Texas State University - Social Work

About this program

Texas State’s accredited and award-winning Social Work Program prides itself in providing an outstanding student-centered educational experience that prepares students for practice in a variety of settings. Specifically, the School’s mission is to prepares culturally responsive, advocacy-focused, ethical social workers who are prepared to serve as leaders for positive change. The School maintains a rigorous academic culture committed to interdisciplinary cutting-edge research, community, national, and international service, and social justice. We are dedicated to upholding core values of the social work profession and CSWE competencies to train integrous effective social workers. The Program options include Foundation/Regular and Advanced Standing with the option of completing the Program full-time on-campus or 100% full-time online or part-time online. Texas State University’s Master of Social Work program is fully accredited by the Council of Social Work Education, and our graduates are eligible for state licensure. Finally, the Program stresses community – Students are encouraged to join the Organization of Student Social Workers (OSSW), assist with faculty research; and join the honor society Phi Alpha. Moreover, The Graduate College provides a comprehensive professional development program, and its external fellowship officer helps students obtain external funding.

The Master of Social Work with a Major in Advanced Practice Leadershipprogram can be completed with one of four concentrations:

• On Campus B.S.W. Holders Concentration
• On Campus Regular Non-B.S.W. Holders Concentration
• Online Advanced B.S.W. Holders Concentration
• Online Regular Non-B.S.W. Holders Concentration

• Year partnership began: 2018
• Fellowships awarded per year (average): 1

Application requirements

For B.S.W. Holders:

• B.S.W. degree with regional and Counsil on Social Work Education Accreditations, earned within the last 10 years
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in the last two full academic years of study
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in all undergraduate social work courses

For Non-B.S.W. Holders:

• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)

Admissions process

• Copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted a departmental application
• Resume/CV (maximum two pages)
• Statement of purpose
• Possible interview

Students will apply according to the instructions a specified by the Social Work program’s website, with the following modifications/additions:

• Check “yes” to the “Coverdell Applicant” question in the application
• List Peace Corps Volunteer work in the resume/CV
• Explicitly mention Peace Corps Volunteer work in the statement of purpose
• Submit Peace Corps Description of Service (the application fee(s) will be waived upon submission of this document)

The Graduate College notifies applicants about their acceptance into the degree program, which is followed by a departmental notification will inform RPCVs whether or not they were accepted as Coverdell Fellows.

Degrees awarded

Master of Social Work (MSW) with a Major in Advanced Practice Leadership

Benefits and opportunities

Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing. See cost savings details for more.

Estimated annual cost of living: $19,000

Cost savings details

• For out-of-state students: waiver of out-state-portion of tuition, 20-hour-per-week assistantship, scholarship (Note, the out of state tuition is waived, but students still need to pay the in-state portion and fees from their assistantship / scholarship, as well as living expenses)
• For in-state students: 20-hour-per-week assistantship, scholarship ((Note, the out of state tuition is waived, but students still need to pay the in-state portion and fees from their assistantship / scholarship, as well as living expenses)

Internship

The internship is an integral part of the degree program – the requirements for a Foundation/Regular student are 360 contact hours in the foundation year and 540 contact hours in the final advanced year. Advanced Standing students complete 540 contact hours in the final year and in all placements, students will be working with an underserved community. The Office of Field Education at Texas State University’s School of Social Work coordinates all field internships and students are well-supported during the internship: Information sessions are held at the beginning of each semester about the internship process and students are assigned a field advisor that works closely with partner agencies and the student to secure an internship. Once placed, the students are assigned a Field Instructor and a Field Liaison who mentor, guide, and evaluate their progress. The Office of Field Education has partnership agreements with School Districts, Hospitals, Mental Health Agencies, State and Federal Agencies, Community Based Agencies, Shelters, Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, Correctional Agencies, Hospice and Palliative Care, and Treatment Facilities. Additionally, the Office of Field Education places students in many states and countries where social service agencies are available.

Other opportunities

Coverdell Fellowship applicants qualify to be nominated for the Graduate College’s Merit Fellowships ($2,500 for the student’s first academic year). Coverdell Fellowship applicants can also apply yearly for Graduate College Scholarships (up to $3,000 per academic year) and for Celebrity Classic Scholarships ($4,500 per year for the duration of the student’s remaining hours in their degree plan).

Jobs for alumni

M.S.W. graduates perform extremely well on state licensing exams and are employed across Texas, the U.S., and the world in a variety of practice fields, including child welfare, health care, behavioral mental health, education, community organizing, policy development and analysis, and criminal justice. The MSW Program has an enviable track record of educating, training, and placing its graduates in significant jobs, including, but not limited to: the Texas Legislature working for state senators and representatives affecting policy decisions; the Veterans’ Administration providing therapeutic services to veterans; social service and clinical agencies providing therapeutic services to children, youth, and families; and assuming program director and supervisory positions in social service agencies, hospitals, and state agencies. Moreover, MSW Alumni give back to the School of Social Work by returning as guest speakers, becoming field supervisors, field instructors, per course instructors, and full-time faculty.

Nontraditional options