Canada · September 2027 intake
Carleton MSW statement of intent
Carleton's MSW statement combines a reflection on lived, educational, and work experience with a cited scholarly discussion of a social problem. The second question is an academic essay, not another personal narrative. The school also requires a separate CV and work-hours portfolio; its one- and two-year routes have different prior-degree requirements.
Writing format
One document answering two questions at approximately 750 words each
What to prepare
- 1Explain how life, work, and education shaped your understanding of yourself and others in society, then connect that perspective to your professional goals and Carleton's MSW.
- 2Write a scholarly response, with citations and references, about a social problem you may address as a social worker and the theories, concepts, and factors that contribute to it.
- 3If you lack an academic reference, add a separate rationale to the same statement document and arrange a second professional referee.
How to approach the writing
- Use an experience you can examine thoughtfully for the first question; keep the social-problem analysis and its sources in the second response.
- Prepare the paid, volunteer, and placement-hours tables separately. Carleton excludes placement and co-op hours from the qualifying work-and-volunteer total.
Before you submit
Carleton lists December 1, 2026 at midnight as the complete-application deadline for September 2027. Upload the statement to Experience & Interests in Carleton 360, or to Carleton Central after payment and ID issuance. The program requires at least 1,700 hours of related paid or volunteer experience, with separate one- and two-year degree routes.
Read Carleton MSW admissions and statement of intent ↗Official source checked 2026-09-26.