Application Instructions for the

Department of Social Work

Updated: Fall 2023

 Table of Contents

Letter to Applicant 3
Fall 2024 Application Checklist 5
Master of Social Work Application Information (Fall 2024) 6
How to Apply to the University 11
Admissions Essay Instructions 12
Title IV-E Supplemental Statement 13
Tips for Completing your Admissions Essay 14
Tips for Securing your Letters of Recommendation 15
Frequently Asked Questions 17
Completing the Department Application 20

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 Letter to Applicant

Dear Master of Social Work Applicant for the Fall of 2024:

Thank you for your interest in the CSUEB Master of Social Work (MSW) program. We
are excited about our graduate program which provides students the opportunity to
develop their expertise in one of two concentration areas: Children, Youth and Families
(CYF) or Community Mental Health (CMH).

For Fall 2024, we are pleased to offer our traditional full-time, two-year program in
Hayward requiring two weekdays per week in person on campus throughout the
academic year. The academic year runs from mid-August through mid-May with a
break between fall and spring semesters. Classes meet on Mondays and Wednesdays
in the first year and Mondays and Tuesdays in the second year. Students take three to
four courses (12-16 academic units) per semester. This option requires a field-internship
of 1,080 hours that take place in-person two weekdays per week in the first year and
three weekdays per week in the second year in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

We also have an extended three-year mostly online program requiring weekly

synchronous (zoom) classes plus up to two in person meeting days per month on
our Hayward campus for practice skill labs. Students will take two courses (8
academic units) per semester including summers. Students in this program will also
complete 1,080 hours of internship; internship will begin in the summer before the
second year and is anticipated to require approximately 12 hours minimum per week on
weekdays. At this time, we are offering only our Community Mental Health concentration
for this option.

More information about our social work program can be found on our department
website: http://www.csueastbay.edu/sw/.

Instructions should be followed carefully. Incomplete applications will not be

reviewed for admission.

The MSW application review begins AFTER the deadline of January 15, 2024. It takes
several months for the admissions committee to review every complete application. We
anticipate sending our admission decisions at the end of April 2024.

In order to apply, you must complete TWO different applications between October 1,
2023 and January 15, 2024:

1. the University’s online graduate application at a site called Cal State Apply
https://www2.calstate.edu/apply

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 AND

2. the CSUEB Social Work Department online application:

http://www.csueastbay.edu/sw/apply-to-msw.html

For the University’s online graduate application at Cal State Apply, you will be asked to
pay a non-refundable $70 fee and send one official set of transcripts from ALL
colleges/universities attended.

For electronic transcripts: electronictranscripts@csueastbay.edu

To mail paper transcripts:

Office of Admission
Cal State East Bay
25800 Carlos Bee Blvd.
Hayward, CA 94542

Applicants interested in public child welfare may also be interested in applying for the
competitive Title IV-E Stipend. Go to the stipend information page of our department
website to learn more. Please note that the Title IV-E application is embedded into the
department application; applicants who choose the CYF concentration will be given the
option to complete the stipend application.

We also have a stipend program for students interested in behavioral health.

Information about these stipends will be provided to admitted students who select the
Community Mental Health concentration.

Please note that a mandatory student orientation for those admitted to the program
will be held prior to the beginning of the fall semester. Incoming students must also
meet with a Field Practicum Faculty member the summer prior to the start of classes.

Again, we appreciate your interest in our program and look forward to reviewing your
application.

Sincerely,

Professor Sarah Taylor, MSW, PhD

Social Work Department Chair

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 Fall 2024 Application Checklist

This is for applicant use and does not need to be submitted to CSUEB.

◻ Complete CalState Apply application (application to the University) between

10/01/2023 and 01/15/2024.

◻ Pay the application fee on CalState Apply.

◻ Download and save the PDF copy of the CalState Apply confirmation page.

◻ Complete the online Social Work Department application (application to the

Department) between 10/01/2023 and 01/15/2024. Title IV-E applicants must
complete the application by December 15, 2023.

To complete the application, you will need:

▪ A pdf of the confirmation page for your CalState Apply application.

▪ An unofficial transcript from the institution that granted your degree. This
can be a pdf of the print out from your student record or pictures of your
transcript if you only have it in paper form.

▪ The names and email addresses of 3 professional and educational

references who can speak to your fit for the social work profession.

▪ A resume with the duties and responsibilities of your previous social

work-related employment/volunteer positions included. These positions
could include any position where you worked/volunteered with low-income
or vulnerable families.

▪ An admissions essay responding to the 3 prompts located in this

handbook.

◻ If applying for the Title IV-E Public Child Welfare Application, complete the
supplemental application. The deadline for Title IV-E applicants for ALL materials
(Cal State Apply, Department Application, Title IV-E application) is December 1,
2023.

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 Master of Social Work Application Information (Fall 2024)

The CSUEB College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) offers a two-year,
full-time graduate program that leads to a Master of Social Work degree (MSW). Most
classes are hybrid, requiring weekly face-to-face classes and some online coursework.
The College also offers a three-year, extended graduate program that leads to a Master
of Social Work degree (MSW). All courses in the extended program are offered online
with some in-person sessions occurring throughout the program for practice skills
development. The MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
(CSWE).

CSUEB MSW PROGRAM MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Master of Social Work program is to graduate culturally responsive
urban social workers in the areas of Children, Youth, and Families and Community
Mental Health. Social work graduates are well prepared to address individual, family,
group, and community needs caused by inequalities of class and identity, including
race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, immigration status, religion,
caste, and other forms of social injustice. Advocacy and social change to address these
injustices form the core of the MSW program.

Vision
Creating a cadre of diverse leaders to be catalysts for social change and transform
oppressive systems in partnership with the communities we serve.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Prospective students should pay careful attention to the application materials and
program requirements posted on our Department application webpage.

An Application Checklist is available to help with this process.

Applicants are encouraged to attend one of our virtual information sessions. Questions
can be sent to swadmissions@csueastbay.edu

Admission Criteria: Admission to the MSW Program requires a bachelor’s degree in

the liberal arts or social sciences from an accredited college or university. A GPA of 2.8
or higher is required. Along with the Department Application, applicants must submit an
admissions essay, a resume, three letters of recommendation, and a set of unofficial

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transcripts from the bachelor’s degree-granting institution. No credit is granted for life
experience or previous work experience in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.

Practice Concentrations: Applicants select one of two concentrations:

1. Children, Youth and Family Services (CYF) – This option is recommended

for individuals interested in working in child welfare services, family service
agencies, adolescent services, family preservation services, older adult
services, criminal justice, and various non-profit settings.

2. Community Mental Health Services (CMH) – This option is recommended for

individuals interested in integrated behavioral health, community mental health,
crisis intervention, substance use/addiction, medical social work, and other
counseling/therapeutic services, across the lifespan. The emphasis is on public
sector work.

Prerequisites Courses: None, but students may be asked to complete a not-for-credit

learning module the summer before beginning the program, reviewing some
foundational knowledge expected of beginning MSW students.

GREs (Graduate Record Exams): Not required.

GPA: The minimum overall undergraduate GPA must be 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher.
If your GPA is lower than 2.8, you may submit a brief memo, not to exceed 250 words,
describing the special circumstances you would like us to take into consideration in the
admissions process. Please attach this memo to the admissions essay as an
additional page.

Recommendations: THREE letters of recommendation must be sent via our online

submission system using this link: https://csueb.tfaforms.net/4741062. The
applicant should click this link and complete the form to initiate the process.
Then, the referent will receive an email with a link and instructions for submitting their
letter. If at all possible, at least one recommendation letter should be from a former
professor. Also suggested are recommendations from persons acquainted with your
work or volunteer experience. Members of your family, personal friends or other
personal relationships such as therapists are not appropriate references. It is the
responsibility of the applicant to ensure that letters of recommendation are received in a
timely fashion.

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THE ACTUAL APPLICATION PROCESS HAS TWO STEPS:

1. First, apply to the University: You MUST apply to the university before applying
to the Social Work Department. This application opens up on October 1, 2023.

There is a $70.00 application fee payable to the University.

Online applications for Admission to Graduate Studies are available at:

https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/graduate .

Send one (1) complete set of official transcripts from ALL colleges and
universities attended to:

For electronic transcripts: electronictranscripts@csueastbay.edu

To mail physical transcripts:

CSUEB Office of Admission
25800 Carlos Bee Blvd.,
Hayward, CA 94542.

There is more detailed information about University Applications at the end of this
document.

2. Next Apply to the MSW Program: Complete the Social Work Department
application at website: http://www.csueastbay.edu/sw/apply-to-msw.html.

3. In a single email to swadmission@csueastbay.edu, attach your resume,

admissions essay, unofficial transcript, and Cal State Apply confirmation page.

Use the following naming convention for the files:

● LastName_FirstName_Resume (ex. Smith_John_Resume)
● LastName_FirstName_Essay
● LastName_FirstName_Transcript
● LastName_FirstName_CSApply

Application Deadline: January 15, 2024. No late applications will be accepted.

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Applicant’s Responsibilities: The Social Work Admissions Committee will give your
application thoughtful consideration. You can assist us in this effort if you take the
following steps:

1. Review your application materials before submission to be sure of the completeness

and accuracy of all items. It is to your advantage to submit the strongest possible
materials (carefully selected references and a thoughtfully written admissions essay
following the guidelines).

2. Select references early and let them know to expect an email from CSUEB Social
Work. Encourage references to respond as promptly as they can.

3. Notify the Social Work Department office and the Office of Admissions and Records
promptly of any change of address telephone number, and/or email.

4. Update your transcripts with the Admissions office when you complete your
undergraduate degree, if you are applying while still in school. They will require a
copy of your transcript that shows your bachelor degree was awarded.
electronictranscripts@csueastbay.edu

5. Notify the Social Work Department as soon as possible if you decide to withdraw
your application.

6. When you receive an offer of admission, respond as quickly as possible to let us

know if you accept or decline the offer. We ask this in consideration of other
applicants who are waiting for openings in the program. We can only take 75
students per year in our traditional program and 25 students per year in our
extended program.

Financial Aid, Scholarships, Title IV-E Stipends & International Applications: For
information on financial aid, scholarships, stipends, and international applications,
please visit:

Scholarships:
● Grad Students
● Office of Graduate Studies
● Student Benefits
● CSWE Scholarships and Fellowships

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Title IV-E:
● Stipend Programs

Financial Aid:
● Financial Aid | CSUEB

International Applications:
● Future Students

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 How to Apply to the University

Students apply for CSUEB graduate admission using Cal State Apply. Cal State Apply
is an online resource designed to help students and their families learn about the
California State University (CSU) system, including CSUEB.

Cal State Apply Online Graduate Admission Application

Go to https://www2.calstate.edu/apply to complete the online application. Before you

start your online application to CSUEB, have your transcripts handy for reference and
your credit card if you will be paying your application fee online ($70.00). You will create
an account with a login and password. You may stop at any time, save what you have
completed and return to it later. Complete this application before sending in any official
transcripts.

Our program has two concentrations listed: “Children, Youth, and Families” and
“Community Mental Health”. If you are interested in the extended program, select
“Community Mental Health”.

International Students: If you need an F-1 student visa, you also need to download
these additional forms:

● I-20 Letter of Consent,

● Declaration of Finances, and
● Health Insurance Compliance (The CSUEB website does not list health
insurance compliance as a requirement, but it does have a few more forms that
are not included here.)

Please go to the Prospective International Students website, and follow those directions
carefully.

International admissions must be reviewed by the International Student Office.

https://www.csueastbay.edu/iao/future-students/index.html

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 Admissions Essay Instructions

The Admissions Essay is an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate strong writing

and critical thinking skills. It also allows applicants to describe their interest in social
work and their unique experiences and attributes that make them a good fit for the
CSUEB MSW program.

The mission statement of the CSUEB MSW program reads:

The mission of the Master of Social Work program is to graduate culturally

responsive urban social workers in the areas of Children, Youth, and Families
and Community Mental Health. Social work graduates are well prepared to
address individual, family, group, and community needs caused by inequalities of
class and identity, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual
orientation, immigration status, religion, caste, and other forms of social injustice.
Advocacy and social change to address these injustices form the core of the
MSW program.

In no more than three pages, please address each of the three topics below. The
statement must be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, and a 12-point professional
font (Arial, Calibri, Times, Verdana, etc.).

For each section, applicants may include examples from personal or work/volunteer
experiences that help give a richer answer. You DO NOT need to restate the question;
simply label each section with 1, 2, & 3.

1. Please discuss your reasons for wanting an MSW, your expectations for being a
professional social worker, and any particular populations or social issues of interest.

2. Discuss at least two (2) social justice issues (“isms”) you have experienced because
of your involvement with and/or membership in a culture with which you identify.
Social justice issues often relate to those items listed in our mission statement
above, as well as many other experiences that can result in oppression such as
health/mental health status, immigration, addiction, poverty/social class, educational
access, criminal justice/incarceration, human trafficking, and violence.

3. Finally, make your “elevator pitch”: what makes you uniquely qualified to be
accepted into the CSUEB MSW program?

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 Title IV-E Supplemental Statement
To apply for the Title IV-E program, students must indicate they are applying for the
Children, Youth, & Families concentration. They will be able to select their interest in
applying for the Title IV-E application.

The deadline for Title IV-E applications is January 15, 2024.

Please note that this is earlier than our department deadline. You must have completed
the entire application process (Cal State Apply, Department Application, Title IV-E
application) to move forward in the Title IV-E process.

The Title IV-E application requires a few additional materials:

● Information about your child welfare related work history. This information may be
different from the employment history you put in the general application as it is
only focused on child welfare related work.
● An additional admissions essay of no more than 750 words that addresses the
following:
○ Describe your understanding of what work in the public child welfare
setting entails;
○ Explain why you are interested in pursuing a career in public child welfare;
and
○ Describe how your prior experiences prepare you for your education and
career in this area.

Your Title IV-E supplemental statement should be a different file than your admissions
essay. Do not add the Title IV-E supplemental statement to your admissions essay for
the general application.

Applicants who are interested in the Title IV-E program and are selected for the next
steps will be invited for an interview in February/March 2024.

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 Tips for Completing your Admissions Essay

The MSW Department Application asks you to write a 3 page admissions essay. The
admissions essay helps reviewers learn about you and your MSW goals. Please see
the Admissions Essay Instructions which outline 3 specific topics.

When you complete the admissions essay, follow these guidelines:

1. Respond to the prompts. Be sure to respond to the 3 prompts listed in the

application.
2. Be honest. Tell us your strengths. If your application has certain weaknesses,
address them. For instance, if your GPA is low, explain why.
3. Demonstrate college level writing. Have someone with good editing skills
proofread your application. As we read about you, we are also assessing your
writing skills, because graduate school and social work require a significant amount
of writing. You can consult the following list to help you write:
a. with active verbs
b. with active voice
4. Describe aspects of your employment and/or volunteer work that give you
experience that is relevant to our program’s mission (see the Mission Statement).
5. Emphasize any other life experience you have had in areas directly pertinent to
your future social work studies and career objectives.
6. Demonstrate your understanding of the social work field with attention to
social justice issues, why they interest you, and what you hope to do with an
MSW.

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 Tips for Securing your Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation can be the ‘make or break’ difference in whether or not you
gain admission to a particular graduate program. Here are some suggestions for
obtaining the best possible letters.

1. TIMING: Make your request early so the recommender has time to meet your
deadline and make sure they know the deadline. It is acceptable to send a follow-up
email or make a phone call of gentle reminder if a deadline is coming and you have
not received the letter. Remember people get very busy in their jobs and writing a
recommendation is a courtesy to you and not a requirement for the recommender.

2. SELECT RECOMMENDER CAREFULLY. Select professional referents who know

you as a student, employee, colleague, or volunteer. It is usually better to have
someone write the letter who has more experience than you have; a supervisor not a
supervisee, a professor not a classmate. Do not use personal references such as
a friend, family, or your spiritual advisor, like a pastor.

3. PROVIDE INFORMATION: Send a copy of your resume and/or a copy of your

admissions essay to the recommender, and tell them in a few well written
paragraphs why you are applying to the program and why you are asking them for a
letter. Send these documents as email attachments. You can remind them of your
experiences and work you did in their class or workplace.

4. EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURES for the recommendation. Letters of

recommendation must be sent via our online submission system using this
link: https://csueb.tfaforms.net/4741062. The applicant should click this link
and complete the form to initiate the process. Then, the referent will receive an
email with a link and instructions for submitting their letter. It is the responsibility of
the applicant to ensure that letters of recommendation are received in a timely
fashion.

5. GIVE ENOUGH INFORMATION to help the recommender address the issues listed
on the cover sheet. They will be asked to rank you on these qualities.

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6. WRITE WELL. Take the time to proofread your writing and make your request, your
resume, and any other materials look professional. Be sure to address the person
with respect, using salutations and titles, such as: Dear Ms. , Dr…. , Professor …..,
Dean…., etc.. Also if you have a quirky name for your email, create a professional
sounding email account (for example: sramirez78@gmail.com instead of
sweetypie5@gmail.com).

7. SEND A NOTE OR EMAIL OF THANKS. It is also very gratifying for the

recommender if you let them know what the outcome was concerning your
application. Stay in touch with them and let them know your plan.

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 Frequently Asked Questions
1. When are applications accepted?

The MSW program admits students in the Fall semester only. This year, we are
accepting applications for Fall 2024 from October 1, 2023 through January 15, 2024.
We do not accept late applications. Review will begin on December 15, 2023 for all
Title IV-E applicants.

2. How do I find out if I am accepted into the program?

Applicants will begin receiving emailed notifications in late-March if they are invited
to attend the program. An offer of admission into the program is contingent
upon meeting the entrance requirements of the university. Admission is not
final until you complete the requirements set by the central graduate
admission office at Cal State East Bay.

3. Can I attend the MSW program part-time or online?

Our full-time, two-year program in Hayward requires two weekdays per week in
person on campus throughout the academic year. The academic year runs from
mid-August through mid-May with a break between fall and spring semesters.
Classes meet on Mondays and Wednesdays in the first year and Mondays and
Tuesdays in the second year. Students take three to four courses (12-16 academic
units) per semester. There is also an online component of asynchronous work that
should take 1 to 1.5 hours per week for each course. This does not include your
readings for the courses or assigned homework. This option requires a
field-internship of 1,080 hours that take place in-person two weekdays per week in
the first year and three weekdays per week in the second year in the greater San
Francisco Bay Area.

We have a new extended three-year mostly online program requiring weekly

synchronous (Zoom) classes plus up to two in person meeting days per
month on our Hayward campus for practice skill labs. Students will take two
courses (8 academic units) per semester including summers. Students in this
program will also complete 1,080 hours of internship; internship will begin in the
summer before the second year and is anticipated to require approximately 12 hours
minimum per week on weekdays.

4. What is a typical schedule for students?

First year full-time students: Monday and Wednesday classes, and two additional

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 days of field practicum (16 hours). Second year students: Monday and Tuesday
classes, and two-three days of field practicum (20-24 hours). Most classes and field
practicum are between regular business hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Our extended program students attend classes on Tuesday and Wednesday

evenings (from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m) throughout the duration of the program. They will
also have a few in-person sessions per month for practice related courses. Students
in the extended program will start their 12 - 15 hour practicum in the summer after
their first year of course work and continue this practicum schedule for the duration
of their program.

5. If I am offered a spot on the waitlist, can I find out where I am on the list?

Students are admitted from the waitlist based on a variety of factors, including space
within each program option and concentration, and as such, our list is dynamic and
we cannot provide information about an applicant’s “place” on the list. Applicants on
the waitlist will receive an update to their admission status by mid-July.

6. How much is tuition?

The most current information about tuition is available on the university’s tuition
website. Tuition does not include textbooks.

7. How do I apply for financial aid?

Follow instructions on the Financial Aid webpage. Be aware that the MSW Program
does not have any control over financial aid. Sometimes students need to make a
decision about whether they are accepting an offer of admission before they hear
from the Financial Aid Office.

8. How can I increase my undergraduate GPA?

You cannot change your GPA once you have graduated with your undergraduate
degree. If your GPA is lower than 2.8, you may submit a brief memo about your
GPA, not to exceed 250 words, describing the special circumstances you would like
us to take into consideration in the admissions process. The application is holistic;
your GPA is just one of many factors we use to determine admission for the
program.

9. Cal State Apply is asking for a personal statement. What do I do?

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The Department Application requires an admissions essay. You do not have to
submit it to Cal State Apply; simply write “statement submitted to the department.”

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 Completing the Department Application

Please follow the instructions given in the Google Form.

There are five sections to the application.

First Section:

We ask for basic demographic information and an acknowledgement that you have
completed the Cal State Apply process.

Second Section:

We ask you to choose an academic program. The description of those programs is

located earlier in this handbook and on the application itself.

Third Section:

We ask for your educational background and language proficiencies.

Fourth Section:

We ask for your social work/social services related work/volunteer experience. It is

essential that you include all required information in the application, even though
it might appear on your resume. We will not use the resume to calculate your hours of
experience unless you have more than 6 positions listed.

Fifth Section:

We ask that you acknowledge you have read and understood the notices we provide
and that you understand you must submit the required documents via email to
swadmission@csueastbay.edu. If we do not receive the required documents, we will not
be able to process your application.

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