Advanced Standing is a waiver of 17 SCH available to students who have received a
BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program and meet additional admissions requirements.
Early Consideration is offered to Face-to-Face Full-time Advanced Standing applicants
seeking to start practicum in the fall semester. Applicants admitted under Early Consideration
apply by January 1, and if admitted, will be able to attend Marketplace in early spring
and have access to a wider selection of practicum sites. Face-to-Face Full-time Advanced
Standing applicants who apply by the regular February 1 deadline will still be able
to complete their 500 practicum during the 1-year program, but as a spring/summer
or summer block placement, and with more limited options for practicum sites.
Because Early Consideration has such a unique onboarding experience, we wanted to
provide additional information of what you can expect leading up to the start of the
fall semester. Please also refer to the Admitted Students page for general onboarding information.
As an early consideration admit, you have the option to participate in the GCSW Practicum
Agency Marketplace & Spring Interviewing Process, a structured process to connect
with Houston-area affiliated agencies for a Fall 2025 practicum placement start. Marketplace
has asynchronous, live, virtual component scheduled forFriday, February 21, 2025, 10am - 1pm CSTwith agency interviews following throughout March. Please save the February date!
You’ll receive more information about this process, your options and connections for
possible placements from practeam@uh.edu the first Friday in February. If you don’t receive the information by then, please
email practeam@uh.edu!
FLOs allow MSW students, including incoming advanced standing students, to develop
an in-depth and holistic focus in a specific area of social work practice in addition
to their concentration. FLOs are organized around areas of faculty expertise, enabling
students to pair learning in a variety of environments that may include the classroom,
practicum, community engagement, trainings, and other opportunities with mentorship
from GCSW faculty members. If interested in learning more, join us for an information
meeting on Wednesday, February 19th, 5:45-6:45pm CST, via this Zoom link. The deadline to let us know your interest/s on the FLO interest form is Friday, March 28, 2025. FLOs are not required for the MSW program. Please note
one of the FLOs, Trauma Education Program, is not available at this time to Advanced
Standing full-time students due to their program timeline. However, if you have an
interest in exploring other trauma informed resources, contact Donna Amtsberg at dkamtsbe@central.uh.edu
Every student will receive an asynchronous online orientation course to complete in
early July which will cover advising, course registration, student policies, and practicum.
The second part of orientation is an event (in-person or online) where you will meet
classmates, current students and staff, and learn more about student life. Participation
in new student orientation is required for all incoming MSW students but you will
be able to choose between attending in-person on Friday, July 25, 2025, 9 am – 3 pm
or online on Saturday, July 26, 2025, 9 am – 3 pm. Additional details will be sent
closer to summer.
Incoming students do not meet with their advisor until closer to orientation, but
if you have questions, advisors will be present at the Welcome Sessions. Sign up for
one here!
Advanced Standing students are eligible to apply for these additional funding opportunities
only available to advanced-curriculum students in our program. Each opportunity is
linked below and because the deadlines to apply are in the spring, we highly encourage
you to research them as soon as possible.