New bachelor’s program will prepare UTSA students to address society’s greatest needs

JULY 19, 2023 — UTSA will launch a new Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program this fall. The new program, offered through the College for Health, Community and Policy (HCaP), is designed to address the significant need for social workers in San Antonio.

This unique program prepares and develops general social workers into professionals who can recognize and respect different cultures and styles of communication and who can develop a practice the promotes equity, social justice and well-being.

As the seventh-largest city in the United States, San Antonio faces challenges including poverty, intimate partner violence, homelessness, mental health issues and substance abuse. A workforce trained in addressing these problems will begin to solve them.

“I am very excited about the BSW program launch and the impact it is poised to have.”

Built as a companion and partner program to UTSA’s highly ranked Master of Social Work (MSW), the BSW will provide students with skills and knowledge to effectively address challenges at the individual, family, community and policy levels, opening doors to careers focused on making a positive impact on the lives of people who are vulnerable or marginalized.

“I am very excited about the BSW program launch and the impact it is poised to have,” said John Bricout, chair of the UTSA Department of Social Work. “The synergies that will result from the close links to our MSW program, its practicum and professional networks, resources and faculty expertise will be of immediate and significant benefit to our new BSW students. The program is particularly well-suited to the missions of our department and UTSA and to better serve the vibrant, growing San Antonio community while advancing our capacity to realize a robust classroom-to-career pipeline.”

UTSA faculty members intentionally designed the BSW program to align content, theories and focus with the university’s MSW program so that students are well-prepared to succeed in the work force. Students who successfully complete their BSW degree will be eligible to apply for UTSA’s advanced standing, 36-hour MSW program instead of the standard 60-hour MSW degree, obtaining their master’s sooner at a significant cost savings compared to similar programs at other colleges and universities.

Students begin the program with a social work core, including courses across all disciplines for a well-rounded approach to theory and practice. Classes include diversity and social justice, policy, human behavior, and social work practice skills. The program culminates with a 450-hour practicum in a community agency, giving students the experiential, on-the-job skills that will provide them with an edge for employment upon graduation.

These graduates will enter a workforce where social workers are in demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, social worker jobs are expected to grow by 9% over the next decade –faster than the national average for all industries.

“We have a long-standing master’s in social work but no means to train social workers at the undergraduate level,” said Lynne Cossman, dean of the college.

Less time in the classroom working on the MSW means students can choose their career path sooner.

"Importantly, this is the only Bachelor of Social Work in the greater San Antonio area offered in-person at a public institution,” Cossman added.

Social workers are essential to promoting social justice and equity, as well as improving the overall well-being of their communities. This new degree program supports UTSA’s urban-serving mission to tackle society’s grand challenges through world-class education and research programs. The program is also representative of UTSA’s mission as a Tier One research university that drives San Antonio’s knowledge economy and lives out the notion that great universities need great cities and great cities need great universities.

— Amanda Cerreto