Advanced Standing Early Consideration
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 2024 practicum placement start. Marketplace has a live, virtual component scheduled for Friday, February 23, 2024, 10am - 1pm CST with agency interviews following throughout March. Please save the February date! If you haven't received an email about Marketplace by early February, reach out to the Practicum Team at 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 February 27, 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 22, 2024. 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 26, 2024, 9 am – 3 pm or online on Saturday, July 27, 2024, 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.
GLOBE – deadline April 2024
Alumni Association - deadline April 2024
UH Foundation – deadline April 2024
Join us on Friday, August 9, from 2-4pm at the Main Campus Social Work Building to connect with other Advanced Standing students!