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USC University of Southern California

Transfer Students

Applicants who have recently completed all or part of the first half of graduate study at a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited school of social work may be eligible to apply as transfer students.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work adheres to the transfer credit policies established by the USC Degree Progress Department, as detailed in the USC Catalogue.

For additional information regarding MSW degree requirements, course sequences, and academic policies, please refer to the MSW Curriculum and the USC Catalogue.

Master of Social Work Transfer Credit Policies
  • Applicants must be or have been enrolled in a Master of Social Work program at an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
  • Coursework must have been completed within seven years of admission to the USC MSW program.
  • Courses eligible for transfer credit review are those in which a grade of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale was earned.
  • The maximum number of transfer credits that may be applied toward a master’s degree is no more than 25% of the minimum units required for the program.
  • The USC MSW Transfer Review Committee will only review eligible foundation courses including the following:
    • Human Behavior & Social Environment
    • Policy Advocacy
    • Research
    • Practice
  • Transfer credit is not guaranteed, even if a course meets the eligibility requirements.
  • Transfer credit cannot be applied to the MSW-Advanced Standing program.
  • Transfer credit is not awarded for life experience or previous
Practicum Transfer Credit Policies

Practicum courses may be considered on a case-by-case basis due to the structure of the USC MSW curriculum in which these courses are taken concurrently and are only accepted from CSWE-accredited or candidacy programs and are reviewed for compliance with AS 3.2 (field education standards) and AS 4.2.2 (practice course instructor qualifications).

Required Documents
  • Transfer Credit Request Form
  • Official Transcripts from the original institution from which transfer credits are being requested.
  • A letter of good standing from the original MSW program.
  • Detailed syllabi or course descriptions for each course requested for transfer, including learning objectives, required readings, assignments, and assessments.
  • If requesting credit for practicum experience, applicants must submit a full description of their practicum experience and copies of practicum evaluations.
Deadlines
  • Applicants are responsible for submitting all required documentation by the final application deadline for their intended term.
  • Applicants should follow the standard application process and ensure that all materials are submitted electronically or postmarked by the final deadline.