Hybrid MSW Admissions Information
We offer two starts per year, in the fall and spring.
Next Start Date: September 2, 2025
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
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Eligibility for the Hybrid Master of Social Work
The Hybrid MSW pathway is designed for social service professionals with at least two years of experience providing direct services. To be considered for the Hybrid Master of Social Work, you must meet the following educational and professional qualifications.
Education. You should have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Your previous degree does not have to be in social work: We look for applicants who have a broad liberal arts background that includes study in the social, behavioral, and biological sciences.
Professional Experience. You should have at least two years of providing direct services under the supervision of an MSW, clinical PhD Psychologist, PsyD, or MD/DO in Psychiatry. Some examples of direct services include intakes, psychosocial evaluations, advocacy, job coaching, case management, and counseling. Applicants to this program tend to be case managers, social work assistants, mental health workers, substance abuse counselors, vocational coaches, and recreational therapists.
Admissions Checklist
The following materials are needed to apply to the Hybrid MSW program. We do not require GMAT or GRE scores. Your application will be reviewed once all items have been received and processed by the Office of Enrollment Services—incomplete applications will not be reviewed. To check the status of your application, please review the application checklist in the portal.
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. See our
transcript guidelines for more information.
Final, official transcripts showing degree conferral and date are due before the start of the first semester.
Résumé or curriculum vitae documenting two or more years of providing direct services in a social work agency or equivalent.
Some examples of direct services include intakes, psychosocial evaluations, advocacy, job coaching, case management, and counseling. Applicants to this program tend to be case managers, social work assistants, mental health workers, substance abuse counselors, vocational coaches, and recreational therapists.
Three letters of recommendation. When you complete your online application, a request will be sent to the provided recommenders. One recommendation must be from a current supervisor who holds one of the following credentials: MSW, PsyD, clinical PhD Psychologist, or MD/DO in Psychiatry. See our
letters of recommendation guidelines for more details on how to choose your recommenders.
Statement of purpose. Your personal statement should share your motivations for pursuing your MSW and your experiences overcoming challenges, advocating for social justice, and expressing the values of the social work profession. You must respond to the four (4) required prompts. Guidelines for the statement of purpose are provided in the application.
Practicum form. The practicum form should be sent to your supervisor who will complete the prompts and provide a description of your job duties.
Employment Based Practicum Organization form (aka Organization form). This brief form also includes the practice statement prompts. Complete this form and prepare a practice statement that addresses the following:
A description of your agency, its mission and function, and the client population served.
The general purpose of your contact with clients and specifically with your example client.
A description of your understanding of the client’s problem, behavior, and past and current life circumstances as well as stressors that contributed to the current problem.
Evaluate your work as a helper: What was your plan of action based on? As a result of working with this client, what have you learned about yourself in terms of your strengths and weaknesses? What skills would you like to improve, and why?
Describe how you use supervision in providing service to the client. What kind of supervision do you receive on the job? Who supervises your work? Is the supervision for administrative purposes only or do you discuss client issues? What have you learned from supervision?
What practice skills would you like to develop or enhance through social work education? How would graduate study improve your practice with clients?
Application fee ($60). Waivers provided to employees of practicum partner agencies; veterans and military members; Americorps, City Year, Peace Corps, and Teach for America participants; participants in the McNair Scholars/HEOP/EOP academic pipeline programs; and applicants with financial hardship. Contact an enrollment specialist at
888.964.6559 for more information.
TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English test scores (for applicants whose undergraduate degree program was not in English).
Ready for the Challenge: Succeeding at NYU Silver
Students most primed to succeed at NYU Silver are those who are prepared to meet the demands of the program and who value rigorous education as an opportunity for profound personal and professional growth.
When considering prospective students, we look for qualities indicative of their readiness and potential to excel in high-level graduate work.
A strong academic record and demonstrated intellectual capacity for graduate education
An ability to formulate mature judgements and to think logically and conceptually
Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
Knowledge of the field and evidence of a commitment to social work as a profession
Evidence of emotional maturity, concern for people, and a capacity for self-awareness and personal growth
Demonstrated concern for and commitment to the values underlying professional social work
Values aligned with social justice, diversity, and inclusion
If you have any questions, we encourage you to connect with an enrollment specialist. Call toll-free hybridmsw@nyu.edu.
Transcript Guidelines
We require transcripts from all colleges or universities where you earned 12 or more credits (including the institution where you are currently enrolled, if applicable).
You will be asked to upload an unofficial electronic copy of your transcript into the online application system. This can be either a copy issued to you from your academic institution or a copy in your possession.
If you are unable to upload a transcript, official transcripts may be mailed to:
New York University
Silver School of Social Work
Admissions and Enrollment Services Office
1 Washington Square North
New York, NY 10003-6654
Your college or university can send official transcripts electronically to silver.admissions@nyu.edu.
We are unable to make admission decisions without your uploaded transcripts. While we do not require official transcripts as part of the MSW application, admitted students will be required to submit official transcripts showing all grades and degree conferrals.
Letters of Recommendation Guidelines
Recommenders should be able to speak to your abilities as a future social worker and should be able to evaluate your potential for graduate school education (e.g.: employers, supervisors, and college professors).
Letters of recommendation should not be personal references from friends, relatives, neighbors, therapists, or doctors. We want letters that can speak to your performance and why you would make a great addition to the field of social work.
Recommenders will be automatically notified when they are entered into the online application system. The recommenders will receive an email prompting them to complete a questionnaire and upload a letter of recommendation online. Be sure to inform them of the submission deadline, as we are unable to review applications without the required number of recommendation letters.
You should visit your online application regularly to monitor completion of this important part of your application. The system will accept letters after you submit your application; however, letters submitted after the application deadline will greatly delay the processing of your application. For this reason, it is a good idea to have backup recommenders.