M.S.W. Program

Graduation information

VCU graduationGraduation requirements for the Master of Social Work include:

  • Meeting the grade-related standards of the program.
  • Completion of a minimum of 60 credits in the two-year and part-time programs or 39 credits in the advanced standing program, with no less than a 3.0 GPA.
  • Demonstrated ability in social work practice and acceptable professional behavior.

Procedures for applying for graduation, and the schedule of due dates for applications are distributed to students each year through eServices and VCU e-mail. Degree candidates who do not graduate at the end of the semester for which they have made application must reapply. The university confers degrees in December, May and August.

Commencement participation policy
Students who have not completed all requirements may participate in the May graduation celebration events if they are within six credit hours of meeting degree requirements which they will complete in the summer semester.

May graduates

If you expect to complete all graduation requirements by May, your graduation application must be completed and submitted to your adviser by the date published in the Academic Calendar. The graduation application process is performed online through eServices. Information about the graduation application process is sent to students via VCU e-mail.

All graduates are required to submit a completed graduation course verification form to their faculty adviser with the signed VCU application. The graduation verification forms are available below. Please choose the form appropriate to your standing.

Students completing graduation requirements in August do not submit their application at this time.

Graduation ceremonies in May

The VCU School of Social Work holds a special graduation ceremony every May for its B.S.W., M.S.W. and Ph.D. graduates. Graduates wear caps and gowns and are individually recognized at this ceremony. There are no guest attendance limits, and graduates are encouraged to invite family and friends to this event as well as the university ceremony that will be held the next day. There will also be an M.S.W. student awards ceremony and graduation and end-of-year reception in both Richmond and Northern Virginia. Details about these ceremonies will be sent to students through e-mail using the school’s listservers.

August graduates

August graduates do not request or complete graduation applications in January. Students will request and complete their applications after spring semester grades are recorded in late May or early June. M.S.W. students who have not completed all requirements may participate in the School of Social Work May graduation celebration events if they are within six credit hours of meeting degree requirements and they will complete these requirements in the summer session. M.S.W. graduates will walk across stage and be recognized as August graduates, but will not be hooded and will not receive a diploma.

Those who complete degree requirements in either August or December are invited to participate in VCU’s December Commencement exercises. Their names will appear in the December list of graduates.

M.S.W. students planning to graduate in August, contact Ms. Quimiko Thornton to be included on the School of Social Work mailing list for M.S.W. graduation information.

Graduating with a certificate or dual degree

If you are an M.S.W. student graduating with one of the certificates (School Social Work, Aging, Nonprofit Management, Gender Violence Intervention or Infant Intervention), or you are receiving a dual degree (M.S.W. and Christian Education Public Health, M.Div. or Juris Doctor), you should contact Ms. Quimiko Thornton at tquimiko@vcu.edu. This communication will assure that your name is printed in the School of Social Work graduation program and that you are recognized at the ceremony.

Please submit all of your completed materials to your adviser by Friday, Jan. 23.