Apply to the MSW Program
Welcome and thank you for your interest in applying to our program!
We have extended the application for Fall 2025 admission to January 15, 2025. Due to the volume of applications, we are unfortunately unable to accept late applications and will not be extending the application deadline further.
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.
- (Traditional Program)
- (Extended Program)
- (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 . This new program is made possible by a 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 . This new program is made possible by a 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
- Wednesday, Oct 23, 12 pm
- Wednesday, Nov 20, 12 pm