine hours of foundation credits from other Council on Social Work Education accredited graduate programs in social work. Only "A" and "B" grades are granted credit at California State University, Northridge. The MSW Chair must approve all transfer credit. If the student is transferring elective credit, the MSW Chair must approve the elective. Under unusual circumstances, upon approval from the Department Chair and Associate Vice President of Graduate Studies more than nine hours of credit may be transferred.

Reinstatement to the MSW Program

Academic Leave (Leave of Absence) Graduate Policy

Graduate students in good standing may take a two-semester leave of absence. Though no formal approval is required, it is suggested that students seek academic advisement. Graduate students should contact their Departments before the end of the second semester of leave of absence. Students who do not enroll by the third semester of leave of absence must reapply for admission.

The University will automatically place qualified resident and nonresident students on a Leave of Absence if they were matriculated students in the semester immediately prior to the beginning of the leave, and/or were not disqualified at the end of the semester. Foreign students with J or F visas are eligible for leave, but must request the prior approval of their International Student Advisor and apply for a leave of absence.

Tseng College Cohort Policy

The Academic Leave (Leave of Absence) Graduate Policy applies to all graduate students enrolled through The Tseng College. Additionally, students who withdraw from one cohort may be admitted to different cohort for a future date/term upon approval by the Department. The returning student will be assessed the same tuition and non-refundable fees that apply to all other students in the new cohort. Note: All cohorts, once begun, will be taught out through to completion. However, there is no guarantee that new cohorts will follow in a specific area or within a specific amount of time.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Master of Social Work from CSUN, students must:

1. Achieve fully Classified status;
2. Apply to graduate;
3. File a Project Planning Form;
4. Complete the minimum number of semester units of approved graduate courses as outlined in the MSW program/cohort schedule;
5. Complete the minimum number of required practicum education hours;
6. Meet all other Department of Social Work standards as outlined in the current MSW Student Handbook and Practicum Manual;
7. Complete all course work with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.