Transferring from Another School of Social Work
We accept a limited number of transfer students each year. A student who is enrolled in another graduate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education may apply for transfer-student status equal to a maximum of one half of the total credits needed for graduation from the Boston University School of Social Work. Applicants must be in good standing with the school from which they are transferring and have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Transfer students must meet SSW admission requirements and application deadlines, and should address their request to transfer in the personal statement. Additionally, a letter of good standing is required at the time you submit your application. This should come from the dean/director (or their designee) of the School of Social Work from which you wish to transfer after you’ve completed your coursework.
Applications are first reviewed for admission. If the applicant is admitted and accepts their offer of admission, transfer credits will be reviewed for equivalency with Boston University School of Social Work curriculum.
Once you’ve been admitted to BUSSW and have accepted your offer of admission, please submit transfer credit materials via the Request to Transfer Credit form. All courses considered must have been completed within five years of your anticipated enrollment.
- Submissions via must include an unofficial transcript, letter of good standing, syllabi for each course requested, and, if applicable, an evaluation of your first-year fieldwork (or portion thereof). Students must also submit an official transcript to busswad@bu.edu.
- If submitting a request for a course that has not yet ended, pre-approval may be given. Final approval will be granted if an updated transcript reflecting a grade of B or better is submitted upon completion of the course.
- Credits which have been applied to a prior degree cannot be transferred. In addition, academic credit is not given for asynchronous courses, life experience, or previous work experience.
** Petitions/material submissions for transfer credits for graduate social work or other graduate courses are to be submitted after acceptance and before matriculating into BU School of Social Work.
Transferring Credits from Another School of Social Work
Transfer credits may be awarded to individuals who have taken social work courses as a non-degree student at any School of Social Work. Up to 9 credits may be received for courses taken on a non-matriculating basis, so long as the credits were received from an accredited graduate school of social work.
Note: Credits which have been applied to a prior degree cannot be transferred. In addition, academic credit is not given for life experience or previous work experience.
Transferring Credits from Another Graduate Program (Non-Social Work Programs)
Transfer credits may be awarded to individuals who have taken courses in a graduate level program that is not Social Work. Up to 6 credits may be received for courses taken on a matriculating or non-matriculating basis in another accredited, non-social work graduate program.
** Petitions/material submissions for transfer credits for graduate social work or other graduate courses are to be submitted after acceptance and before matriculating in the BU School of Social Work.
Note: Credits which have been applied to a prior degree cannot be transferred. In addition, academic credit is not given for life experience or previous work experience.
Course Waivers
Incoming students with exceptional prior course background in BUSSW foundation course areas may take a waiver exam for SR 743 Research I. Waiver exams must be completed prior to starting classes. The waiver exam policy does not apply to the advanced curriculum.