Apply to the MSW Program
Welcome and thank you for your interest in applying to our program!
We will update this page for Fall 2026 admissions information in August 2025. Please review our materials below for information about our programs, the application process, and other questions you might have.
Application Information
The Application Instructions for the Department of Social Work contains all instructions about the application process, including the admissions essay prompts.
Any additional questions about admissions should be directed to swadmission@csueastbay.edu.
- Admissions Handbook for the Department of Social Work
- MSW Course Sequence (Traditional Program)
- MSW Extended Program Course Sequence (Extended Program)
- MSW Advanced Standing Course Sequence (Advanced Standing Program)
- Student Scholarships and Financial Resources
You may also be interested in learning more about our stipend programs for students committed to working in public child welfare, integration of primary care and behavioral health, and medication-assisted treatment of substance use disorders.
We are pleased to offer three program options:
- Traditional Program (Full-time, In-person program on our Hayward campus)
- This program takes 2 years to complete and is designed for students who are able to come to our Hayward campus on weekdays. Students attend class two weekdays per week in person on campus throughout the academic year. Classes meet on Mondays and Wednesdays in the first year. Students take three to four courses (12-16 academic units) per semester. This option requires a practicum-internship of 1,080 hours that takes 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.
- This program takes 2 years to complete and is designed for students who are able to come to our Hayward campus on weekdays. Students attend class two weekdays per week in person on campus throughout the academic year. Classes meet on Mondays and Wednesdays in the first year. Students take three to four courses (12-16 academic units) per semester. This option requires a practicum-internship of 1,080 hours that takes 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.
- Extended Program (Mostly Online)
- This program takes 3 years to complete and is designed for students who have work/personal obligations during the day and prefer online learning. Students attend weekly synchronous (Zoom) classes on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, 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. 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 12-14 hours minimum per week on weekdays. Our program focuses on educating students and serving communities within the nine-county SF Bay region. This new program is made possible by a Social Work Education Capacity Expansion Grant from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information.
- This program takes 3 years to complete and is designed for students who have work/personal obligations during the day and prefer online learning. Students attend weekly synchronous (Zoom) classes on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, 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. 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 12-14 hours minimum per week on weekdays. Our program focuses on educating students and serving communities within the nine-county SF Bay region. This new program is made possible by a Social Work Education Capacity Expansion Grant from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information.
- Advanced Standing Program (Full-Time, either In-Person or Mostly Online)
- This program takes one calendar year (summer term plus two semesters) to complete and is designed for students who have completed a BSW from a CSWE accredited BSW program. Students begin the program during the summer, with two courses designed to serve as refreshers of the content they learned in their BSW programs. These courses may be offered online. Students then begin the advanced standing sequence of courses, either in-person with our traditional students or online with our extended program students, and complete an advanced year internship (600 hours); the internship will require approximately 24 hours per week. This program is focused on educating students and serving the communities within the greater San Francisco Bay Area. All practicum sites are located in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, so this program is not designed for students out of state or unable to complete a practicum placement in our service area.
MSW Application Information Sessions
Our MSW application information sessions have concluded for the Fall 2025 admission season. Interested applicants can review the slideshow by going to the Admissions Handbook and clicking the link on pg. 5.
Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Application Information Sessions
Pre-Admisssion Disclosure
Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or tax payer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements are available from the Social Work Department in Room MI 4064, SWAdmission@csueastbay.edu, and 510-885-4916.