content

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

Mission Statement

Educating to act with integrity—as socially responsible, culturally competent social work professionals—in service with diverse populations through community collaboration within an interprofessional and global context.

Master of Social Work

The Master of Social Work (MSW) 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 social responsibility, cultural competence, and community collaboration within an interprofessional and global context.

Program Admission Requirements. Applicants must satisfy University-wide graduate admission requirements. All applicants who apply for unconditional admission must possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution, must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 semester credit hours of coursework for the baccalaureate degree as well as in all graduate-level work previously completed, must be in good standing at the last institution attended, and based on review of documents including applicant narrative and reference forms, must be recommended for admission by the Department of Social Work Graduate Program Committee.

Admission requirements for all students include:
  • a completed graduate application form submitted to the UTSA Graduate School, including official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended;
  • a narrative statement to study in the UTSA MSW program not to exceed 1250 words (approximately 5 pages);
  • three completed department recommendation forms from individuals familiar with applicant preparation for graduate social work education;
  • department forms documenting prior professional and volunteer experiences and academic preparation in the liberal arts;
  • for international students, results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL; not more than five years old and a score of not less than 550, paper version), or results of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS; not more than five years old and a score of not less than 4.5).

Students with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree may qualify for advanced standing if they graduated from a baccalaureate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The minimum number of semester credit hours required for the advanced standing degree is 36, exclusive of BSW coursework with a grade of “C” or below.

For advanced standing admission, the applicant must meet program admission requirements, and in addition:

  • hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited BSW program;
  • have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 semester credit hours of coursework for the BSW, as well as in any graduate-level work previously completed;
  • provide two additional reference letters from: the BSW field director/coordinator/liaison or BSW program director, and
    the agency-based field supervisor where the applicant completed his/her BSW field internship;
  • provide a copy of the BSW field evaluation form which indicates number of clock hours completed, final grade, description of practicum setting (includes community and clientele served), and accomplishments as a practicum student;
  • be in good standing at the last institution attended; and
  • be recommended for admission by the Department of Social Work Graduate Program Committee.

A modified MSW degree option is also available for transfer students who successfully complete a minimum of 18 graduate semester credit hours at the foundation level in a CSWE-accredited master of social work program. The minimum number of semester credit hours required for the modified MSW degree option is 36, exclusive of MSW coursework with a grade of “C” or below. For modified MSW program admission, the applicant must meet program admission requirements, and in addition:

  • have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate coursework as well as any graduate-level MSW coursework previously completed;
  • provide a reference letter from the MSW program director/chair attesting to good standing status in the MSW program;
  • when transferring field practicum courses, the applicant must also provide two additional reference letters from the MSW field director/coordinator/liaison or MSW program director, and the agency-based field supervisor where the applicant completed his/her MSW field internship, and provide a copy of the MSW field evaluation form which indicates number of clock hours completed, final grade, description of practicum setting (includes community and clientele served), and accomplishments as a practicum student; and
  • be recommended for admission by the Department of Social Work Graduate Program Committee.

Applicants for non-BSW, advanced standing, or modified MSW program may also be admitted as unconditional, conditional, probationary, special graduate, or non-degree-seeking students. Admission as a special graduate or non-degree-seeking student does not guarantee subsequent admission as a degree-seeking student; such students must reapply for degree-seeking status.

Degree Requirements. The minimum number of semester credit hours required for the degree, exclusive of coursework or other study required to remove deficiencies, is 36 for the BSW (advanced standing) student, 36 for the modified MSW degree option for transfer students from CSWE-accredited graduate social work programs, and 60 for the non-BSW student.

Please refer to department Web site for further information: http://www.utsa.edu/copp/SW/socialwork.html.

  1. 24 semester credit hours of foundation courses. Non-BSW students must complete the following courses:

    SWK 5013 Human Behavior and Social Environment: Dynamics of Individuals and Families
    SWK 5023 Human Behavior and Social Environment: Dynamics of Organizations & Communities
    SWK 5103 Social Problems and Social Welfare Policy Analysis
    SWK 5203 Social Work Research
    SWK 5303 Social Work Methods I
    SWK 5313 Social Work Methods II
    SWK 5403 Field Practicum I and Integrative Seminar
    SWK 5413 Field Practicum II and Integrative Seminar

  2. 9 semester credit hours of courses particular to program mission and goals. All students must complete the following courses:

    SWK 5233 Global Context of Social Work
    SWK5513 Culturally Competent Practice with Diverse Populations
    SWK 5633 Interprofessional Collaboration

  3. 21 semester credit hours in Advanced Culturally Competent Practice. All students must complete the following courses:

    SWK 5243 Advanced Social Work Research: Theoretically Driven Practice and Program Evaluation
    SWK 5423 Field Practicum III and Integrative Seminar
    SWK 5433 Field Practicum IV and Integrative Seminar
    SWK 5443 Advanced Social Work Methods: Individual and Family Practice
    SWK 5463 Advanced Social Work Methods: Group Practice
    SWK 5473 Advanced Social Work Methods: Policy Practice and Advocacy
    SWK 5493 Advanced Social Methods: Community Organization and Social Development

  4. 3 semester credit hours from the following selectives. All Students must choose one of the following courses:

    SWK 5453 Social Work Administration and Supervision
    SWK 5483 Multidimensional Assessment

  5. 3 semester credit hours of electives. All students must choose one of the following courses:

    3 semester credit hours of free elective graduate coursework chosen in consultation with the GAR
    or
    SWK 6953 Independent Study
    or
    SWK 6973 Special Topics in Culturally Competent Practice

Comprehensive Examination. Students who successfully complete SWK 5243 Advanced Social Work Research: Theoretically Driven Practice and Program Evaluation with a grade of “B” or better satisfy the comprehensive examination requirement for master’s degree graduates. Students who receive a grade of “C” may still satisfy this requirement by successfully passing a comprehensive examination.

Table of Contents | Catalog Home | Previous Page

text size– | + | R |