Overview
MSW students may waive the following by successfully completing a waiver exam for each course:
SOWK 8070 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
SOWK 8080 Human Behavior at the Social Environment II, and/or
SOWK 8090 Social Welfare Policy
Waiver of Foundation-Level Courses
MSW students may waive courses in one of two ways.
Option 1: Completion of Equivalant Coursework
In consultation with their Academic Advisor, an MSW student may apply for waiver of a foundation-level course by demonstrating that they have already completed an equivalent course within an accredited BSSW or MSW program in accordance with the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) standards. After admission, it is the student’s responsibility to make such requests to the Graduate Program Chair and submit supporting documentation. The Graduate Program Chair will make the final decision, and the decision cannot be appealed. (Graduate credit is not given for undergraduate coursework or work experience.)
Option 2: Waiver by Examination
A qualified student may waive SOWK 8070 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I, SOWK 8080 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II, and SOWK 8090 Social Welfare Policy by taking a waiver exam(s). Once admitted, a student may request permission from the Graduate Program Chair to take a waiver exam(s). A student must clearly show qualification to take the exam(s) through provision of information pertaining to similar courses completed. If granted, waiver exams will be scheduled at the student’s request. Each waiver exam may be attempted only once, and the student must receive a score of 84% or higher in order to earn the waiver. In accordance with CSWE, academic credit for life and/or previous work experience will not be given, in whole or in part, in lieu of practicum or other coursework.
If a student is requesting a waiver exam, it is assumed that previous, similar courses have prepared the student to sit for the exam. Therefore, a study guide is not provided to students. Students may review the syllabus for the course associated with the waiver exam to familiarize themselves with the content that is taught in the course.
If the waiver exam is approved, waiver exams are administered in-person, on the UNO campus, and are coordinated by the GASSW Student Services Associate Sonia Carbonell (scarbonell2@unomaha.edu). Waiver exams are scheduled Monday through Thursday from 9am until 3:00pm upon availability.
Questions?
Contact Graduate Program Chair (GPC), Dr. Deborah Circo (dcirco@unomaha.edu) for more information regarding the waiver exam process.