Today we are discussing what it means to be a non-degree or non-matriculated student and what the application process is like. I'll also talk about the benefits of taking non-degree courses so that you can see if it's a good fit for your current academic needs. So first off, what is non-degree or non-matriculated status?
Non-degree or non-matriculated means that you are taking classes but not officially enrolled in a degree program. Think of it as classes a la carte. So if you wish to take an elective course or two, but not pursue an entire degree, you may be interested in enrolling with us as a non-degree student. So what are the benefits and reasons why someone would want to take a non-degree course? Well, if you're curious about what it is like to take a graduate level social work course and want to learn more about the field, it could be a good way to see if social work is the right fit for you before you pursue an entire master's degree.
Sometimes social workers who already have their MSW degree need additional coursework for clinical licensure. So those individuals can take our clinical electives as non-degree students to help them meet those licensure requirements. Additionally, taking non-degree courses can also be a great option for students who want to strengthen a future application to our MSW program. Students who have lower grades or GPAs from their undergraduate degree may want to consider this option. since getting A's in our electives can be a great way to demonstrate your capability to succeed in graduate level coursework.
The good news is that our MSW program requires nine credits of electives, so if you take those elective credits as a non-degree student, they can count towards the degree requirements for the program if you enroll later on. While taking non-degree electives ahead of time would not speed up the amount of time to complete the program once enrolling, it would lighten your course load a bit. There are some important things to know when it comes to applying for non-degree status.
First, non-degree students can only register for elective classes, not any of our foundation or other required courses. Also be aware that non-degree students can only enroll in a maximum of six credits per semester, and unfortunately non-degree students do not qualify for financial aid, so they do need to pay out of pocket for any courses that they take. Finally, here's a quick overview of the non-degree application process. If you decide you want to take a non-degree course with us, you'll need to fill out our non-degree online application form, which can be found on our website. Then you must upload a copy of your bachelor's degree transcript and pay a $35 application fee.
No recommendations or essay required. Once we have received your online application, transcript, and fee, your application will be reviewed and you'll get a notification if and when it is approved. The non-degree application closes two weeks before each semester begins.
Feel free to check our deadlines page on our website to see when the non-degree application opens for each semester. Hopefully this gives you a better idea of what non-degree status entails. You can learn more about non-degree, our elective course options, and the application process on our website.