Social Work Research Waiver Exam
Do you have a strong research methods background?
You may qualify for the SR 743 waiver exam. If so, please carefully read the following information.
Overview
We offer incoming students with a strong research methods background the opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency by passing a research methods examination.
- The waiver exam is offered online 3 times a year to those enrolling in any of our MSW programs: On-Campus, Online, and Worcester Hybrid.
- The approximate cost of the waiver exam is $10.
- You may only take the exam once.
- To pass, you need to receive a threshold score of 70 or higher.
- Those who pass may waive the Research I (SR743) course requirement.
- You then need to replace SR 743 with an elective in your program plan.
- Note: you may not waive out of the second required research course, SR 744.
Please note: if you are an Advanced Standing student who would like to test out of Research I, you must still take the exam and, if you pass, you will not need to replace SR 743 with an elective class.
Step One: Create a BU email address
- In order to take the research waiver exam, you must have a Boston University email address. This is because the exam will be taken on Blackboard, an online learning management system that requires a BU login.
- To create your BU email, you must follow the instructions in your MSW acceptance letter and, if required, pay your deposit.
- You will then receive welcome materials and information from the Registrar on how to create your BU email address.
- We offer three opportunities to take the Social Work Research Waiver Exam each academic year: Fall, Spring, and Summer.
Please note: Each program receives their acceptance letter and BU email set-up instructions at different times.
Forms, Deadlines & Exam Dates – 2025-26 Academic Year
- December Exam
- April Exam
- August Exam
- The deadline to complete the mandatory Research Waiver Exam Interest Form is TBA.
- The exam dates are TBA.
Prepare for the Exam
The exam consists of 72 multiple choice questions. To prepare for the exam, we suggest:
- Review course concepts in the assigned textbook, Engel, R.J. & Schutt, R.J. (2017) The Practice of Research in Social Work 4th ed. (This book is available at the Mugar Library.)
- You may also opt to obtain an earlier version of the textbook at a lower cost; either textbook will provide valuable study content.
Concepts to Know
- Research questions and hypotheses
- Quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry
- Independent and dependent variables
- Variables’ level of measurement
- Measurement reliability and validity
- Instrument construction
- Data collection methods
- Sampling strategies
- Research design
- Threats to internal and external validity
- Single subject design
SR 743 Condensed Syllabus
| Week |
Topic |
Readings Completed Prior to Class Session |
| 1 |
Introduction to course
Using research to answer social questions
Social work research in practice
Developing a research focus for the course assignment |
Chapter 1 |
| 2 |
Overview of the research process
Development of research questions and hypotheses
Inductive and deductive logic
Conducting a literature review in the Behavioral & Social Sciences |
Chapter 2 |
| 3 |
Independent and dependent variables
Variable conceptualization and operationalization
Levels of measurement |
Chapter 4 |
| 4 |
Instrument reliability and validity
Questionnaire and survey construction
Survey research |
Chapter 9 |
| 5 |
Dynamics of class, culture and gender
In class workshop: Interview Questionnaire |
Chapter 9 |
| 6 |
Research Populations and Samples
Sampling Methods
Probability and Non-probability Samples |
Chapter 5 |
| 7 |
Methods of Qualitative Research and Mixed Methodology |
Chapter 10 & 12 |
| 8 |
Ethics of Social Work Research
Workshop on Informed Consent |
Chapter 3 |
| 9 |
Causal inference, internal validity and research design |
Chapter 6 |
| 10 |
Group experimental designs |
Chapter 7 |
| 11 |
In-class exercise: Critiquing a quantitative and qualitative study |
|
| 12 |
Single subject designs
Program evaluation
Link to Research II |
Chapter 8 |
| 13 |
Final Presentations Week 1 |
Chapter 13 |
| 14 |
Final Presentations Week 2
Course Evaluations |
|
- To register for the exam, all students must submit the mandatory Research Waiver Exam Interest Form by the date listed above.
- After you’ve completed the form, you will receive an email from the Academic Support Team with information about how to access the exam, select a date and time, and the exam requirements.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the research waiver exam, please contact sswsupp@bu.edu.