Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in Texas - Campus and Online

Texas is home to 19 accredited colleges and universities that have Master of Social Work (MSW) programs, including 15 publicly funded schools in the state’s University of Houston (UH), University of North Texas (UNT), University of Texas (UT), Texas A&M University (TAMU), Texas State University (TXST), and Texas Tech University systems, and one independent state university. Four private, non-profit universities in the state also offer MSW programs.

Students who are interested in earning an MSW degree from a school located in Texas can choose from various program formats and a number of social work specializations and subspecialties. All of the Texas universities that offer MSW programs have at least one fully or partially campus-based program, which includes hybrid programs that provide a blend of face-to-face campus classes and online instruction. Nine universities offer fully online programs that require few if any campus visits.

Similarly, every school in Texas that has an MSW program offers one or more traditional, full-length MSW programs that require applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university but that do not require a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. All schools also offer at least one advanced standing program option for qualified applicants who have a BSW degree conferred by an undergraduate program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Among the social work specializations available through Texas schools that have MSW programs are clinical practice, macro practice, and advanced generalist social work practice. There are also programs with subspecialties and focus areas in administrative practice, children and families, diversity, Hispanic/Latino populations, international social work, gerontology, leadership, mental health, military social work, rural social work, school social work, substance abuse treatment, and trauma-informed practice.

As noted in the list below, 18 of the universities that offer MSW programs in Texas are fully accredited by the CSWE, while one is currently in the candidacy phase of CSWE accreditation.

• Abilene Christian University (Accredited)
• Angelo State University (Accredited)
• Baylor University (Accredited)
• Our Lady of the Lake University (Accredited)
• Stephen F. Austin State University (Accredited)
• Tarleton State University (Accredited)
• Texas A&M University-Commerce (Accredited)
• Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Accredited)
• Texas Christian University (Accredited)
• Texas State University (Accredited)
• Texas Tech University (Accredited)
• The University of Texas at Arlington (Accredited)
• The University of Texas at Austin (Accredited)
• The University of Texas at El Paso (Accredited)
• The University of Texas at San Antonio (Accredited)
• The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (Accredited)
• University of Houston (Accredited)
• University of North Texas (Accredited)
• West Texas A&M University (Accredited)

Programs offered by the schools listed above are grouped based on delivery format (campus-based and hybrid vs. online) and admissions requirements (traditional vs. advanced standing) in the sections below, which provide details on each program. Hybrid and campus-based programs are grouped together because both typically require students to live or work within commuting range of the school offering the program.

• Traditional Campus-Based MSW Programs in Texas
• Traditional Online MSW Programs in Texas
• Advanced Standing Campus-Based MSW Programs in Texas
• Advanced Standing Online MSW Programs in Texas
• Directory of All MSW Programs in Texas

Traditional MSW Programs in Texas

Students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, regardless of their field of study, are generally eligible to apply to traditional MSW programs. These are full-length master’s degree programs that take roughly two years of full-time enrollment to complete. They consist of one year of foundational training and instruction in social work, a second year of advanced specialization training in clinical practice and/or macro practice social work, and at least 900 hours of supervised, site-based field education. Students who enroll on a part-time basis in a traditional MSW program usually earn their degree in three to four years.

There are 19 schools in Texas that offer traditional MSW programs in either a fully or partially campus-based format. This includes hybrid programs that provide some online instruction but that require students to attend three or more campus visits per year. There are eight Texas universities that offer online programs, many of which have no campus-based requirements. However, programs that require two or fewer campus visits per year are classified as online programs on MasterofSocialWork.com.

Traditional Campus-Based MSW Programs in Texas

As noted above, all of the 19 schools in Texas that have MSW programs offer one or more campus-based and/or hybrid traditional MSW programs for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field or discipline. Students in these programs generally must reside within commuting range of the school offering the program for practical reasons, as they are expected to attend a significant number of campus-based sessions. Details on each of the programs offered by these schools are provided below and grouped into the following four regions for convenience.

• East Texas
• North Texas
• South Texas
• West Texas and the Panhandle

Traditional Campus-Based MSW Programs in East Texas

Two publicly funded state schools offer traditional MSW programs in East Texas: Stephen F. Austin State University and the University of Houston.

Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) offers a 64-credit traditional MSW program that holds classes at the university’s main campus in Nacogdoches and at Lone Star College in Houston. The program also provides some online instruction. This is an advanced generalist MSW program, which means it provides training and instruction in both clinical and macro practice social work. The program’s focus is on social work in rural areas and with rural populations. Full-time students can complete the program, including 980 hours of field education, in two years; students who opt for part-time enrollment have up to four years to finish their degree.

The University of Houston (UH) has two MSW program options for traditional students: a fully campus-based Face to Face MSW program that holds classes at UH’s main campus in Houston; and a Hybrid MSW program that combines online coursework with in-person class meetings at UH’s Sugar Land campus. Students in UH’s traditional MSW programs must complete 63 credits, including 900 hours of field education. Both program options allow students to choose from a clinical practice or a macro practice specialization. The Face to Face MSW program is a full-time, two-year program with classes that meet during regular school hours. The Hybrid MSW program is part time and designed to be completed in three years, with courses held at times that are meant to be convenient for students who intend to continue working while earning their degree.

Traditional Campus-Based MSW Programs in North Texas

There are six universities in the North Texas region that offer traditional, campus-based and/or hybrid MSW programs.

Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work offers a fully campus-based, 60-credit MSW program on its main campus in Waco. Students in the program can choose from a Clinical Social Work or a Community Practice Social Work specialization and from six subspecialty concentrations: Diversity; Gerontology; Congregational Social Work; Trauma; International Social Work; or Integrated Behavioral Health. The program, which requires 1030 hours of field education, offers students a two-year, full-time completion plan, as well as the option of enrolling on a part-time basis and graduating in three or four years.

Tarleton State University has three campuses in North Texas through which it offers traditional MSW programs in a format that blends in-person evening classes with online coursework. The programs are offered at Tarleton State’s main campus in Stephenville, as well at satellite campuses in Fort Worth and Waco. Students in these programs have two specialization options: Advanced Direct Practice (clinical social work) and Administration and Leadership Practice (macro social work). The program requires students to complete 60-credits, including 900 hours of field education. It is designed to be completed in two years of full-time enrollment. Part-time students can take three or four years to earn their degree.

Texas A&M University-Commerce offers a 60-credit traditional MSW program in a fully campus-based format at three locations, including at the university’s main campus in Commerce, as well as at the Mesquite Metroplex Center and at the Collin County Higher Education Center. These program options are designed to accommodate a range of students, including those who intend to continue working while earning their degree. Classes are offered during the day, as well as on weekends and in the evenings. The curriculum offered at all three sites has an Advanced Generalist focus, which means students receive training and instruction in both clinical and macro practice social work. Students are required to complete 900 hours of field education and can earn their degree in two years of full-time enrollment or take up to four years if they enroll part-time.

Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth has an advanced generalist MSW program with a curriculum designed to prepare students for careers in clinical and/or macro practice social work. The program has two specialization options: Health and Mental Health; and Children and Families. TCU offers a 60-credit, full-length traditional MSW program track that can be completed in two years of full-time enrollment or in up to four years of part-time enrollment. Traditional students in the program are required to complete four field practicums for a total of 900 hours of field education.

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) has a traditional MSW program that it offers through the UTA School of Social Work at its main campus in Arlington and at a secondary campus in Fort Worth. Both sites require students to attend campus-based classes, which are held during the day and in the evening, while also providing students with the option of taking courses in a partially online format. The UTA traditional MSW program requires the completion of 61 credits, inclusive of 960 hours of field education. Students in the Arlington campus program can choose a Community and Administrative Practice macro social work specialization or opt for one of four clinical practice specializations: Direct Practice in Aging; Direct Practice in Children and Families; Direct Practice in Health; or Direct Practice in Mental Health and Substance Misuse. The Fort Worth campus program only offers the Direct Practice in Children and Families clinical specialization. Both campuses have a two-year, full-time completion plan, and part-time enrollment options that lead to graduating in three or four years.

The University of North Texas & Texas Women’s University Collaborative (UNT & TWU) offers a joint MSW program that represents a collaboration between the two state-funded universities. Classes are held at both the UNT and the TWU campuses in Denton, which are located in close proximity to one another. In addition, some courses incorporate online instruction. This is an Advanced Generalist Practice MSW program that provides training and instruction in both clinical and macro practice social work. The program has a traditional track that is designed to be completed in two years of full-time enrollment or roughly four years of part-time study. Students in the program are required to engage in 900 hours of field education.

Traditional Campus-Based MSW Programs in South Texas

The South Texas region is home to six schools that offer traditional, campus-based MSW programs.

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has a hybrid format traditional MSW program that it offers both at its main campus in San Antonio and at its Rio Grande Valley satellite campus in La Feria. The 57-credit program, offered through the Worden School of Social Service, has a Social Work Practice with Hispanic Children and Families focus. It requires 950 hours of field education. Students who enroll in the program on a full-time basis can complete their degree at either OLLU campus in two years. Students who choose to enroll part-time generally complete the program in three to four years.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville offers a traditional MSW program that utilizes a hybrid format in which online coursework is blended with campus-based meetings on Saturdays and on weekday evenings. The program has a Clinical/Activist curriculum that focuses on clinical practice with diverse populations in rural areas. Students can complete the program in two years of full-time enrollment, which includes engaging in 900 hours of field education practicums.

Texas State University in San Marcos has an Advanced Practice Leadership (APL) traditional MSW program that is offered in a fully campus-based format. The APL specialization provides advanced generalist training in clinical and macro practice social work. Students can select from among electives and numerous social work subspecialities, including diversity, healthcare, gerontology, spirituality, and veterans. The 62-credit program includes 900 required hours of field education. Students who enroll on a full-time basis can earn their degree in roughly two years by taking three courses per semester and one course each summer. Part-time students generally take four years to graduate from the program.

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) offers a traditional, campus-based Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program through its Steve Hicks School of Social Work. The 60-credit MSSW program is largely the equivalent of a traditional MSW program in terms of academic training requirements and intended outcomes. The program is fully accredited by the CSWE. Students in the program have the option of specializing in Clinical Social Work or Administration and Policy Practice. In addition, students can complete certificates in Military Social Work Practice, School-Based Social Work Practice, or Health Care Social Work while completing their MSSW degree. The program, which requires students to engage in 1030 hours of supervised field internships, has a four-semester, full-time enrollment plan that takes two years to complete, and six-semester and ten-semester part-time plans that add one to two more years to the program’s completion time.

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) offers a campus-based MSW program for traditional students. The program has a Cultural Competence and Transformative Social Work focus and an advanced generalist curriculum that provides training and instruction in clinical and macro practice social work. This is a 60-credit program that is offered through UTSA’s College for Health, Community and Policy, with classes meeting primarily in the evenings at UTSA’s Downtown Campus. Students in the program are required to complete 900 hours of field practicums and can graduate in seven semesters of full-time enrollment or ten semesters if enrolled part-time. That translates to just over two years for full-time students and just over three years for part-time students.

The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) offers a primarily campus-based Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program that is largely the equivalent in terms of curricular requirements and training outcomes to an MSW program. The program is also fully accredited by the CSWE. UTRGV’s traditional MSSW program holds face-to-face classes in the evenings and offers some of its required coursework online. The 63-credit program has two specialization options: Direct Micro Practice with Latino Individuals, Families, and Groups (clinical practice); and Community Practice and Administration (macro practice). In addition, students in the program have the option of completing a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Community Health Promotion in Social Work. Full-time students can complete the program in two years, while part-time students generally take three or four years to earn their degree. UTRGV’s traditional MSSW program requires 900 hours of field education.

Traditional Campus-Based MSW Programs in West Texas and the Panhandle

Six schools located in West Texas and the Panhandle region of the state currently offer campus-based MSW programs for traditional students.

Abilene Christian University (ACU) has a CSWE accredited Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program, which is largely equivalent to an MSW program. The program has a 64-credit traditional track designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field or discipline. Traditional students who enroll full-time complete a two-year Advanced Generalist curriculum that prepares them for careers in clinical and/or macro practice social work and that includes 900 hours of field education. The first year of the program is fully campus-based. Students in their second year can choose to complete some or all of their coursework via online instruction. Students also have the option of attending the program on a part-time basis, which extends the program out over three to four years.

Angelo State University offers a two-year, full-time, traditional MSW program that is primarily campus-based but that does include some online instruction. This is a 63-credit program with an Advanced Generalist curriculum that provides training and instruction in both clinical and macro practice social work and requires 900 hours of field education. Students in the program can tailor their training through elective courses in military social work, gerontology/aging, mental health, and social/community development. The program also has a study-abroad program in which students spend one summer in Europe.

Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock has a traditional, campus-based MSW program that it offers through its Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work. The 59-credit program has an Advanced Generalist specialization with a focus on health and well-being. Students in the program receive training and instruction in clinical and macro practice social work, complete 900 hours of required field education, and are prepared to pursue licensing in clinical social work if they choose to do so in the state of Texas. The program’s traditional track has a two-year, full-time plan of study and a part-time plan of study that takes four years for most students to complete.

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) offers an MSW program with a concentration in Social Work in the Border Region that focuses on social work practice with families and communities in bi-cultural, bi-national, and bilingual contexts. The program requires traditional students to complete 60 credits, including 960 hours of site-based field education in the El Paso community. While this is a fully campus-based program, UTEP’s College of Health Science schedules many of its MSW classes in the late afternoon and early evenings to accommodate students who have jobs. Students who enroll on a full-time basis in the program can earn their degree in two years; part-time students take three years to graduate from the UTEP MSW program.

West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) in Canyon has a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program that it offers through its Department of Psychology, Sociology & Social Work. The program, which is CSWE accredited and largely equivalent to an MSW program, has an Advanced Generalist Practice curriculum with a focus on rural social work practice with individuals, families, and groups, and macro practice social work in rural communities. The program, which is campus-based, has a traditional track that requires the completion of 60 credits, including 900 hours of field internships. Full-time students can earn their degree in two years, while part-time students generally take three or four years to graduate.

Traditional Online MSW Programs in Texas

There are currently eight schools in the state of Texas that offer traditional MSW programs in a fully online format and/or in a primarily online format that does not require students to attend more than two campus visits per year. It is, however, important to note that traditional students in an online program are still required to complete a minimum of 900 hours of in-person site-based field education placements and should thus expect to devote up to 20 hours per week while classes are in session to supervised field-based practicums. Many online MSW programs allow and/or encourage students to find convenient field education sites within reasonable commuting range of their home or jobsite.

Angelo State University offers a 63-credit, fully online traditional MSW program for qualified students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Students in the program, which has an Advanced Generalist curriculum, receive training and instruction in clinical and macro practice social work, engage in 900 hours of field education, and have the option of taking electives in military social work, gerontology, community development, and other social work subspecialties. The program is designed to be completed in two years of full-time enrollment, inclusive of summer sessions.

Baylor University offers a traditional online MSW program through the Diane R. Garland School of Social Work. The 60-credit program, which does not require campus visits, has a Clinical Social Work Practice specialization with a focus on physical and mental health, as well as a Community Practice Social Work specialization. Baylor’s online MSW program requires traditional students to engage in 1030 hours of supervised, site-based field education. Full-time students can complete the program in as few as 16 months or choose a 24-month completion plan. The program also has a 36-month, part-time completion plan.

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has a traditional MSW program that is offered in an online format through the university’s Worden School of Social Service. The 57-credit program has a Social Work Practice with Hispanic Children and Families curriculum that prepares students for careers in clinical practice social work. Online students are required to engage in 950 hours of site-based field education while earning their degree. The completion time for OLLU’s online MSW program is two years for full-time students and three to four years for students who enroll part-time.

Texas A&M University-Commerce has an Advanced Generalist MSW program that provides training and instruction in both clinical and macro practice social work. The program’s 60-credit traditional track is offered in a fully online format for students who reside within a 500-mile geographic radius of the school’s campus in Commerce but who would prefer not to attend campus-based classes. In addition to online coursework, traditional students in the program are required to complete 900 hours of field education internships at program-approved sites. Students in the program can earn their degree in two years of full-time enrollment or take up to four years if they enroll on a part-time basis.

Texas State University offers a traditional online MSW program through its School of Social Work. The program has an Advanced Practice Leadership (APL) specialization that provides students with an advanced generalist curriculum of coursework and training in clinical and macro practice social work. This is a 62-credit, full-length MSW program that requires students to engage in 900 hours of site-based field internships. Completing the program takes two years for full-time students and up to four years for students who enroll on a part-time basis.

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) offers its MSW in a full-length format for traditional students at two campus locations and online. The online program option has curriculum that is similar to the campus-based programs. This includes one year of full-time training and instruction in generalist social work practice followed by one year of full-time advanced training in one of four areas of social work practice: Community and Administrative Practice; Direct Practice in Aging; Direct Practice in Children and Families; or Direct Practice in Mental Health and Substance Misuse. This is a 61-credit master’s program that includes 960 hours of required field education. Students can graduate from the online program in two years of full-time enrollment or opt for part-time enrollment and take three or four years to graduate.

The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) has a 63-credit CSWE-accredited Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program that is offered in a fully online format with two specialization options: Direct Micro Practice with Latino Individuals, Families, and Groups (clinical practice); and Community Practice and Administration (macro practice). The MSSW curriculum meets the same standards for training and instruction in advanced social work practice as an MSW curriculum and is thus largely equivalent. This includes a requirement that students engage in 900 hours of site-based field internship prior to graduating. The program is designed to be completed in three years of part-time enrollment.

The University of Houston (UH) has a cohort-based, 63-credit, online MSW program in which groups of students begin and progress through their coursework and field education together. As part of the program, online students are required to complete 900 hours of supervised field education. Students in the program can choose one of two specialization options: Clinical Practice; or Macro Practice. The UH online MSW program is designed for cohorts to graduate in three years of part-time enrolment.

Advanced Standing MSW Programs in Texas

MSW programs are generally segmented into two parts: one year of foundational studies in the principles and practices of social work; and a second year of advanced practice training in clinical and/or macro practice social work, which may include training in a social work subspecialty such as military social work or school social work. Advanced standing MSW programs are designed specifically for students who have already completed foundational coursework and field education as part of a CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program. BSW program graduates who establish eligibility for advanced standing status skip the foundational year of MSW training and are thus able to complete their MSW studies in roughly half the time it takes to graduate from a traditional program. This involves taking advanced practice specialization coursework and engaging in several hundred hours of field education (usually around 500 hours), a process that can be completed in one year of full-time enrollment or two or more years of part-time enrollment.

All 19 of the schools in Texas that have MSW programs offer at least one advanced standing track option. It is important to note that schools commonly require advanced standing candidates to have earned their BSW within the last five, six, or seven years, and many programs have other advanced standing admissions requirements, such as a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale. BSW program graduates who do not qualify for an advanced standing program track can still earn their MSW by enrolling in a traditional program.

Advanced Standing Campus-Based MSW Programs in Texas

There are 19 Texas schools that offer MSW programs and all of these schools have either a campus-based advanced standing track or a hybrid advanced standing track that blends online and campus-based instruction. Some Texas schools offer both. All of these programs are detailed below, where they are grouped by region into the following four areas:

• East Texas
• North Texas
• South Texas
• West Texas and the Panhandle

Advanced Standing Campus-Based MSW Programs in East Texas

There are two schools in East Texas that offer campus-based advanced standing MSW programs: Stephen F. Austin State University and the University of Houston.

Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) has an Advanced Generalist Practice in a Rural Context MSW program that is offered in a hybrid format through its main in campus in Nacogdoches and also at Lone Star College in Houston. The program confers advanced standing status to applicants who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program provided they have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher on a four-point scale and a 3.0 GPA in their last 60 credits hours of coursework. Advanced standing students in the SFA program must complete 35 credits of courses in clinical and macro practice social work with rural populations, including 500 hours of field education. The program can be completed in ten months of full-time enrollment or in two years of part-time study.

The University of Houston (UH) offers a campus-based MSW program at its main campus in Houston and a hybrid MSW program at its Sugar Land campus. Both programs have 38-credit advanced standing tracks for qualified students who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program, and both offer Clinical Social Work Practice and Macro Social Work Practice specialization options. The campus-based program holds class meetings during regular school hours, while the hybrid program pairs online coursework with face-to-face Saturday meetings twice per month when school is in session. Advanced standing students can complete the campus-based program in one year of full-time enrollment. The Sugar Land campus hybrid program is offered part-time and takes two years for advanced standing students to complete. Both programs require advanced standing students to engage in 500 hours of field education.

Advanced Standing Campus-Based MSW Programs in North Texas

The North Texas region is home to six schools that offer campus-based and/or hybrid MSW programs with an advanced standing option.

Baylor University has a campus-based MSW program with classes that meet on the school’s main campus in Waco. To be eligible for advanced standing status at Baylor, BSW graduates must have earned their degree within the last five years from an undergraduate program accredited by the CSWE. In addition, Baylor requires advanced standing program applicants to have achieved an undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or higher on a four-point scale, a 3.0 GPA in all social work major courses, and a grade of B or better in all undergraduate field education courses. Baylor’s 32-credit advanced standing MSW program is offered through the Diane R. Garland School of Social Work. It features a Community Social Work concentration, as well as a specialization in Clinical Social Work that gives students the option of six focus areas: Diversity, Gerontology, Congregational Social Work, Trauma, International Social Work, and Integrated Behavioral Health. Advanced standing students are required to complete 540 hours of field education and can earn their degree in one year of full-time enrollment. Part-time enrollment in the program is permitted but requires approval from a program administrator.

Tarleton State University has advanced standing MSW programs that it offers at three campuses in North Texas, including a program at the school’s main campus in Stephenville, and programs at satellite campuses in Fort Worth and Waco. To qualify for advanced standing admissions, applicants must hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program that was conferred within the last ten years. All three Tarleton State University advanced standing programs utilize a hybrid format that combines online instruction with in-person evening classes. Advanced standing students are required to complete 30-credits of coursework, including 500 hours of field placements, and can graduate in two or three semesters. Tarleton State University’s MSW programs give students the option of an Advanced Direct Practice (clinical social work) specialization or an Administration and Leadership Practice (macro social work) specialization.

Texas A&M University-Commerce offers campus-based MSW programs with advanced standing tracks for qualified graduates who hold a degree from a CSWE-accredited BSW program. The programs are offered at three locations: the school’s main campus in Commerce; the Mesquite Metroplex Center campus; and the Collin County Higher Education Center campus. These programs have an Advanced Generalist curriculum that provides training and instruction in clinical and macro practice social work. Advanced standing students must complete 36 credits of coursework, including 640 hours of field practicums. The advanced standing program track can be complete in one year of full-time enrollment. To be eligible for advanced standing status, applicants must have earned their BSW degree within the last six years and have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale.

Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth offers an MSW program with an advanced generalist curriculum and an advanced standing track for applicants who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program. Students in the program can choose from a Health and Mental Health specialization or a Children and Families specialization. Advanced standing students in the TCU program must complete 30 credits in order to graduate. This includes two 250-hour field placements for a total of 500 hours of field education. This is a campus-based advanced standing MSW program that can be complete in nine months of full-time enrollment. Students who would prefer part-time enrollment generally take two or more years to earn their degree.

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) offers MSW programs in two locations through its School of Social Work. The programs hold classes at UTA’s main campus in Arlington and at a secondary campus in Fort Worth. Both campus locations have advanced standing options open to applicants who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program, provided the degree was conferred within the last six years and that applicants have a 3.0 GPA in their last 60 credits of college coursework. At its Arlington campus UTA offers a Community and Administrative Practice specialization for students who are interested in studying macro social work, and four clinical practice specializations: Direct Practice in Aging; Direct Practice in Children and Families; Direct Practice in Health; and Direct Practice in Mental Health and Substance Misuse. The Fort Worth campus only offers the Direct Practice in Children and Families specialization. Full-tine students in the 38-credit advanced standing programs offered by UTA can earn their MSW degree in 12 months or extend their time to completion by opting for part-time enrollment. UTA requires advanced standing students to engage in 480 hours of field education.

The University of North Texas & Texas Women’s University Collaborative (UNT & TWU) has a joint MSW program that holds classes at both schools’ campuses in Denton. The program invites students who hold a BSW degree conferred within the last seven years by a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program to apply for advanced standing status. Students admitted to the advanced standing program track are expected to have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all social work undergraduate courses. The program has an Advanced Generalist Practice curriculum that includes 500 hours of required field education for advanced standing students. Completing the program requirements generally takes one year for advanced standing students who enroll on a full-time basis and two or three years for part-time advanced standing students.

Advanced Standing Campus-Based MSW Programs in South Texas

There are six schools in the South Texas region that offer advanced standing campus-based MSW programs.

Our Lady of the Lake University’s (OLLU) Worden School of Social Service offers a hybrid format MSW program that blends online coursework with face-to-face classes at the school’s main campus in San Antonio and at OLLU’s Rio Grande Valley campus in La Feria. Both sites have an advanced standing program track for students who hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program and who achieved a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale. The program has a Social Work Practice with Hispanic Children and Families concentration that requires 500 hours of field education. The 30-credit advanced standing program is designed to be completed in 12 months of full-time enrollment and two years of part-time enrollment.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville offers a hybrid MSW program with a Clinical/Activist curriculum and a focus on clinical social work practice with diverse populations in rural areas. The program has a 30-credit advanced standing option that is open to applicants who hold a BSW degree from CSWE-accredited undergraduate program earned within the last seven years. In addition, advanced standing program applicants must have a 3.2 undergraduate GPA. The 30 credits required to graduate from the advanced standing program track, which includes 500 hours of field education, can be completed in 12 months of full-time enrollment.

Texas State University has a campus-based Advanced Practice Leadership (APL) MSW program with an advanced standing track for graduates of CSWE-accredited BSW programs whose degree was conferred within the last ten years. The 36-credit advanced standing curriculum includes 500 hours of field education, training in clinical and macro practice social work, and the opportunity to take electives in such areas as diversity, healthcare, gerontology, and military/veteran social work practice. Advanced standing students who opt for full-time enrollment can earn their degree in four semesters, or just over one year. Part-time advanced standing students generally take six semesters, or two full years, to complete the program.

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has a CSWE-accredited Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program that is largely the equivalent of an MSW program in terms of academic content and training requirements. The program, which is offered through the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, is fully campus based and has an advanced standing track for qualified graduates from CSWE-accredited BSW programs. Advanced standing students can complete the UT Austin MSSW program in four semesters of full-time enrollment or two years of part-time enrollment. The program has two specializations: Clinical Social Work; and Administration and Policy. Both specializations require students to engage in 540 hours of field education.

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) offers a campus-based advanced standing MSW program with a Cultural Competence and Transformative Social Work focus that provides training and instruction in advanced generalist social work in clinical and macro practice settings. The program, which is offered through UTSA’s College for Health, Community and Policy, requires advanced standing students to hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program. The 30-credit advanced standing curriculum can be completed in four semesters by full-time students and six semesters by students who enroll on a part-time basis. It includes 450 hours of field education.

The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) has a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program that offers the same level of training and instruction as an MSW program. UTRGV’s MSSW program, which is CSWE accredited, is primarily campus based, with in-person class meetings held at the school’s main campus in the evenings and some coursework delivered via online instruction. In addition to a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program, admission to the advanced standing MSW program track requires a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA with a 3.2 or higher GPA in all social work major courses. Advanced standing students in the program complete 33 credits of coursework, including 500 hours of field practicums. The program offers two options for specialization: Direct Micro Practice with Latino Individuals, Families, and Groups (clinical practice); and Community Practice and Administration (macro practice). The completion time for UTRGV’s MSSW program’s advanced standing track is one year of full-time enrollment or two years of pat-time enrollment.

Advanced Standing Campus-Based MSW Programs in West Texas and the Panhandle

West Texas and the Panhandle region of the state are home to five schools that offer advanced standing MSW programs in fully or partially campus-based formats.

Abilene Christian University (ACU) has a CSWE-accredited Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program that is largely equivalent to an MSW program and that offers an advanced standing track designed for CSWE-accredited BSW program graduates who earned their degree within the last five years. In addition, advanced standing applicants must have achieved a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale. This is a hybrid advanced standing program that allows students to take some of the coursework online. It features an Advanced Generalist curriculum that provides training and instruction in both clinical and macro practice social work. Full-time students can complete the advanced standing curriculum, including 500 hours of field practicums, in 12 months. Part-time students generally graduate from the advanced standing track in two years.

Angelo State University offers a hybrid MSW program with an advanced standing track for qualified students who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program. The 33-credit advanced standing option includes 500 hours of required field education and an optional study abroad component that gives students the opportunity to spend a summer session in Europe. The Advanced Generalist curriculum provides training and instruction in clinical and macro practice social work. Students have the option of taking electives in military social work, gerontology, mental health, community development, and other social work specialty areas. Advanced standing students can graduate in 12 months of full-time enrollment, while part-time students take up to two years to graduate.

Texas Tech University (TTU) offers a campus-based advanced standing MSW program for qualified applicants who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate social work program. The program, which is offered through TTU’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work, has an Advanced Generalist curriculum that focuses on health and well-being and provides training and instruction in clinical and macro practice social work. Advanced standing students are required to complete 33 credits of graduate coursework in social work, including 500 hours of field placements. Full-time advanced standing students can graduate from the program in one year, while part-time students generally take two years to earn their degree.

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has a campus-based MSW program with a Social Work in the Border Region specialization and coursework that focuses on clinical and macro practice with families and communities in bi-cultural, bi-national, and bilingual contexts. The program has an advanced standing track with a one-year, full-time completion plan and a two-year, part-time completion plan. To be eligible for advanced standing status, applicants must hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program and have attained a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a four-point scale in all undergraduate social work courses. The 30-credit advanced standing track at UTEP requires 480 hours of field education.

West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) offers a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program through its Department of Psychology, Sociology & Social Work that is largely equivalent in content and training to an MSW program. The CSWE-accredited WTAMU program has an advanced standing track that is designed for CSWE-accredited BSW program graduates whose degree was conferred within the last five years and who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in all social work courses. Advanced standing students can complete WTAMU’s Advanced Generalist MSW curriculum in one calendar year by enrolling full-time in three consecutive semesters. The advanced standing program also has a part-time track that take fives semesters to complete. As part of the program, advanced standing students must engage in 500 hours of field education.

Advanced Standing Online MSW Programs in Texas

There are currently nine schools in the state of Texas that offer advanced standing online MSW programs. These are programs that deliver all or most of their coursework via online instruction and do not require students to attend more than two campus visits per semester. However, all students much complete in-person field education hours at local agencies or organizations approved by their program.

Angelo State University offers its advanced standing MSW program in a fully online format that does not require campus visits. To be eligible for advanced standing status, applicants must have a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program. The Angelo State MSW program has an Advanced Generalist specialization that includes training and instruction in clinical and macro practice social work. The advanced standing track requires the completion of 33 credits, inclusive of 500 hours of supervised, site-based field practicums. In addition to the advanced generalist curriculum, students have the option of taking electives in various social work focus areas, such a military social work, gerontology, mental health, and community development. The advanced standing MSW program offered online by Angelo State can be completed in 12 months of full-time enrollment. Advanced standing students who prefer part-time enrollment can graduate in two years.

Baylor University’s Diane R. Garland School of Social Work offers an online MSW program with an advanced standing option for applicants who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program that was conferred within the last five years. In addition, advanced standing candidates must have attained a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or higher on a four-point scale, as well a 3.0 GPA in all social work major courses, and a grade of B or better in all undergraduate field education courses. Advanced standing students can earn their degree in one year of full-time enrollment, which includes 540 hours of field education. The program has two specialization options: Clinical Social Work Practice with a focus on physical and mental health; and Community Practice Social Work.

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has a fully online advanced standing MSW program with a concentration in Social Work Practice with Hispanic Children and Families. To qualify for advanced standing status in the OLLU program, applicants must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale and hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program. This 30-credit advanced standing program includes 500 hours of site-based field placements and can be completed in one year of full-time enrollment. Part-time enrollment for advanced standing students generally leads to graduating in two years.

Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) offers an MSW program that has an Advanced Generalist Practice in a Rural Context specialization designed to prepare students for clinical and macro social work practice among rural populations. The program has a fully online advanced standing option that requires students to hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program, have an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher on a four-point scale, and a 3.0 GPA in their last 60 credits of upper division coursework. Consisting of 35 credits of advanced coursework, inclusive of 500 hours of site-based field education, SFA’s advanced standing online MSW program can be completed in one year by full-time students and two years by part-time students.

Texas A&M University-Commerce offers an Advanced Generalist Practice MSW program with a fully online advanced standing option for CSWE-accredited BSW program graduates who earned their degree within the last six years and attained a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale. This is a 36-credit advanced standing program that requires students to complete 640 hours of field education. The program’s curriculum prepares students for careers in clinical and macro practice social work. Advanced standing students can complete the program in one year of full-time enrollment or two years of part-time enrollment.

Texas State University offers an advanced standing online MSW program with an Advanced Practice Leadership (APL) focus and a curriculum that provides training and instruction in clinical and macro practice social work. Advanced standing students are required to complete 36 credits of coursework, including 500 hours of field education. In addition to APL core courses, the program offers electives in various social work specializations, such as military social work, gerontology, and diversity. Texas State’s online advanced standing program can be completed in four semester of full-time enrollment or six semesters of part-time study. To be eligible for the program, applicants must hold a BSW degree conferred by a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program within the last ten years.

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) has an advanced standing online MSW program that gives students a choice of four specializations: Community and Administrative Practice; Direct Practice in Aging; Direct Practice in Children and Families; or Direct Practice in Mental Health and Substance Misuse. For admissions consideration, applicants to the advanced standing program are required to have earned a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program within the last six years, and to have achieved a 3.0 cumulative GPA in their last 60 credits of college coursework. Advanced standing students in UTA’s online program are required to engage in 480 hours of site-based field internships. The 38-credit advanced standing curriculum is designed to be completed in 12 months by full-time students or two years of part-time enrollment.

The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) offers a CSWE-accredited online Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program that is functionally equivalent to an MSW program. The advanced standing option is designed for students who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program, provided they have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale and a 3.2 or higher GPA in their social work major courses. This is a 33-credit advanced standing program with two specialization options: Direct Micro Practice with Latino Individuals, Families, and Groups (clinical practice); and Community Practice and Administration (macro practice). Advanced standing students must complete 500 hours of field education and can earn their degree in one to two years.

The University of Houston (UH) offers its advanced standing MSW program in a fully online format that does not require campus visits. The program has two specialization options: Clinical Practice; and Macro Practice. Advanced standing students are required to complete 38 credits, including 500 hours of field instruction. This is a part-time online advanced standing program that is designed to be completed in two years. To qualify for advanced standing status, UH requires applicants to hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program and have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale for all social work major courses.