Transfer & Returning Students

We’re glad you’re considering continuing your education through the BSSW Program at Minnesota State Mankato; our advisors are happy to help you plan your path to graduation. As you are making the decision to transfer or return to Minnesota State Mankato, please contact the BSSW Program Director as early as possible to schedule an appointment with an advisor. 

Transfer students

1. If you’re not quite ready to apply to the University yet, you can use transferology.com as a great resource to estimate how your credits will transfer.
   
   If you’re transferring with an AAS in Pre-Social Work, follow the Transfer Pathway course plan specific to your community college and the BSSW Program at Minnesota State Mankato, and work closely with your advisor. The transfer pathway agreements between each community college and each MinnState University social work programs are not identical.
   
   NOTE: these tools are not official transfer credit evaluations. You will receive your official credit evaluation from the Registration and Academic Records Office once you have applied and been admitted to the University.
2. If you have questions about what your course plan will look like, contact the BSSW Program to schedule a consultation with an advisor. Prior to that meeting, send the advisor:
   
   
   • your Transferology results AND course records from ALL higher education schools previously attended (this includes unofficial transcripts and/or Degree Audit Report (DARS) if applicable)
   OR
   
   • your Minnesota State University, Mankato official credit evaluation.
     
     These documents will allow the advisor to best assist you. Without these, the advisor will only be able to speak in general terms, and will not be able to advise on your specific situation. If you have not received your official credit evaluation yet, the BSSW Advisor will not be able to address University general education goal areas. (See information about general education below.)
     
3. When you’re ready, apply to the University. 
   
   NOTE: Admission to Minnesota State Mankato does not mean automatic admission to the BSSW Program, even if you have been accepted to a social work program at another institution. Admission to the BSSW Program is a separate process. More Information 
4. Once you have applied and are admitted to the University, you will receive your official transfer credit evaluation, known as a DARS Report. Once you have received this report, contact a BSSW Program Advisor with questions about Social Work courses and potential substitutions.
5. All students who do not have a completed bachelor’s degree are required to attend Orientation. At Orientation, you will work with an advisor to help you plan your first semester courses. (If you have a completed bachelor’s degree, you are encouraged to consider the MSW program, rather than the BSSW program.)

Returning students

If you have attended Minnesota State University as an undergraduate student in the past, and have not attended any other college or university since, you are considered a returning student.

1. Your first step is to reconnect to the University. 
2. Contact the BSSW Program to schedule a consultation with an advisor. 

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BASIC COURSE INFORMATION 

Minnesota State University, Mankato - General Education requirements

The information below is a general guide regarding Minnesota State Mankato’s general education requirements. Once you have a credit evaluation (DARS Report), schedule a meeting with an advisor to discuss your specific situation and determine a course plan. 

Incomplete: If you have not met Minnesota State Mankato’s general education requirements, you will need to complete them before applying for admission to the BSSW Program. 

Complete through transfer work: 

• • If you have a completed Associates of Arts and Sciences (AAS) or Associate of Arts (AA) degree, have 60+ credits, or have met the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC), you may still need to complete any general education courses required for the BSSW program. You will likely be able to start the BSSW Program Foundation’s SOWK 200+ level courses.
  • If you have an AAS in Pre-Social Work, or have completed MinnState Social Work Transfer Pathways, you will likely be able to begin taking any missing BSSW Program Foundation courses.

Transferring in Social Work or Human Service coursework from another institution

Human Service coursework: If you have completed courses in Human Service, you will need to have that coursework evaluated by a BSSW Program Advisor. Human service courses are not generally considered equivalent to the BSSW Program’s social work courses unless there is a specific agreement between that Human Service program and the BSSW Program at Minnesota State Mankato.

Social Work coursework: Social Work curriculums and courses are not identical between different institutions, so it is possible some courses you have completed may not have a direct equivalent in our BSSW Program. 

• If you were accepted into a CSWE accredited undergraduate social work program at a 4 year educational institution, you will need to have your social work courses evaluated by the BSSW Program Director. You will also need to submit a letter from the Social Work Program indicating that you are leaving the program in good standing.
• For more information about transferring from a CSWE accredited undergraduate social work program, see the relevant section in the BSSW Student Handbook and meet with an advisor.

Prior undergraduate 4 year degree

Students with a completed bachelor’s degree are exempt from completing the University’s general education requirements. However, because of other BSSW program requirements, it is likely that these students will have to complete at least 2 years of additional coursework in order to graduate with the BSSW degree. We recommend students with a prior bachelor’s degree consider the graduate degree program instead.