21 Best MSW Programs in Texas (Online & Campus) – 2024


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of struggling Texans? Graduates of MSW programs in Texas learn skills that enable them to reach out successfully to children, families, and older adults in danger of falling through the cracks. With a Master’s of Social Work degree in the Lone Star State, you’ll earn approximately $62,500 a year. You’ll be able to work in a wide variety of therapeutic settings, including hospitals, government agencies, and community nonprofits. Interested in discovering more? The list below of the 21 best MSW programs in Texas for 2024 is a great place to start.


WHAT ARE THE BEST MSW PROGRAMS IN TEXAS (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2024?

(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 21 Best campus-based and online MSW Programs in Texas.


1) University of Texas at Austin - Austin


MSW Programs Offered: 1-Year MSW 42-Hour (On-Campus), 1-Year MSW 48-Hour (On-Campus), 2-Year MSW (On-Campus), 3-Year MSW (On-Campus), and 3-And-Half-Year MSW (On-Campus)

1-Year MSW 42-Hour Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Administration & Policy Practice

1-Year MSW 48-Hour Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Administration & Policy Practice

2-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Administration & Policy Practice

3-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Administration & Policy Practice

3-and-Half-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Administration & Policy Practice


About University of Texas at Austin: The Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin is considered one of the best MSW programs in Texas and the nation. The School of Social Work awards a degree called Master of Science in Social Work, so its correct acronym is MSSW. UT Austin is a public university, and Lone Star State residents interested in pursuing a career in social work are likely to find its tuition a good deal more affordable than one of the master’s in social work programs in Texas associated with a private university.

University of Texas at Austin MSW Program Details: The University of Texas at Austin offers a wealth of options for prospective MSSW students. You can enroll in the 60-credit traditional MSSW curriculum, or you can enroll in the accelerated 42-hour program, which is equivalent to the Advanced Standing option offered at many other MSW programs in Texas. Both of these social work tracks are offered on campus.

The traditional 60-credit program takes two years to complete if you go to school full-time. You also have the option to complete it in either three years or three and a half years. The 42-hour (42 credits) program, which is only open to students who have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s of social work, takes four semesters to complete. If you want to complete it in two years, you can enroll in the 48-hour (48 credits) track.

Students enrolled in the Hicks School of Social Work have two options for second-year concentrations. The Clinical Social Work concentration imparts the knowledge and skills you’ll need if you intend to specialize in one-on-one therapeutic interactions with clients. The Administration and Policy Practice concentration focuses on program evaluation, grant writing and other managerial skills you’ll need to assume leadership positions within human and social services organizations.

Like other accredited MSW programs in Texas, fieldwork is a high priority at the University of Texas at Austin. If you’re enrolled in the traditional 60-credit program, you’ll be expected to complete 1,020 hours of supervised fieldwork. The Hicks School of Social Work partners with more than 600 public agencies, non-profits, schools, hospitals and other healthcare settings, advocacy organizations, think tanks, legal clinics, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and recovery programs throughout Austin and adjacent communities in Travis County.

University of Texas at Austin MSW Admission Requirements: Admission into this MSW in Texas is highly competitive. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Volunteer or paid experience working in the human services field will make you more competitive.

Key Highlights For University of Texas at Austin MSW Students

• The University of Texas at Austin has six MSSW dual degree programs: a joint MSSW/Master of Business Administration (MBA) in conjunction with the McCombs School of Business; a joint MSSW/Juris Doctor (JD) in conjunction with the UT Austin School of Law; a joint MSSW/Master of Public Affairs (MPAff) in conjunction with the LBJ School of Public Affairs; a joint MSSW/Master of Arts in Latin American Studies (LLILAS) in conjunction with the with Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies; a joint MSSW/Master of Public Health (MPH) in conjunction with the UT Health School of Public Health; and a joint MSSW/Master of Divinity (MDiv) in conjunction with the UT Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
• You’ll have the opportunity to complete academic requirements for certification in military social work practice, school-based social work practice and healthcare social work at UT Austin.
• Throughout the 2019-2020 year, UT Austin awarded 152 MSSW degrees.


2) University of Houston - Houston


MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time MSW (Face to Face, Hybrid, & Online) and Advanced Standing MSW (Face to Face, Hybrid, & Online)

Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice and Macro Practice

Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice and Macro Practice


About University of Houston: The University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work has its own four-story building on campus. Approximately 350 students are enrolled in its master of social work degree program. U.S. News & World Report ranks this MSW program in Texas among the top 40 MSW programs in the U.S. UH offers many exciting options for MSW students, including international fieldwork placements in locales like England, Scotland, Wales, China and Hong Kong.

University of Houston MSW Program Details: MSW students at the University of Houston have two program options: a 63-credit traditional MSW track and a 38-credit Advanced Standing track. The Advanced Standing track is only open to students who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree in social work. You can pursue your MSW degree on campus, online or via a hybrid learning platform. It will take you a year to complete the Advanced Standing track on campus and two years to complete the traditional MSW track on campus.

The online and hybrid learning platforms were set up to accommodate the needs of working students. Advanced Standing MSW students can expect to complete the hybrid track in two years, while traditional MSW students can expect to complete this track in three years. The hybrid track is split evenly between online and campus classes. Campus classes are taught two Saturdays a month at the University of Houston’s Sugar Land campus.

Like several other MSW programs in Texas, this MSW in Texas offers two second-year concentrations. Clinical Practice focuses on assessment, diagnosis, intervention, treatment, prevention and advocacy, and it’s designed for social work professionals who want to specialize in psychotherapy and counseling. Macro prepares social workers for employment in communities and organizations as managers, program planners, researchers, policy analysts and advocates.

Field education is a vitally important part of the University of Houston’s MSW curriculum as it is for all social work master’s programs in Texas. The University of Houston has placement partnerships with more than 300 social services agencies and organizations in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area. Online students will complete their fieldwork requirements in the communities where they live. Students enrolled in the traditional MSW curriculum must complete 900 hours of fieldwork.

University of Houston MSW Admission Requirements: You must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school with a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be admitted into UH’s MSW program. You’ll also need to submit a personal statement and three recommendations from individuals who can speak to your suitability for a social work career.

Key Highlights For University of Houston MSW Students

• Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams teaches at the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work.
• The University of Houston offers five concurrent degree programs: a joint MSW/Master of Public Policy (MPP) in conjunction with the Hobby Center for Public Policy; a joint MSW/MBA in conjunction with the C.T. Bauer College of Business; a joint MSW/MPH in conjunction with the University of Texas School of Public Health; and a joint MSW/JD in conjunction with the Law Center at the University of Houston.
• The University of Houston conferred 164 MSW degrees in 2020.


3) University of Texas at Arlington – Arlington & Fort Worth


MSW Programs Offered: 12-Month Advanced Standing MSW (Online), 16-Month Advanced Standing MSW (Online), 12-Month Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus in Arlington Campus), and 14-Month or 24-Month MSW (On-Campus in Fort Worth Campus)

12-Month Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Community & Administrative, Aging, Children & Families, and Mental Health & Substance Misuse

16-Month Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Mental Health & Substance Misuse

12-Month Advanced Standing MSW (Arlington Campus) Concentrations Offered: Children & Families, Mental Health & Substance Misuse, and Health

14-Month or 24-Month MSW Concentrations Offered: Children & Families with Administrative Certificate


About University of Texas at Arlington: The School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington was founded in 1967. This MSW school in Texas is ranked high nationally for academics. As part of the public University of Texas system, tuition at UT Arlington is more affordable than it is at private MSW schools in Texas. UT Arlington’s School of Social Work is home to the Center for Addiction and Recovery Studies, an institute that provides community education and research into the prevention of substance abuse.

University of Texas at Arlington MSW Program Details: UT Arlington offers a traditional 64-credit MSW curriculum as well as an Advanced Standing 41-credit MSW curriculum at its Fort Worth campus. The traditional MSW curriculum can be completed in 24 months, while the Advanced Standing 43-credit MSW curriculum can be completed in 14 months. Additionally, the university sponsors an Advanced Standing MSW curriculum on the Arlington campus that can be completed in 12 months.

The university’s distance learning offerings are some of the best online MSW programs in Texas. You can enroll either in a 12-month or 16-month Advanced Standing MSW track online. The same instructors who teach campus classes also teach online courses. If you’re not a resident of the Lone Star State, you can petition to have the out-of-state portion of your tuition waived.

Where the University of Texas at Arlington really stands out from other MSW programs in Texas is in the number of concentrations it offers. Where most MSW programs in Texas offer two second-year concentrations, UT Arlington offers five: Direct Practice in Aging, Direct Practice in Children & Families, Direct Practice in Health, Direct Practice in Mental Health & Substance Abuse, and Community and Administrative Practice. All but one of these concentrations teaches one-on-one intervention skills as well as administrative skills. Not every concentration is available with every MSW track.

Fieldwork is an essential part of the curricula at all the best MSW schools in Texas, and the University of Texas at Arlington is no exception to this rule. Students enrolled in the 63-credit MSW track must complete 960 hours of fieldwork, while students in the 41-credit track must complete 480 hours of fieldwork. UT Arlington maintains relationships with more than 500 agencies and organizations that offer fieldwork placements. Every effort will be made to help ensure online students’ fieldwork placements close to the community in which they live.

University of Texas at Arlington MSW Admission Requirements: UT Arlington has a Quick Admissions policy for students who graduated from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students with lower undergraduate grade point averages may be asked to submit a statement of purpose and three professional references.

Key Highlights For University of Texas at Arlington MSW Students

• Six concurrent MSW degree programs are offered at the University of Texas at Arlington: a joint MSW/MBA; a joint MSW/Master of Arts in Urban Affairs; a joint MSW/MPH; a joint MSW/Master of Arts in Sociology; a joint MSW/Master of Public Administration (MPA); and a joint MSW/ Master of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with Higher Education Administration Emphasis (MEd).
• UT Arlington offers coursework that satisfies the academic requirements for Administrative Leadership, Community Leadership, Organizational Leadership and Policy Leadership certifications.
• Seven hundred and twenty-five students received MSW degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2020, making UT Arlington’s program the most popular among all the MSW programs in Texas and the third most popular nationwide.


4) Baylor University - Waco


MSW Programs Offered: Standard MSW ( On-Campus & Online), AdvancedStanding MSW ( On-Campus & Online), Standard MSW 4-year Part-Time (On-Campus), and Advanced Standing Part-Time MSW (On-Campus)

Standard MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice and Community Practice

Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice and Community Practice

Standard MSW 4-year Part-Time Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice and Community Practice

Advanced Standing Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice and Community Practice


About Baylor University: Baylor’s master’s of social work program is administered by the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. Baylor’s program is one of several MSW programs in Texas with a religious orientation: The university is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. While the Garland School accepts MSW students from all religious backgrounds, Christian beliefs play a significant role in the school’s conception of social work, and students will be taught to apply evidence-based practice models within a framework of religious faith. If this approach is not for you, you might be better off at one of the other MSW programs in Texas.

Baylor University MSW Program Details: This MSW school in Texas offers a traditional 60-credit MSW curriculum and a 32-credit Advanced Standing MSW curriculum both as campus and online options. These programs are offered as full-time options: The traditional MSW curriculum will take you two years to complete, while the Advanced Standing curriculum will take you one year to complete. Students may only enroll in the Advanced Standing option if they have a bachelor’s degree in social work from an undergraduate college or university.

The Garland School offers a part-time traditional MSW curriculum that can be completed in four years, as well as a part-time Advanced Standing option that can be completed in two years. Both these programs are offered on campus.

Baylor is unique among accredited MSW programs in Texas in that it offers six concentrations within two distinct specialization areas. Baylor’s specializations are Clinical Practice (Micro/Mezzo) which prepares students to do case management and one-on-one therapeutic interventions and Community Practice (Macro) which prepares students to take on leadership roles in public and nonprofit organizations, communities, congregations and religiously affiliated agencies.

Baylor’s six concentrations are Diversity, Gerontology, Congregational Social Work, International Social Work, Trauma and Integrated Behavioral Health. The International Social Work concentration is only available to students in the Community Practice specialization, while the Integrated Behavioral Health concentration is only available to students in the Clinical Practice specialization.

Fieldwork is an essential component of the Garland School’s MSW program, just like other master’s in social work programs in Texas. Students enrolled in the 60-credit MSW program are required to complete 1,030 hours of fieldwork; students enrolled in the 32-credit Advanced Standing program are required to complete 550 hours of fieldwork.

Baylor University MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants must be graduates of an accredited MSW program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Baylor’s online MSW program admits new students in January, May and August.

Key Highlights For Baylor University MSW Students

• The Diana R. Garland School of Social Work sponsors the annual Gil Taylor Behavioral Symposium, which brings together social workers and professionals in related fields across central Texas to discuss mental health issues that impact the residents of Waco and surrounding communities.
• Baylor offers three dual degrees: an MSW/MDiv in conjunction with the Truett Theological Seminary; an MSW/Master of Theological Studies (MTS) in conjunction with the Truett Theological Seminary; and an MSW/MBA in conjunction with the Hankamer School of Business.
• Eighty-seven Baylor students were granted MSW degrees throughout the 2019-2020 academic year.


5) University of Texas at San Antonio - San Antonio


MSW Programs Offered: 60-Hour MSW (On-Campus) and 36-Hour Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)


About University of Texas at San Antonio: UTSA’s MSW program is specifically designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Classes are taught at the satellite campus in downtown San Antonio, most of which are scheduled during evening hours. UTSA is part of the public University of Texas system, so tuition at this MSW program in Texas is less expensive than it might be at one of the private MSW programs in Texas. UTSA’s Department of Social Work is a division of its College for Health, Community and Policy.

University of Texas at San Antonio MSW Program Details: The University of Texas at San Antonio offers two MSW curricula: a 60-credit traditional MSW track and a 36-credit Advanced Standing MSW track that is only available to students who’ve completed an undergraduate degree in social work. Both tracks are offered as full-time and part-time options. If you go to school full-time, you’ll complete the 60-credit track in two years and the 36-credit track in one year.

The first year of the traditional MSW program is dedicated to coursework that will give you a foundational understanding of the social work field. You’ll take classes like “Human Behavior and Social Environment: Dynamics of Individuals and Families,” “Social Problems and Social Welfare Policy Analysis” and “Culturally Competent Practice with Diverse Populations.”

The University of Texas at San Antonio offers an Advanced Generalist concentration for second-year and Advanced Standing students that provides broad training and instruction in clinical practice as well larger scale systemic issues. During your second year, you’ll take classes like “Transformational Leadership in Social Work,” “Specialized Social Work Methods: Policy Practice and Advocacy” and “Global Context of Social Work”.

Fieldwork is an essential part of the MSW experience at all of the MSW programs in Texas, including the University of Texas at San Antonio. Students enrolled in the 60-credit MSW track must complete 900 hours of fieldwork while students in the 36-credit track must complete 450 hours. Fieldwork placements utilize human service agencies and organizations throughout San Antonio and surrounding communities in Bexar County.

University of Texas at San Antonio MSW Admission Requirements: The University of Texas at San Antonio only admits graduates of accredited colleges and universities. You’ll need to submit a statement of purpose and three references from professors, employers or other individuals who can speak to your suitability for the field of social work.

Key Highlights For University of Texas at San Antonio MSW Students

• UTSA has an accelerated full-time option that will allow students enrolled in the 60-credit MSW program to complete the program in six semesters and students enrolled in the 36-credit MSW track to complete the program in three semesters.
• Students are assigned a faculty mentor when they first enroll in the MSW program, and their faculty mentor remains a resource throughout the student’s entire program tenure.
• In 2020, UTSA’s Department of Social Work awarded 49 MSW degrees.


6) Our Lady of the Lake University - San Antonio & Rio Grande Valley


MSW Programs Offered: Foundation MSW (San Antonio Campus (Hybrid), Rio Grande Valley Campus (Hybrid), and (Online)) and Advanced Standing MSW (San Antonio Campus (Hybrid), Rio Grande Valley Campus (Hybrid), and (Online))

Foundation MSW Concentrations Offered: Social Work Practice With Hispanic Children & Families

Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Social Work Practice With Hispanic Children & Families


About Our Lady of the Lake University: Our Lady of the Lake University’s Master of Social Work program is the oldest MSW program in Texas as well as one of the best MSW programs in Texas, according to U.S. News & World Report. Our Lady of the Lake is a Catholic University, but it welcomes MSW students of all faiths, and religious doctrines don’t play a formal role in the curriculum the way they do at several other MSW programs in Texas that are affiliated with religious schools. OLLU’s MSW programs are administered by the Worden School of Social Service.

Our Lady of the Lake University MSW Program Details: OLLU’s MSW programs are among the best online MSW programs in Texas. The university goes out of its way to accommodate the needs of working adults. The 57-credit traditional MSW program is offered as a hybrid track and as a distance learning track. Students enrolled in the hybrid track meet in the evenings both on OLLU’s San Antonio campus and on OLLU’s Rio Grande Valle satellite campus. The 57-credit program is designed to be completed in two years if you attend school full-time, but OLLU also offers part-time tracks.

The 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW program, which is only open to students who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree in social work, is also available online or as a hybrid option at the San Antonio and the Rio Grande campuses. The curriculum of the Advanced Standing program is essentially identical to the second year of the traditional MSW program. If you go to school full-time, you’ll complete the Advanced Standing program in a year.

The second-year concentration is Social Work Practice With Hispanic Children & Families. Coursework specifically focuses on issues and challenges confronting Spanish-speaking individuals and communities throughout the Lone Star State and other parts of the United States. OLLU’s MSW program is one of just three programs in the U.S. that trains future social workers to serve the needs of the nation’s fastest-growing demographic.

Fieldwork is an integral part of all MSW programs in Texas, including the one at Our Lady of the Lake University. Fieldwork placements utilize social and human services organizations throughout San Antonio and other parts of the lower Rio Grand Valley. Students enrolled in the 57-credit MSW track must complete 950 hours of fieldwork while those in the Advanced Standing track must complete 500 hours.

Our Lady of the Lake University MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants must be college or university graduates. You must submit a professional resume, three professional references and a statement of purpose along with your application.

Key Highlights For Our Lady of the Lake University MSW Students

• The Worden School of Social Service offers a certificate in Business Essentials for Health Care Professionals.
• OLLU offers concurrent Advanced Standing MSW/MBA degrees
• In 2020, 321 students were granted social work master’s degrees from Our Lady of the Lake University, making this MSW school in Texas the 14th most popular in the U.S.


7) University of Texas at El Paso - El Paso


MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time Two Years MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time Three Years MSW (On-Campus), and Advanced Standing One Year MSW (On-Campus)

Full-Time Two Years MSW Concentrations Offered: Social Work in the Border Region

Part-Time Three Years MSW Concentrations Offered: Social Work in the Border Region

Advanced Standing One Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Social Work in the Border Region


About University of Texas at El Paso: Are you planning to live and practice social work in one of the communities along the border Texas shares with Mexico? Then UTEP’s MSW program may be one of the best MSW programs in Texas for your specific needs. UTEP’s second-year concentration is Social Work in the Border Region, which focuses on the social and mental health needs of individuals and families in this bicultural area. And since the University of Texas at El Paso is part of the public University of Texas system, tuition here is more affordable than it is at private master’s in social work schools in Texas. UTEP’s Department of Social Work is part of the College of Health Sciences.

University of Texas at El Paso MSW Program Details: All graduate social work degree programs at the University of Texas at El Paso begin in June. All three of the university’s MSW tracks are taught on campus.

You can complete the traditional 60-credit MSW track in two years if you’re a full-time student and in three years if you’re a part-time student. Only students who’ve completed an undergraduate social work major are eligible to enroll in the 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW track. The Advanced Standing track is not offered as a part-time track, and you will be expected to complete it in one year. Classes are taught in the afternoons or evenings, or on Saturdays, which makes this MSW program in Texas very convenient for students with jobs.

The University of Texas at El Paso is the only one of the accredited MSW programs in Texas that offers a second-year concentration specifically designed to prepare future social workers for therapeutic practice and agency leadership within the Paso del Norte border region. Second-year classes include “Multicultural Macro Practice with Communities,” “Social Work in the Border Region” and “Culturally Grounded Social Work Practice”.

Fieldwork placements involve putting classroom theory into action at various agencies throughout the Greater El Paso community, such as the El Paso County Probate Court, the El Paso Independent School System, La Clinica De Familia, Inc., the Otero County Prison Facility, the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence, and Child and Family Services. If you’re enrolled in the 60-credit MSW program, you must complete 960 hours of fieldwork; if you’re enrolled in the Advanced Standing MSW program, you must complete 480 hours of fieldwork.

University of Texas at El Paso MSW Admission Requirements: To be accepted into this program, you must have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students applying for Advanced Standing status must have a GPA of 3.5 in their social work major.

Key Highlights For University of Texas at El Paso MSW Students

• UTEP’s Department of Social Work is home to the Child Welfare Training Collaborative, a Title IV-E Educational Project that’s a collaboration between the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and Children’s Protective Services (CPS). This project allows CPS employees to receive a stipend while earning an MSW.
• UTEP’s Department of Social Work is involved with a joint project aimed at increasing Hispanics’ use of mental health services in the U.S.-Mexico border region.
• The University of Texas in El Paso awarded 31 MSW degrees in 2020.


8) Texas State University - San Marcos


MSW Programs Offered : Foundation Non-BSW Full-Time MSW (On-Campus & Online), Foundation Non-BSW Part-Time MSW (Online), Advanced Standing Full-Time MSW (On-Campus & Online), and Advanced Standing Part-Time MSW (Online)

Foundation Non-BSW Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Practice Leadership

Foundation Non-BSW Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Practice Leadership

Advanced Standing Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Practice Leadership

Advanced Standing Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Practice Leadership


About Texas State University: Texas State University-San Marcos’s School of Social Work is a division of the university’s College of Applied Arts. The website intelligent.com ranked the university’s online MSW program among the best online MSW programs in Texas based on affordability and the high quality of the education the program offers.

Texas State University MSW Program Details: Texas State offers a 62-credit traditional Foundation MSW track and a 36-credit Advanced Standing MSW track. These two MSW options are offered both online and on campus. The 36-credit track is only open to students who’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work and essentially comprises the second year of the Foundation track.

Though Texas State’s online MSW programs can be pursued full-time or part-time, the campus MSW programs can only be pursued full-time. You can complete the online Foundation option either in 7 consecutive semesters (full-time) or 11 consecutive semesters (part-time). You can complete the online Advanced Standing option either in 4 consecutive semesters or in 6 consecutive semesters.

Texas State’s second-year concentration is Advanced Practice Leadership. Courses at this MSW school in Texas are markedly more free-ranging than at other master’s in social work schools in Texas. They include offerings like “Social Work and Health Care,” “Hip Hop and Social Justice for Individual and Community Change” and “Spirituality in Social Work Practice”.

All accredited MSW programs in Texas, including the one at Texas State University-San Marcos, are required to assign students to field practicums whether the courses are taught online or on campus. If you’re enrolled in the Foundation track, you must complete 900 hours of fieldwork; if you’re enrolled in the Advanced Standing track, you must complete 540 hours of fieldwork. The School of Social Work maintains placement partnerships with social service agencies and organizations throughout the Austin/San Antonio corridor.

Texas State University MSW Admission Requirements: The MSW program at Texas State University-San Marcos is competitive and typically accepts fewer than 50 percent of its applicants. You’ll need a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in your last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.

Key Highlights For Texas State University MSW Students

• All MSW students, whether online or on campus, are expected to participate in a two-day orientation event either in person or via a synchronous distance learning platform.
• Online and campus programs use precisely the same educational materials.
• Texas State University-San Marcos handed out 182 MSW degrees in 2020.


9) Texas Christian University - Fort Worth


MSW Programs Offered: Traditional MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)

Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Health & Mental Health and Children & Families

Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Health & Mental Health and Children & Families


About Texas Christian University: Small class sizes, dedicated professors and commitment to the social good have led the education website CollegeFactual.com to name Texas Christian University one of the best master’s in social work schools in Texas. While TCU is affiliated with the Disciples of Christ, the university welcomes students of all faiths as well as those for whom faith is not essential. The Department of Social Work is a division of the university’s Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Texas Christian University MSW Program Details: Texas Christian University’s MSW programs consist of a 60-credit traditional MSW track and a 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW track. Only students who hold degrees from baccalaureate social work programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) are eligible for the Advanced Standing track. Classes meet on campus. Both MSW tracks are full-time, which means you can expect to complete the 60-credit degree in two years and the 30-credit degree in one year.

Throughout the foundational first year of the traditional MSW curriculum, you’ll enroll in classes like “Diversity and Social Justice,” “Social Welfare Policies and Services” and “Macro Practice”. Texas Christian University offers two concentration areas for students enrolled in the Advanced Standing track and the second year of the 60-credit track: Health & Mental Health and Children & Families. Both concentrations train students to work as clinical therapists in inpatient and outpatient therapeutic settings. Second-year classes include “Perspectives of Mental Health Practice,” “Administration and Management” and “Advanced Practice”.

Fieldwork is a vital part of all MSW programs in Texas, including the program at Texas Christian University. As a student enrolled in the traditional 60-credit MSW track, you must complete 900 hours of field education. Students enrolled in the 30-credit Advanced Standing track must complete 500 hours of field education. You can anticipate spending approximately 16 hours a week at your field placement. You’ll also be required to complete a research project based on the experiences you have while in the field.

Texas Christian University MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants must be graduates of an accredited college or university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their most recent 60 credits of classes. They must also have at least one undergraduate class in statistics, sociology and psychology.

Key Highlights For Texas Christian University MSW Students

• Texas Christian University offers three dual degrees: an MSW/ Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry (MATM), an MSW/ Master of Theological Studies (MTS) and an MSW/MDiv. All three joint degrees are offered in conjunction with Texas Christian University’s Brite Divinity School.
• Students in the traditional 60-credit MSW program can pursue certification in Women & Gender Studies and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies.
• In 2020, this MSW program in Texas awarded Master of Social Work degrees to 19 graduates.


10) University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg


MSW Programs Offered : Regular MSW ( On-Campus & Accelerated Online ) and Advanced Standing MSW ( On-Campus & Accelerated Online )

Regular MSW Concentrations Offered: Direct Practice With Latino Individuals, Families, & Groups and Community Practice & Administration

Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Direct Practice With Latino Individuals, Families, & Groups and Community Practice & Administration


About University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley: Are you looking for a high-quality MSW in Texas that’s really affordable? Check out the Master of Science in Social Work degree options at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. UTRGV has one of the lowest tuition rates in the U.S., which will help you maximize your return on the investment you’re making in your education. It’s an excellent option for future social workers whose interests lie in working with Spanish-speaking populations: 90 percent of UTRGV’s student body is Hispanic, and the MSSW program offers a concentration called Direct Practice With Latino Individuals, Families & Groups.

University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley MSW Program Details: UTRGV offers four MSSW tracks: a traditional 63-credit MSSW on campus, an accelerated 63-credit MSSW online, an Advanced Standing 33-credit MSSW on campus and an accelerated 33-credit MSSW online. The Advanced Standing track is only an option for students who have bachelor’s degrees in social work.

The traditional program augments face-to-face classes with synchronous online coursework and utilizes the standard 15-week semester format. Face-to-face classes are scheduled during the evenings. The accelerated program utilizes asynchronous online classes, which is particularly good for working students since it allows them to work at their own pace. You’ll enroll in one accelerated online class every seven weeks with a one-week break between modules.

The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley has two second-year concentrations, and they’re available to both traditional and accelerated students. Direct Practice with Latino Individuals, Families and Groups focuses on imparting knowledge and skills that will enable graduates to provide therapeutic interventions to Spanish-speaking populations. Administration and Community Practice will prepare students to assume management roles within agencies and organizations that provide human and social services.

Fieldwork is an essential component of UTRGV’s MSSW program, as it is at all MSW programs in Texas. The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley has placement partnerships with numerous schools, hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, community health centers and other community-based organizations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Students enrolled in the 63-credit MSSW track must complete 900 hours of field education, while students in the 33-credit MSSW track must complete 500 hours of field education.

University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley MSW Admission Requirements: Successful applicants will have graduated from an accredited college or university where they maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll also need three professional letters of reference.

Key Highlights For University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley MSW Students

• UTRGV’s School of Social Work administers grant funds from the Lone Star State’s Title IV-E program, which the university uses to provide scholarships to students whose plans involve employment with Texas Child Protective Services.
• Students pursuing the Administration and Community Practice concentration will have the opportunity to earn a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Community Health Promotion in Social Work.
• Eighty-six students received their Master of Science in Social Work degree from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley throughout the 2019-2020 academic year.


11) Stephen F. Austin State University - Nacogdoches


MSW Programs Offered: Nonadvanced Standing Part-Time MSW (On-Campus), Non-Advanced Standing Full-Time MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing Part-Time MSW (Online), and Advanced Standing Full-Time MSW (Online)


About Stephen F. Austin State University: Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Social Work focuses on the challenges posed by social work practice within a rural context. Twenty percent of the population in Nacogdoches, where this MSW in Texas is located, lives beneath the federal poverty line, and SFA’s School of Social Work is involved in various initiatives and programs dedicated to alleviating poverty and empowering the local community. Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Social Work is a division within its College of Liberal and Applied Arts.

Stephen F. Austin State University MSW Program Details: This MSW in Texas offers a 64-credit traditional MSW track and a 35-credit Advanced Standing MSW track. The 64-credit MSW is a campus degree; you can finish it in two years if you go to school full-time or four years if you go to school part-time.

The 35-credit Advanced Standing MSW is offered as a hybrid learning platform. The Advanced Standing curriculum is equivalent to the second year of the traditional MSW curriculum. Only students with a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program are eligible to enroll in the Advanced Standing option. Face-to-face classes take place at SFA University’s Nacogdoches campus or the campus of Lone Star College in Houston. The program can be completed in 10 months of full-time study or two years of part-time study.

The first year of the 64-credit program offers a foundational framework for social work. First-year classes include “Introduction to the Social Work Profession,” “Social Welfare Policy & Services” and “Human Behavior and the Social Environment”. The second-year concentration focuses on an advanced generalist “macro” perspective within the context of rural communities. Second-year classes include “Introduction to Rurality,” “Rural Social Policy Analysis” and “Seminar in Advanced Rural Practice”.

Fieldwork lets student social workers gain experience in real-world settings similar to the ones where they’ll be practicing once they graduate. Fieldwork is an essential part of learning at all the best MSW programs in Texas, including Stephen F. Austin University’s MSW program. Students enrolled in the 64-credit MSW track must complete 900 hours of field education while students enrolled in the 35-credit Advanced Standing track must complete 500 hours of field education.

Stephen F. Austin State University MSW Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission into this MSW school in Texas, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with an overall GPA of at least 2.5 and a GPA of 3.0 or higher in your last two years. You’ll also need to submit a written statement addressing your interest in social work as a career and three professional references.

Key Highlights For Stephen F. Austin State University MSW Students

• SFA’s School of Social Work houses the Center for Rural Social Work Research and Development
• SFA partners with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on the federally funded Child Welfare Professional Development Project.
• In 2020, Stephen F. Austin State University awarded 55 Master of Social Work degrees.


12) Texas A&M University-Commerce – Commerce & Mesquite


MSW Programs Offered: Foundation MSW Full-Time (On-Campus & Online), Foundation MSW Part-Time (On-Campus & Online), and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus & Online)


About Texas A&M University-Commerce: Texas A&M University-Commerce is one of the least expensive institutions of higher learning in the Lone Star State, which makes it a bargain for budget-minded MSW students. The university also goes out of its way to adjust to the needs of working students: Degree programs can be pursued full-time or part-time, and classes are scheduled in the early evenings or on Saturdays. A&M Commerce’s School of Social Work is affiliated with the College of Education and Human Services.

Texas A&M University-Commerce MSW Program Details: This MSW in Texas offers a 60-credit traditional Foundation MSW track and a 36-credit Advanced Standing MSW track. You’re only eligible for admission into the Advanced Standing track if you have a baccalaureate in social work. Students enrolled in the Advanced Standing MSW option can start their specialization immediately after enrollment, while students enrolled in the traditional MSW option must first complete a year of foundational classes before embarking upon a concentration.

Both MSW tracks can be pursued full-time or part-time. Full-time MSW students can expect to graduate from the 60-credit track in two years and the 36-credit track in one year. Part-time MSW students can expect to earn their degrees in four years.

Both MSW tracks can be pursued either on campus or online. Campus classes are held at the Commerce campus in the suburbs northeast of Dallas/Fort Worth, in the Mesquite Metroplex Center, or in the Collin County Higher Education Center. Students are only eligible to enroll in the online MSW option if they live within 500 miles of the Commerce campus.

This is one of the MSW programs in Texas that offers an Advanced Generalist concentration designed to impart therapeutic one-on-one competencies as well as skills that will help you assume leadership roles in social service organizations and agencies. As is the case with all accredited MSW programs in Texas, fieldwork will play an important role in your MSW education at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Texas A&M University-Commerce MSW Admission Requirements: You’ll need a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in your most recent 60 credits. You’ll also need three references that indicate your suitability for a social work career.

Key Highlights For Texas A&M University-Commerce MSW Students

• A&M Commerce offers a Business of Social Work graduate certificate that’s perfect for anyone planning to assume a leadership role in a solo practice or a human services agency.
• This MSW in Texas offers a “Study Abroad” elective that culminates in an organized travel abroad opportunity with faculty instructors.
• Texas A&M University-Commerce awarded 75 Master of Social Work degrees throughout 2019-2020.


13) Texas A&M University-Kingsville - Kingsville


MSW Programs Offered: Regular Two-Year MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)

Regular Two-year MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical/Activist

Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical/Activist


About Texas A&M University-Kingsville: Texas A&M University-Kingsville has the only MSW program in South Texas, and it’s a relatively new one. It’s also one of several master’s in social work programs in Texas that focus on the unique challenges faced by social workers who work in rural communities along the border the U.S. shares with Mexico. More than two-thirds of the university’s students are Hispanic. A&M Kingsville’s Master of Social Work degree is administered by its Department of Clinical Health Sciences under the auspices of its College of Arts and Sciences.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville MSW Program Details: As a student at this MSW program in Texas, you’ll have two options for pursuing your degree. The 60-credit traditional MSW track is designed for students who don’t have an undergraduate degree in social work while the 30-credit Advanced Standing track is for students whose baccalaureate degree is in social work. Both options are taught on campus, and both must be pursued full-time.

The first year of study for students enrolled in the 60-credit track consists of foundational courses designed to introduce you to social work fundamentals. Classes include “Rural Clinical Social Work: Foundations of Social Work,” “Rural Clinical Social Work: Social Policy” and “Rural Clinical Social Work: Populations at Risk”.

After the first year, students in the 60-credit track join the Advanced Standing cohort to focus on A&M Kingsville’s MSW concentration: Clinical/Activist Social Work. This concentration will equip MSW students with a holistic approach to social work from a Hispanic-oriented perspective. Classes include seminars in “‘Rurality’ Social Work,” “Economic Policy & Development” and “Psychopathology & Differential Diagnosis.” Students will acquire skills that will serve them well whether they go into clinical practice or assume leadership roles in human services agencies and organizations serving this region’s populations.

Field education is a core component of A&M Kingsville’s MSW program as it is at all the best MSW programs in Texas. You’ll be required to complete 900 hours of fieldwork if you’re enrolled in the 60-credit MSW track and 500 hours if you’re enrolled in the 30-credit MSW track. Field placements include public schools, medical centers, government agencies, non-profit organizations and other human services agencies throughout Kingsville, Corpus Christi and surrounding communities.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville MSW Admission Requirements: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants to the 60-credit program need an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, while applicants to the Advanced Standing program need an undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher.

Key Highlights For Texas A&M University-Kingsville MSW Students

• A&M Kingsville’s MSW program is in the process of earning accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education.
• Students must develop and present a case study based on their fieldwork experience prior to graduation.
• Throughout the 2019-2020 academic year, Texas A&M University-Kingsville awarded 19 MSW degrees.


14) Tarleton State University – Stephenville, Waco, & Ft. Worth


MSW Programs Offered: Foundation MSW (Hybrid) and Advanced Standing MSW (Hybrid)

Foundation MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Direct Practice and Administration & Leadership Practice

Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Direct Practice and Administration & Leadership Practice


About Tarleton State University: Tarleton State University is another one of the social work master’s programs in Texas that specializes in the diverse needs of multicultural individuals. This MSW in Texas focuses upon service to the Hispanic, rural and military populations of northern and central Texas. Tarleton’s Department of Social Work and Communication Disorders is part of its College of Health Sciences and Human Services.

Tarleton State University MSW Program Details: Tarleton’s MSW program was specifically designed with working adults in mind. Both MSW programs the university offers are hybrid tracks that balance face-to-face classroom participation with online coursework. Campus classes are typically offered in the evenings at the main campus in Stephenville as well as at the university’s satellite campuses in Fort Wayne and Waco. Online courses utilize a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning platforms.

The 60-credit traditional Foundation MSW track can be completed in two years of full-time study. The 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW track can be completed in one year of full-time study. Tarleton doesn’t offer any part-time study options. Only students who’ve earned a BSW qualify for admission into the Advanced Standing track, as that degree is essentially equivalent to the first year of the traditional 60-credit program. First-year classes include “Program Development/Intro to Grant Writing,” “Practice and Program Evaluation” and “DSM for Social Workers”.

Tarleton offers two second-year concentrations. The Advanced Direct Practice concentration focuses on clinical practice in human services agencies; the Administration and Leadership Practice concentration will prepare you to assume managerial roles in human services agencies. Second-year classes include “Foundations of Community & Organization Practice” and “Social Justice and Disparities”.

Tarleton’s fieldwork requirements meet the requirements the Council on Social Work Education has imposed on all accredited MSW programs in Texas. Students enrolled in the 60-credit Foundation MSW track must complete 900 hours of field education while students enrolled in the 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW program must complete 500 hours of field education.

Tarleton State University MSW Admission Requirements: For admission into this MSW in Texas, you must be a graduate of an accredited college or university with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. The university and the social work program have separate application processes.

Key Highlights For Tarleton State University MSW Students

• The Department of Social Work and Communication Disorders receives funding through Title IV-E toward stipends for MSW students who plan to work for Child Protective Services.
• Tarleton’s Student Social Work Association sponsors annual fundraising activities for World AIDS Day, Susan G. Komen For The Cure, Angel Tree (on behalf of local nursing homes) and the National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect.
• Tarleton awarded 40 master’s degrees in social work in 2020.


15) Texas Tech University - Lubbock


MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time Standard MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time Standard MSW (On-Campus), Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)

Full-Time Standard MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice with a Focus on Health and Well-Being

Part-Time Standard MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice with a Focus on Health and Well-Being

Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice with a Focus on Health and Well-Being

Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice with a Focus on Health and Well-Being


About Texas Tech University: Texas Tech started its graduate social work program in 2014 in response to the growing demand for social work professionals in the Llano Estacado region of northwestern Texas. This MSW in Texas approaches social work education from an advanced generalist framework that prepares graduates to be versatile professionals capable of practicing with a variety of clients in many different settings. The university’s MSW program is overseen by the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, a division of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Texas Tech University MSW Program Details: Whether you studied social work as an undergraduate or are coming to the discipline for the first time as a graduate student, Texas Tech’s MSW programs have something for you. The 59-credit traditional MSW track can be pursued on campus. Full-time students will complete this curriculum in two years; part-time students will complete it in four. The program’s first year will be dedicated to coursework that will give you a foundational overview of the social work field. Classes will include “HBSE: Lifespan,” “HBSE: Systems” and “Profession and Policy”. (HBSE stands for “Human Behavior in a Social Environment”.)

The 32-credit Advanced Standing MSW program is only open to students who’ve completed foundational coursework while finishing a baccalaureate degree in social work. Advanced Standing students pursue a curriculum equivalent to the second year of traditional MSW studies. Second-year coursework focuses on a social work concentration, and Texas Tech is one of the MSW programs in Texas that offers an Advanced Generalist Practice concentration. However, Texas Tech emphasizes Health and Well-Being within the Advanced Generalist perspective. Sample classes include “Policy Analysis,” “Practice With Groups” and “Practice With Individuals”.

Fieldwork is a mandated part of the curriculum of all accredited MSW programs in Texas. Texas Tech MSW students can look forward to field education placements in Texas Boys Ranch, Child Protective Services, Catholic Charities, the Texas Department of State Health Services and other social service agencies throughout Lubbock and Lubbock County. If you’re enrolled in the 59-credit MSW program, you must complete 900 hours of field education; if you’re enrolled in the 32-credit MSW program, you must complete 500 hours of field education.

Texas Tech University MSW Admission Requirements: Successful applicants will be college or university graduates. You’ll need to have completed at least one undergraduate class in statistics and human biology.

Key Highlights For Texas Tech University MSW Students

• Texas Tech partners with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on the Title IV-E-funded Child Welfare Training Project.
• Graduates of this MSW in Texas are eligible to take the national exam sponsored by the Association of Social Work Boards, which will enable them to apply for professional licensure in multiple jurisdictions outside Texas.
• Throughout 2019-2020, Texas Tech gave out 22 MSW degrees.


16) Texas Woman's University - Denton


MSW Programs Offered: Generalist Two-Year JMSW (On-Campus), Generalist Part-Time JMSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing Part-Time JMSW (On-Campus), and Advanced Standing One-Year JMSW (On-Campus)

Generalist Two Year JMSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice

Generalist Part-Time JMSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice

Advanced Standing Part-Time JMSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice

Advanced Standing One Year JMSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice


About Texas Woman's University: Despite its name, Texas Woman’s University welcomes males and females into its Master of Social Work program. This program is offered in partnership with the nearby University of North Texas, and the degree is referred to as a Joint Master of Social Work (JMSW). You’ll be taking courses on both campuses, and your instructors will be faculty members associated with both universities. TWU’s social work programs are administered by the university’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Texas Woman's University MSW Program Details: Two basic JMSW tracks are available at TWU: a traditional 60-credit program and an Advanced Standing 30-credit program. You’ll only qualify for admission into the Advanced Standing program if you have a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university. Both tracks offer full-time and part-time options. Full-time students pursuing the 60-credit track will be expected to graduate in two years, while part-time students will be expected to graduate in four years.

During your first year as a student in the 60-credit JMSW track, you’ll take classes like “Social Work Human Behavior, and the Social Environment,” “Social Work History & Social Welfare Policy” and “Social Work Research Methods”. Your second year will continue your generalist orientation to the field of social work with classes like “Social Work Advanced Practice I Multidimensional Assessment,” “Social Work Human Diversity & Multicultural Practice” and “Social Work Administration and Management”. These second-year courses are also part of the Advanced Standing curriculum. Fieldwork assignments utilize social and human service agencies throughout the Greater Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

Field practicums are an essential part of the degree requirements at all master’s in social work schools in Texas, including the JMSW at Texas Woman’s University. At a minimum, students in the 60-credit JMSW track must complete 900 hours of fieldwork while students in the 30-credit Advanced Standing track must complete 500 hours of fieldwork.

Texas Woman's University MSW Admission Requirements: You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to apply to this program, but you will need to have earned one by the time you start. You’ll need to have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher in your most recent 60 credits of classwork.

Key Highlights For Texas Woman's University MSW Students

• Graduates of this MSW program will receive a degree with the insignia of both Texas Woman’s University and the University of North Texas.
• Texas Woman University’s JMSW program participates in the Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program that provides stipends for students who wish to work professionally in child welfare.
• Texas Woman’s University awarded 10 MSW degrees in 2020.


17) West Texas A&M University – Canyon & Amarillo


MSW Programs Offered: Foundation MSW (Online), Advanced Standing MSW Fast Track (Online), and Advanced Standing MSW Standard Track (Online)

Foundation MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practitioners In Rural Social Work

Advanced Standing MSW Fast Track Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practitioners In Rural Social Work

Advanced Standing MSW Standard Track Concentrations Offered : Advanced Generalist Practitioners In Rural Social Work


About West Texas A&M University: West Texas A&M University offers one of the best online MSW programs in Texas. It’s one of several MSW programs in Texas whose second-year concentration prepares students for social work practice in a rural setting. The degree you’ll earn from WTAMU is a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW). The university’s Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work is part of its College of Education and Social Services.

West Texas A&M University MSW Program Details: West Texas A&M University’s online MSSW program requires no campus residency at all. Classes are delivered using a combination of synchronous and asynchronous technology. The 62-credit traditional Foundation track is only offered as a full-time option and must be completed in two years. First-year classes include “Social Policy and Planning,” “Theory of Human Behavior” and “Practice Methods With Diverse Populations”.

Only students who’ve earned an undergraduate degree in social work are qualified to enter WTAMU’s 36-credit Advanced Standing track. The Advanced Standing curriculum is identical to the second year of the Foundation track curriculum. Students pursuing the Advanced Standing MSSW track through West Texas A&M University have the option of completing it either in four or five semesters.

All graduate social work programs offer a second-year specialization, and WTAMU’s concentration is Advanced Generalist Practitioners In Rural Social Work, which prepares future social workers to provide clinical therapy and assume leadership roles within agencies. Second-year classes include “Human Behavior in the Social Environment,” “Community and Organizational Practice” and “Advanced Social Work Policy”.

Fieldwork plays a vital role in WTAMU’s MSSW program, as it does in all accredited MSW programs in Texas. Students enrolled in the 62-credit Foundation track are responsible for completing 900 hours of fieldwork, while students in the 36-credit Advanced Standing track are responsible for completing 500 hours of fieldwork. In certain instances, students employed at a social or human services agency may be able to use their place of employment as a fieldwork placement site.

West Texas A&M University MSW Admission Requirements: You must have graduated with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in your most recent 60 credits to be admitted into WTAMU’s MSSW program. Admission into this program does involve taking the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Key Highlights For West Texas A&M University MSW Students

• WTAMU offers nine scholarships earmarked explicitly for social work students.
• Though this program is entirely online, the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work’s field office works closely with students to find a placement agency that best matches that student’s abilities and interests.
• Fifteen MSSW degrees were awarded to students by West Texas A&M University in 2020.


18) Abilene Christian University - Abilene


MSW Programs Offered: Standard MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (Online)


About Abilene Christian University: Abilene Christian University is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. While the university welcomes students of all religious backgrounds and aspires to be nonsectarian in its approach to academics, Christian tenets play a significant role in campus life, so this school may likely be a bad fit for any MSW student who doesn’t share these beliefs. The university’s School of Social Work is a division of its College of Education and Human Services.

Abilene Christian University MSW Program Details: At Abilene Christian University, you can pursue either a 64-credit traditional MSW or a 38-credit Advanced Standing MSW. The 64-credit track is only offered on campus and can only be pursued full-time. First-year classes include “Diversity, Power, and Oppression,” “Policy Analysis and Practice” and “Leading and Managing Change in Nonprofit Organizations”.

The 38-credit Advanced Standing option is only open to students with a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university. Its curriculum is equivalent to the second year of the traditional 62-credit MSW track. This option is offered as a remote learning option as well as a campus track. Online classes are synchronous and timed to coincide with real-time classes.

The second year of a graduate-level program at MSW programs in Texas is typically devoted to a social work specialization. ACU offers an Advanced Generalist Practice concentration with an Evidence-Based Practice emphasis. This concentration prepares students for one-on-one work with clients as well as for management roles within human services organizations. Second-year classes include “Management and Funding for Nonprofit Organizations,” “Advanced Evidence-Based Practice Interventions” and “Integrated Healthcare”.

All accredited MSW programs in Texas, including the one at Abilene Christian University, require a fieldwork component. If you’re enrolled in the 62-credit MSW track, you’re responsible for completing 900 hours of fieldwork; if you’re enrolled in the 38-credit MSW track, you’re responsible for completing 500 hours of fieldwork. Abilene Christian University has placement partnerships with more than 60 agencies throughout Abilene and other parts of Texas that serve children and families, newly resettled refugees, the elderly, veterans, victims of crime and abuse, and other individuals in need.

Abilene Christian University MSW Admission Requirements: Abilene Christian University’s School of Social Work requires a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 for admission. You’ll also need to submit a statement of purpose and two recommendations that speak to your suitability for a career in social work.

Key Highlights For Abilene Christian University MSW Students

• ACU offers a joint MSW/Master of Arts in Christian Ministry degree in conjunction with the university’s Graduate School of Theology.
• Students must complete a master’s thesis based on research they conducted during their fieldwork to graduate.
• In 2020, Abilene Christian University awarded MSW degrees to 21 students.


19) Angelo State University - San Angelo


MSW Programs Offered : Full-Time Traditional MSW (On-Campus & Online), Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus & Online), Part-Time Traditional MSW (On-Campus & Online), and Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus & Online)

Full-Time Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice and Clinical Practice

Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice and Clinical Practice

Part-Time Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice and Clinical Practice

Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice and Clinical Practice


About Angelo State University: Students who graduate from Angelo State University’s MSW program will have fulfilled the academic requirements for both LMSW and LCSW licensure. U.S. News & World Report ranks Angelo State among the top 40 schools nationwide for online graduate education, a plus for students who opt to enroll in either of its online MSW tracks. Angelo State’s social work degrees are overseen by the Archer College of Health and Human Services.

Angelo State University MSW Program Details: Angelo State offers a 63-credit traditional MSW track and a 33-credit Advanced Standing MSW track. Both tracks can be pursued either as campus or online options. The 63-credit MSW program is available as a full-time (two years) and a part-time (four years) option.

During your first year pursuing a traditional MSW at Angelo State, you’ll take courses like “Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families,” “Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations” and “Social Work History and Social Welfare Policy.”

Students who have graduated from an accredited college or university with a degree in social work are eligible to enroll in Angelo State University’s 33-credit Advanced Standing track. These students have already taken the foundational classes that comprise the first year of the traditional MSW track, so they begin their course of study with the second year of the traditional curriculum, which focuses on specialization. Full-time students will complete the 33-credit MSW option in one year; part-time students will complete it in two years.

Angelo State offers two second-year specializations: Advanced Generalist Practice concentrates on human services and social services, while Clinical Practice concentrates on therapeutic interventions for individuals, families and groups.

Fieldwork is a requirement that’s mandated under the terms of Angelo State University’s accreditation. Advanced Standing students must complete a minimum of 500 hours of fieldwork while students pursuing the traditional MSW track must complete a minimum of 900 hours.

Angelo State University MSW Admission Requirements: Successful applicants will have a GPA of 3.0 or higher from a regionally accredited college or university. Separate applications are required for the Graduate School and the MSW program.

Key Highlights For Angelo State University MSW Students

• Angelo State MSW students are responsible for researching, locating and initiating their own fieldwork site placements with the assistance of Angelo State’s fieldwork office staff.
• Angelo State MSW students have the option of writing a thesis to meet certain graduation requirements
• No students were awarded MSW degrees from Angelo State University in 2020.


20) Texas A&M University - Texarkana


MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)


About Texas A&M University: Texas A&M University-Texarkana is smack on the border Texas shares with Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, and MSW students in those three states pay the same reduced tuition that Lone Star State residents pay. This MSW in Texas was launched in 2020 in response to the shortage of social workers in Bowie County, Texas, and Miller County, Arkansas. The Master of Social Work degree program is administered by A&M-Texarkana’s College of Arts, Science and Education.

Texas A&M University MSW Program Details: Texas A&M University-Texarkana offers two programs leading to a master’s degree in social work. The traditional 60-credit MSW track will take two years to complete while the 38-credit Advanced Standing MSW track will take one year. Both these classes must be taken on campus, and neither is offered part-time. During their first year, students enrolled in the 60-credit MSW track will take courses like “Diversity and Social Justice,” “Human Behavior and the Social Environment” and “Community-Based Strategies For Social Change”.

The Advanced Standing track is only open to students who’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university. These students take two bridge courses during the summer and then join the second-year traditional MSW program cohort.

Like all MSW programs in Texas, A&M-Texarkana’s program offers a second-year specialization—Mental Health, emphasizing Trauma-Informed Care and Substance Abuse. The Mental Health concentration is designed to provide students with assessment and treatment skills that help individuals with mental illnesses. Second-year classes include “Trauma-Informed Practice,” “Mental Health Assessment and Diagnosis” and “Clinical Issues in Addictions”.

All MSW programs in Texas must offer fieldwork opportunities to students as a condition of accreditation. Texas A&M University-Texarkana requires students in the 60-credit MSW track to complete 900 hours of field education and students in the 38-credit MSW track to complete 500 hours of field education.

Texas A&M University MSW Admission Requirements: Like other MSW programs in Texas, Texas A&M University-Texarkana only admits students who’ve earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. You’ll also need to submit an autobiographical statement, an essay that showcases your critical thinking abilities, a resume and three professional references.

Key Highlights For Texas A&M University MSW Students

• A&M-Texarkana’s MSW program is the newest of all the MSW programs in Texas.
• This MSW in Texas accepts no more than 30 students each academic year.
• Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher to graduate.


21) Prairie View A&M University - Prairie View


MSW Programs Offered : Traditional Two-Year Full-Time MSW (Online), Traditional Three-Year Part-Time MSW (Online), and Advanced Standing MSW (Online)

Traditional Two-Year Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice in Medical & Behavioral Health Care

Traditional Three-Year Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice in Medical & Behavioral Health Care

Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice in Medical & Behavioral Health Care


About Prairie View A&M University: Prairie View A&M University prepares MSW students for careers in medical social work, which is one of the most lucrative of all social work careers. PVAMU is one of the few MSW programs in Texas where you can earn a master’s in social work degree entirely online. PVAMU’s social work program is administered by the Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences, which is part of the Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences.

Prairie View A&M University MSW Program Details: PVAMU offers three MSW tracks: a full-time 56-credit traditional MSW track designed to be completed in two years, a part-time 56-credit MSW track designed to be completed in three years and a full-time 33-credit Advanced Standing track that can be completed in one year. The Advanced Standing MSW track is only open to students who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree in social work. The one-year Advanced Standing MSW program is the counterpart to the second year of the traditional MSW program.

The first year of the traditional MSW track is devoted to foundational classes that provide an overview of human development and how various behavioral and psychological theories can provide solutions to prospective client challenges. First-year courses include “Human Behavior in Social Environment,” “Diversity, Oppression and Inclusion” and “Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis”.

The second year is dedicated to the concentration Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice in Medical & Behavioral Health Care, which is specifically designed to inculcate the knowledge and skills that future social workers will need to draw upon as they assist clients who are navigating the American healthcare system. Second-year classes include “Clinical Practice in Medical and Behavioral Health Care,” “Global Social Work and Medical and Behavioral Healthcare” and “Trauma-Informed Practice in
Healthcare Settings”.

All MSW programs in Texas must include a fieldwork component to comply with the conditions of their accreditation. Students enrolled in PVAMU’s traditional MSW program must complete 900 hours of fieldwork, while those enrolled in the Advanced Standing MSW program must complete 500 hours.

Prairie View A&M University MSW Admission Requirements: You must be a graduate of an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 2.75 or higher for admission into this program. You’ll also need to submit a personal statement and three professional references.

Key Highlights For Prairie View A&M University MSW Students

• Prairie View A&M University’s MSW program is the only one of all the MSW programs in Texas that specifically trains students to become medical social workers.
• PVAMU is the only historically Black college/university in Texas that offers a master’s degree in social work.
• Students are responsible for finding their own fieldwork placements, contingent upon approval by PVAMU’s Field Director and fieldwork staff.


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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


What Are The Total Number Of Accredited MSW Programs In Texas?

As per the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), currently, there are 22 accredited Master Of Social Work programs in Texas.

Total MSW Programs
in Texas
22


How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Hour In Texas?

The average salary of an MSW graduate per hour in Texas is $31.17.


How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Year In Texas?

The average salary of an MSW graduate per year in Texas is $64,840.


Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.



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