Admission Information

Criteria for Admission

The primary purpose of the application process for the Ph.D. Program in Social Welfare is to select students who show the greatest potential for scholarship and for future contributions to the field of social welfare in Hawai`i and the Pacific Basin. In addition to requirements set forth by the University of Hawai`i Graduate Division, the Doctoral Program Committee of the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work looks for evidence of the following when reviewing applications:

  1. Applicants must have a Master of Social Work degree from a CSWE accredited school/program of social work prior to beginning the PhD program 1. Exceptions are made to this requirement for applicants from countries without accreditation provided they produce evidence that their master’s degree is approved by the International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service of the Council on Social Work Education: http://www.cswe.org/CSWE/career/evalservice/ or for allied master’s degreed applicants with strong credentials and with experience working in social work settings 2.

  2. Scholarly capacity – Applicants are expected to show capacity for advanced academic work and potential for scholarship. The ability to work independently and develop competence to design and carry out rigorous research studies relevant for social work is a critical expectation of the Ph.D. program. Applicants are expected to demonstrate excellent writing skills, and evidence of analytic skills, research interest and capabilities, as part of the admissions application.

  3. Work experience - Applicants with at least two years of experience working with multicultural populations will be preferred.

  4. Career goals – Applicants’ interests and career goals should be compatible with the stated focus of the Ph.D. Program.

1 Students are urged to obtain 2 years post-MSW experience in social work which will allow them to teach social work practice courses at a CSWE accredited school of social work upon graduation.

2 Prerequisite courses (see appendix) in social work will apply for non-MSW students.


Materials to be Submitted

Click here to go to the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work PhD Forms Page )

Each applicant must submit two separate applications as follows:


  1. Submit to the Graduate Admissions Office:
    2.
    • A fully completed University of Hawai`i Graduate Admissions application found at:
      http://www.hawaii.edu/graduatestudies/admissions/html/admissions.htm

    • related documents including:

      • application fee and

      • one official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts from every college and university attended, even if the credits appear as transferred credits on your records at another institution, and regardless of the number of credits earned or the length of time attended.

    Mail to: University of Hawai`i at Manoa
    Graduate Admissions Office
    2540 Maile Way, Spalding 354
    Honolulu, HI 96822


  2. Submit to the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work (MBT SSW):

    • A fully completed Ph.D. Program in Social Welfare Application for Admission form

    • A statement of purpose:
      This statement should not exceed 5 double-spaced typewritten pages, using a font no smaller than 12 points. Please be as specific as possible in answering the questions below:

      • Discuss your qualifications and readiness for pursuing doctoral studies in social welfare.

      • Describe your view of the role of research in social welfare.

      • Describe the area of specialization around which you wish to concentrate your study and research. In specifying your area of research interest, please identify social welfare Ph.D. faculty who might be useful to you in exploring your area. Indicate any special projects of research emphasis at the School of Social Work or within the larger University that you view as helpful resources.

      • Describe the development of your interest in research and the relation of that interest to your professional area of specialization.

      • Illustrate how your personal history, family background, and intellectual development have influenced your decision to pursue social welfare research as a career goal. As appropriate, note cultural and educational opportunities that you have experienced and any educational, social, or economic disadvantages that you have had to overcome.<.
      • What are your career plans? Specifically, how do you expect to use the research and scholarly skills developed in the doctoral program?

    • Submit an example of your academic or scholarly writing (e.g. academic papers, thesis, publications, and research proposals). If no examples of your academic or scholarly writing are currently available, please write a paper as though you would submit it for publication in a professional journal. Do not send PowerPoint presentations or case notes. Your writing sample should:

      • Demonstrate conceptual and analytic skills.
      • Use appropriate and consistent citation and referencing format.
      • Demonstrate writing ability.

    • One official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts from every college and university attended, even if the credits appear as transferred credits on your records at another institution, and regardless of the number of credits earned or the length of time attended.

      Official transcripts must be original documents issued by the college or university that bear the actual signature of the registrar in ink, and the embossed seal or official stamp of the issuing institution. Request that the official transcripts be sent directly to you in sealed envelopes with the registrar’s signature stamped across the flap. Include the unopened envelopes with your other application materials.

      (Note: Applicants who received their MSW degrees from this university within the past five years may contact the School of Social Work Graduate Admissions Office to determine if transcripts are on file.)

    • Three completed Ph.D. Reference forms with reference letters. Reference letters from faculty or supervisors, which evaluate the applicant's ability to do scholarly work on a doctoral level, are strongly recommended.

      Request that each completed PhD Reference form and accompanying reference letter be sent directly to you in a sealed envelope with the reference’s signature across the flap. Include the unopened envelopes with your other application materials. Facsimiles will not be accepted.

      Send the three sealed references together with your entire, completed application packet.

    • TOEFL scores: Students who speak English as a second language are required to submit evidence of fluency in English as measured by the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination. Official scores should be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions office. The Educational Testing Services (ETS) code for UHM is 4867. Test scores cannot be more than two years old.


      • Test Information: TOEFL/TSE Publications
      P.O. Box 6151
      Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
      Web: www.toefl.org


    • GRE scores: Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is optional for most applicants, but highly recommended. Submission of GRE scores is required of applicants who attended institutions where more than 25 percent of courses were graded in a nontraditional manner (i.e., anything other than letter grades). Applicants who have no prior course work in research methods and statistical analyses and experience in empirical research are strongly encouraged to submit GRE scores.
Mail your completed MBT SSW application packet to:

University of Hawai`i
Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work
1800 East West Road, Henke 230
Honolulu, HI 96822


Interview

The application process will include an interview (by phone or in person) of the top candidates.

Recruitment

Because of the program's emphasis on the social welfare needs of Hawai`i, residents of Hawai`i, nations in the Pacific Basin, minority group members, and women are particularly encouraged to apply to the program. Applicants' statements of career goals and interests and reference letters will be evaluated to identify those whose experiences, interests, and goals are of particular relevance to the social welfare needs of Hawai`i.

Deadline for submission of materials is JANUARY 15.

International Admissions

This section contains additional information and requirements for international applicants. To be eligible to apply for admission, international applicants need to meet admissions criteria and documentation requirements.

See Admissions on the Graduate Division website:

http://www.hawaii.edu/graduatestudies/admissions/html/admissions.htm

International Transcripts and Academic Records

All international applicants are required to submit one current official transcript or academic record from each institution of higher education attended, including any study abroad or exchange programs, summer programs, and non-degree work and extension programs. Transcripts or academic records must be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office directly from the issuing institution(s), or in sealed institutional envelopes if submitted with the application. For applicants from certain regions (see below), the Graduate Admissions Office accepts only official academic records sent directly from the issuing institution(s).

Please note the following:

Non-English transcripts or academic records must be issued in the original language and be accompanied by English translations. English translations must be exact word for word translations of the original document. Translations issued by the institution must bear the official seal or stamp of the institution and be attached to the official transcript or academic record. Translations by professional translators must bear the translator’s original signature and be accompanied by a copy of the original language documents.

Transcripts or academic records must indicate all dates of attendance, course titles, credits or hours, and grades received. If any course title is not descriptive in terms of content, attach a course syllabus to the transcript or academic record.

Do NOT convert numerical grades to letter grades. A complete grading scale or system of evaluation sent by the institution is required if not indicated on the transcript or academic record.

Transcripts or academic records must indicate any degree, diploma, professional title, certificate of study or other academic credential received. If not, submit official copies and English translations of all academic credentials.

Applicants from institutions in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan must submit properly attested mark sheets for each year of study showing the subject included in each examination, the maximum mark in each subject, the minimum mark for passing, the mark obtained, and the "Division" or "Class" received. All academic records are accepted if attested by the registrar, assistant registrar, head of department, dean of student affairs, controller of examinations, USEFI student advisor, professor-in-charge or principal.

Applicants from institutions in the Russian Federation and former Soviet Union: The Graduate Admissions Office will accept ONLY academic certificates, supplements to the diploma, archival certificates and degree certificates sent directly from the issuing institution(s).

Language Requirement

The Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work welcomes international applicants to the PhD program. In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School and the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting a score for both the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE), or the TOEFl-ibt (internet based test). TOEFL must be taken with the TSE only if it is taken as a paper (pbt) or computer-based (cbt) test. While the Graduate School may waive the TOEFL tests for those who hold bachelor’s degrees from a U.S. institution or from an institution in another English-only speaking country (within the last five years, see additional information below), the School of Social Work requires the above named tests. This more rigorous language requirement is necessary because of the demanding nature of the literature covered in the program and the expected high level of writing and verbal performance required of our students.

Upon acceptance to the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work and arrival at the University of Hawai`i, all students for whom English is a second language will be assessed for English language proficiency. Based on this assessment, students may be required to take English as a Second Language (ESL) courses before enrolling in social work courses. Additional course work may delay a student’s completion of the PhD program. The student is responsible for the cost of ESL courses, which are not included in estimated tuition and fees.

English Proficiency

Most applicants whose native language is not English are required to take either the TOEFL or the IELTS. Official scores should be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) code for UHM is 4867. Test scores cannot be more than two years old.

Test Required Minimum Scores
TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language

TOEFL/TSE Publications
PO Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
Web: www.toefl.org 		Minimum scores vary for each graduate program. For more information, please see individual graduate program listings.

For teaching assistantship applicants, minimum scores are 600/250/100 (paper/computer/Internet), with subtest scores of 25 for listening and 25 for speaking.

Institutional TOEFL scores are not accepted except for UHM institutional TOEFL scores.
IELTS - International English Language Testing System

IELTS
Email:ielts@ieltsintl.org
Web: www.ielts.org 		Minimum score is 5.00 for the overall band test results.

For teaching assistantship applicants, minimum score is 7.00.


Financial Statement

International applicants need to show proof of sufficient funding to cover all educational and living expenses, including expenses for any accompanying spouse or children. Upon admission to UHM, only international applicants with proof of funding will receive visa documents.

The Confidential Financial Statement for International Applicants is required of most international applicants. Refer to the form for detailed instructions at the Grad Division website.

Issuance of Visa Documents

International applicants who have been admitted to more than one graduate program need to choose a graduate program, before the visa documents can be issued.

Enrollment Regulations

Full-Time Enrollment:

International students are required by law to maintain full-time enrollment while studying in the United States. Exceptions may be granted to students with serious illness, students in their graduating semester, or students who experience academic difficulties. To enroll less than full-time, students need advance approval from International Student Services.

Tuition and Fees

Please refer to the General and Graduate Information Catalog, Outreach College bulletin, or the Office of Admissions and Records for current information regarding tuition and fees.

For more information, please review the information on this site, or contact Jennifer Kishida, MSW and PhD Program Assistant, at jenkishi@hawaii.edu or (808) 956-3831.

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