Social Work (M.S.W.) (2023)

Basic Degree Information/Description

The mission of the Social Work program is to educate transformative culturally competent social workers. The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree prepares students for advanced social work practice. Graduates work in professional positions serving diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students graduating from the program will demonstrate a commitment to cultural competence, multidimensional contextual practice, social responsibility and transformative social work.

The Masters of Social Work (M.S.W.) program was approved effective January 1, 2005 by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for implementation at The University of Texas at San Antonio, and was granted accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education in February 2008.

Why pursue a Masters of Social Work at UTSA?

Our unique focus on transformative, culturally competent practice, and our flexible program allow UTSA students to develop masters-level social work skills that translate to a wide variety of social work practice settings.

Admission Prerequisites (36 credit hour program):

The Master of Social Work program reviews applications on a rolling basis. This means the program reviews applications as they receive them from the Graduate School.

Required Degree	Bachelor's degree in Social Work
Other Degree Requirements	None.

General University Requirements	Must meet university wide requirements.
Application	A completed a Graduate School application.
Transcripts*	Official transcripts from all institutions attended. All international transcripts must be recorded in English or officially translated to English.*Official transcripts are required to process applications for this program.
Resume or Curriculum Vitae	Not required.
Letters of Recommendation	Three completed department recommendation forms from professionals familiar with applicant preparation for graduate social work education.
Statement of Purpose	A narrative statement addressing interest in and the fit with the UTSA MSW program not to exceed 1,250 words (approximately five pages). Statement must address required questions provided in the narrative statement guidelines.
Test Scores	Not required.
Evaluation of Foreign Credentials	All applicants including non-U.S. citizens (International), U.S. citizens (Domestic), or permanent residents who have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions are required to submit an evaluation from an approved Foreign Credential Agency of transcripts from all foreign institutions attended. If official transcripts are used in the foreign credential evaluation, the official transcript requirement will be considered met. However, if unofficial documents are used in the foreign credential evaluation, final official transcripts must be sent to UTSA. An approved evaluation requires a detailed course-by-course evaluation. Summaries will not be accepted. The Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA) is a private corporation that provides evaluations of foreign school credentials. The application is available at: Application for Credentials Evaluation.
International Applicants	Must meet international graduate student admission requirements IELTS: Minimum score of 6.5. TOEFL: Minimum scores of 79 or 60 for Internet or paper versions, respectively.
Other	Department forms documenting prior professional and volunteer experiences and academic preparation in the liberal arts Applicants must have completed 18 semester credit hours of undergraduate courses, 12 of which must be at the upper-division level in sociology or related areas, including a course in research methods or statistics. A reference letter from either the BSW field director/coordinator or BSW program director if a BSW applicant, or from the MSW program director/chair if an applicant has completed MSW courses, attesting to good standing status in the CSWE-accredited social work program where the student has completed coursework BSW applicants must provide a copy of the BSW field evaluation form which indicates number of clock hours completed, final grade, description of practicum setting (including community and clientele served), and accomplishments as a practicum student MSW applicants who have completed any portion of their foundation field practicum in another program must provide a copy of the MSW field evaluation form which indicates number of clock hours completed, final grade, description of practicum setting (including community and clientele served), and accomplishments as a practicum student

Admission Prerequisites (60 credit hour program):

The Master of Social Work program reviews applications on a rolling basis. This means the program reviews applications as they receive them from the Graduate School.

Required Degree	Bachelor's degree
Other Degree Requirements	None.

Application Requirements:

General University Requirements	Must meet university wide requirements.
Application	A completed a Graduate School application.
Transcripts	Official transcripts from all institutions attended. All international transcripts must be recorded in English or officially translated to English.
Resume or Curriculum Vitae	Not required.
Letters of Recommendation	Three completed department recommendation forms from professionals familiar with applicant preparation for graduate social work education.
Statement of Purpose	A narrative statement addressing interest in and the fit with the UTSA MSW program not to exceed 1,250 words (approximately five pages). Statement must address required questions provided in the narrative statement guidelines
Test Scores	Not required.
Evaluation of Foreign Credentials	All applicants including non-U.S. citizens (International), U.S. Citizens, and permanent residents who have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions are required to submit official transcripts along with an evaluation of the transcripts from Foreign Credentials Service of America. An approved evaluation requires a detailed course-by-course evaluation. Summaries will not be accepted. Foreign credential evaluations must be received by the application deadline for your application to be processed. Foreign Credentials Service of America in Austin, TX is the only accepted evaluation agency. They can be reached at (512) 459-8429,info@foreigncredentials.org,or online athttps://www.foreigncredentials.org/our-services/apply-now/. If you need a request form, please visit the FCSA website to access the form here.
International Applicants	Must meet international graduate student admission requirements IELTS: Minimum score of 6.5. TOEFL: Minimum scores of 79 or 60 for Internet or paper versions, respectively.
Other	None.

Career Options Available for an M.S.W. Graduate

Students can become clinicians/direct practice social workers in health care, mental health, child welfare/child and family services, schools, juvenile and adult probation/parole/corrections, with the homeless, in substance abuse treatment facilities, they can provide case management in similar settings, or they can focus on macro practice, working in congressional, legislative and city and state government offices assisting in shaping policy or in advocating for clients and their needs in community agencies. They can work with abused and neglected children in a variety of settings, as adoption workers, helping families to move from welfare to self-sufficiency, and become administrators of human services organizations.
Former students are working as a supervisor at the SAMM transitional living program, as a supervisor of Parole at the Texas Youth Commission, as supervisors or senior workers for Child Protective Services, as a clinician at San Antonio State Hospital, as a social worker with a local HIV program, at a children's transplant program, and as a program manager at a family violence program.

Research taking place in the M.S.W. program

Our faculty is conducting research related to family violence, child welfare, mental health, and disaster assistance. Students have an opportunity to work as graduate research assistants and to assist faculty in research efforts. All of our students complete an advanced research course and conduct their own research relating to their advanced field practicum experience.

Course Scheduling and Offerings

The majority of courses are offered in the evenings, with some classes including sections during the daytime as well. Evening classes meet once a week during the fall, spring and 10-week summer sessions and twice a week during 5-week summer sessions.

Students also do two 450 clock hour field practicum while in the program, which means working in an agency setting 12-15 hours a week for four of the semesters they are in the program. Occasionally, weekend and evening placements are available, but students should plan on trying to be available for field approximately 8 hours per week during the regular 8-5 workweek in order to increase placement opportunities.

Program classes are offered at the Downtown Campus.

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Contact Information:

Graduate Advisor of Record:Emily Perez, L.C.S.W.

Email:emily.ellis@utsa.edu

Telephone: (210) 458-3007

Degree Website: https://hcap.utsa.edu/social-work/programs/master-of-social-work/

Degree Catalog Link:http://catalog.utsa.edu/graduate/publicpolicy/socialwork/#degreestext

Social Work Information Sessions are offered most Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon. Contact Cyndi Beals at Cyndi.Beals@utsa.edu in order to schedule a session.

Funding Opportunities:

Social Work Scholarships: Click here for more information on Social Work Scholarships

Title IV-E (SWEPT): http://hcap.utsa.edu/social-work/current-students/title-iv-e-swept/

Course Scheduling and Offerings:

The majority of courses are offered in the evenings, with some classes including sections during the daytime as well. Evening classes meet once a week during the fall, spring and 10-week summer sessions and twice a week during 5-week summer sessions.
Students also do two 450 clock hour field practicum while in the program, which means working in an agency setting 12-15 hours a week for four of the semesters they are in the program. Occasionally, weekend and evening placements are available, but students should plan on trying to be available for field approximately 8 hours per week during the regular 8-5 workweek in order to increase placement opportunities.
Program classes are offered at the Downtown Campus.