Social Work Non-Degree Admission Policies and Procedures

Non-Degree Admission:

Students may be admitted to the program with a non-degree seeking status. Refer to the non-degree admissions policies and procedures for specific information.
Before applying for Non-Degree MSW admission, please read information below to ensure that you are qualified to apply. Please contact the Social Work department at 303-556-5332 if you have any questions concerning non-degree admission.


Enrollment as a non-degree seeking student is limited to the following categories:

  1. Individuals who have completed a baccalaureate degree at a regionally accredited institution and whose cumulative undergraduate GPA, or whose GPA from the last 60 hours completed, is 3.0 or higher will be considered on a space available basis. Individuals who are currently admitted to a graduate program at another regionally accredited Master of Social Work Program who wish to take a limited number of classes at Metropolitan State University of Denver will be considered on a space available basis.
  2. Individuals who have completed a baccalaureate degree at a regionally accredited institution and who can demonstrate on-going professional activity in a helping profession who wish to take gradate social work courses for professional reasons will be considered on a space available basis.


Applicants in these categories must submit the following:

  • Application for Non-Degree Admission,
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended,
  • Current detailed resume,
  • Submission of Statement of Intent (modified version of personal statement, contact department)
  • Professional Letter of Reference


Important Information for Non-Degree Seeking Students

  • Graduate tuition applies for all graduate courses taken as a non-degree student.
  • Information about tuition rates and payment deadlines is available on MSU Denver's web site.
  • Students admitted as non-degree seeking are not eligible for graduate level financial aid.
  • Students are held responsible, both academically and financially, for any class in which they enroll. Failure to withdraw from any class, regardless of attendance, results in a grade of “F.” Students remain liable for tuition and fees.
  • All grading policies for degree-seeking students also apply to non-degree seeking students.
  • Students who were previously enrolled in, or who have previously been denied admission to or dismissed from, the graduate degree program in Social Work at MSU Denver are not eligible for non-degree status.
  • Non-degree seeking students are limited to taking a maximum of 9 credit hours in total. Registration holds will be placed on non-degree seeking students’ accounts each term to facilitate monitoring of total credit hours. Due to the sequential nature of graduate social work courses, students accepted as non-degree seeking will have a limited amount of electives available to take. Students should contact the Social Work department at 303-556-5332 for advising.
  • Non-degree seeking students can change their status by fully complying with the degree-seeking admission requirements.
  • Students can apply a maximum of 9 credit hours when changing from non-degree to the degree seeking status, but must still complete all requirements of the degree-seeking concentration/track student is accepted into. (i.e., if the elective taken during non-degree status is not a requirement of the concentration/track student is accepted into, it will not count towards degree).


Non-Degree Enrollment Procedures

  • The MSW Admissions and Advising Coordinator and MSW Director determines an applicant’s eligibility to take graduate courses once all application materials have been received. Incomplete or late applications are not processed.
  • Students who wish to apply for non-degree seeking status to take graduate level social work classes should follow university application deadlines. Non-degree seeking applications are accepted each semester.
  • Eligible applicants are admitted and allowed to register for specific elective courses on a space available basis. Students should obtain a list of eligible course work from the Social Work department by calling 303-556-5332 or send an email to mkrueg11@msudenver.edu