University of North Texas Social Work Programs

UNT’s social work programs are meeting the vital workforce needs as the field grows faster. Nearly 64,000 social work job openings are projected each year through 2032, which led UNT to launch its first independent Master of Social Work program based on student needs.

UNT’s social work programs provide complete educational paths that align with different career goals. The master’s program features two distinct tracks. Students without a social work background can take the 60-hour traditional program. BSW holders can choose the Advanced Standing option to complete their degree in just one year. Traditional students gain 900 hours of practicum experience, while advanced-standing students complete 500 hours. These hours are earned at any of the 100 partner agencies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This combination of theory and hands-on training prepares students for roles in health care, family services, and mental health.

Social Work Degrees Offered at University of North Texas

UNT’s nationally recognized social work programs prepare you for licensure and professional practice in settings of all types. These CSWE-accredited programs in the College of Health and Public Service combine classroom learning with hands-on field experience.

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program gives you the foundation and skills needed for entry-level positions. Students need 120 credit hours to complete this program that focuses on generalist practice principles. The curriculum has courses in human behavior, social welfare policy, and research methods along with 400 hours of supervised field practicum experience.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program takes you deeper into specialized training for clinical and community practice. Students move through their courses as a cohort, which creates a close-knit, supportive learning community. The program’s curriculum blends evidence-based interventions with advanced policy analysis and clinical assessment techniques.

Academic standards remain high for both programs. BSW students must finish prerequisite courses with a minimum GPA of 2.25 before they can apply to the professional sequence. MSW candidates need a bachelor’s degree and must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in their last 60 hours of coursework.

BSW graduates can work in:

• Child welfare agencies
• Hospitals and healthcare facilities
• Schools and educational institutions
• Community organizations

UNT’s post-master’s certificates let working professionals gain specialized expertise without completing another degree program.

UNT’s faculty members bring ground experience to the classroom, which enriches student learning with practical viewpoints. Their active research and practice connections in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex create opportunities for students to join community-based projects and research initiatives.

These social work programs stand out because of their steadfast dedication to developing culturally competent practitioners who can tackle complex social needs in communities throughout Texas and beyond.

Specializations

Social workers who train at the University of North Texas learn to tackle real-life challenges through specialized practice areas. These professionals “make the world a better place by helping people overcome the challenges associated with abuse, poverty, homelessness, addiction, disability, illness, and discrimination”.

UNT’s social work programs prepare students in four main specialty areas:

• Healthcare Social Workers – They guide patients to understand diagnoses and create post-discharge plans. Some specialize in elderly care or support patients with terminal illnesses.
• Mental Health Specialists – They evaluate and treat people with mental illness or substance abuse disorders while setting up support services.
• Family Service Workers – They connect families with services, help them apply for food stamps or housing, and protect at-risk children.
• School Social Workers – They act as bridges between students, parents/guardians, and school officials to handle truancy, behavior issues, or substance abuse.

Students in UNT’s social work master’s program can take specialized electives to build their expertise. The “Death, Dying and Bereavement” course looks at services if you have end-of-life concerns. Students who want to work in child welfare can take “Foster Care, Adoption and Permanency Planning” to learn about working with children in foster care systems.

UNT social work graduates work in many different settings. They find jobs in:

• Child welfare and family service agencies
• Hospitals or hospice facilities
• Community mental health or substance abuse treatment centers
• Retirement centers or skilled nursing facilities
• Prisons and justice system facilities
• Schools and community programs

Students can develop management skills through courses like “Social Work Administration and Management” which teaches leadership in human service settings with a focus on resource management. The “Social Work Human Diversity and Multicultural Practice” course helps students become culturally competent practitioners.

Field placements give students unique experiences with different groups such as “women in women’s shelters, children, older adults, individuals experiencing relationship violence, or those battling AIDS, mental illness or chronic illnesses”.

Online and Hybrid Options

UNT’s social work programs offer flexible learning pathways that adapt to students’ needs through different delivery formats. The university ranks among Texas’s largest providers of online credit courses. Students can choose from 90 online program options that include bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees along with undergraduate and graduate certificates.

UNT’s “Learn Anywhere” resources help students balance their work and studies effectively. These resources give students access to online tools, virtual support, and flexible learning options they can use from anywhere. The Denton and Frisco campuses offer many programs with flexible learning opportunities, creating a mixed learning experience.

The university’s social work master’s program combines online and on-campus learning through hybrid options. These programs come in two main formats: online courses with fewer campus visits or a mix of separate online and on-campus classes. Students in hybrid programs might need to visit campus weekly, monthly on weekends, or twice each semester, with the rest of their learning happening online.

Field education remains vital whatever the program format. Most traditional programs need at least 900 field education hours to graduate, though each school sets its own requirements. Students usually complete two internships over four semesters. Advanced standing programs need between 450-680 hours with one or two internships lasting two to three semesters.

Full-time students should plan to spend 16-20 hours each week on field requirements. This setup makes sure students develop practical skills properly, even with flexible online learning.

Working professionals will find UNT’s accelerated options particularly attractive. These options keep high academic standards while letting students finish faster. This shows UNT’s dedication to making education accessible without cutting corners.

UNT’s variety of delivery formats shows how well it adapts to modern educational needs. Students can earn their social work qualifications without letting location or work commitments stop them.

Graduation rates

Graduation success serves as the life-blood metric that evaluates the University of North Texas social work programs. UNT maintains a 58% six-year graduation rate in programs of all types. This is a big deal as it means that UNT surpasses the national average of 46.43% for first-time undergraduates who attend full-time.

Gender distribution in social work reveals clear patterns. Women earned 91% of bachelor’s degrees in social work, while men made up the remaining 9%. The university’s social work masters program reflected this trend. Women received 80% of MSW degrees while men earned 20%.

Student enrollment status plays a key role in completion rates. First-time full-time students achieve a 54% six-year graduation rate. Non-first-time full-time students, including transfers, reach a remarkable 64% completion rate in the same period. Part-time students show strong results. First-time part-time students achieve a 44% six-year graduation rate. Non-first-time part-time students reach 52%.

UNT’s retention rate stands at 85%. This rate surpasses the national average of 70.57% and Texas state average of 68.17% by a lot. These numbers showcase the program’s quality and student satisfaction. UNT undergraduate students complete their degrees in 4.46 years on average.

Students can access graduation statistics through several campus offices. These include Admissions, Financial Aid, Public Affairs, and the Registrar. This approach ensures program outcomes remain transparent.

Career outcomes

Social work graduates from the University of North Texas enjoy reliable career prospects in a growing field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects social work jobs to grow 7% from 2022 to 2032, which outpaces most occupations. The field creates about 64,000 job openings nationwide each year, showing strong career stability.

Your salary potential depends on your degree level. UNT’s BSW graduates earn a median salary of $36,167, while social work masters graduates take home a higher median of $47,793. The program shows strong results with 70.79% of graduates working in their field of study, which suggests excellent career placement.

MSW graduates can qualify for Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) status after completing the program. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) certification becomes available after two years of post-graduate supervision, and this certification typically boosts your earning potential. The university’s graduates achieve an impressive 80% placement rate.

Career pathways for UNT social work graduates include:

• Direct service roles in child welfare, mental health, and medical settings
• School social work positions (average salary: $59,190)
• Substance abuse therapy ($34,000-$59,000 annually)
• Clinical social work ($66,812 average annual salary)
• Management positions in public and private non-profit agencies

Students get extensive career preparation, and 71.93% complete internships during their studies. Better yet, 21.52% of students earn course credit for internships that lead straight to full-time job offers.

The UNT Career Center helps shape your career through resume reviews, career fairs, networking events, and the Mean Green Mentors platform. These resources help explain why 62.87% of graduates feel ready for their careers, setting you up for success in this meaningful field.

Unique Features about the Social Work Programs at University of North Texas

Unique features separate the University of North Texas’s social work programs from others in the education world. The program’s partnerships with nearly 100 agencies throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex create immersive field experiences. These connections give students exceptional chances to learn hands-on in a variety of practice settings.

UNT’s social work master’s program uses a cohort model that promotes a supportive learning community. Students progress through coursework among the same peer group and build professional relationships that last beyond graduation. This network becomes a great way to get resources as their careers advance.

Faculty members bring their real-life practice experience into the classroom and enrich theoretical concepts with practical knowledge. Many teachers stay active in research and maintain practice connections, which creates chances for student involvement in community-based projects.

Students learn to address complex social needs in Texas’s diverse communities through the program’s focus on cultural competence. “Social Work Human Diversity and Multicultural Practice” helps students become skilled at working with different populations.

Students who want leadership roles can take specialized management training like “Social Work Administration and Management” to learn about resource management in human service settings. This training helps them advance into administrative positions.

The university ranks among Texas’s largest providers of online credit courses, which gives working professionals flexibility. Students can pursue advanced credentials while keeping their jobs through fully online or hybrid formats.

UNT’s social work programs show remarkable results – 70.79% of graduates work in field-related positions with an impressive 80% overall placement rate. These numbers prove the program successfully prepares professionals who make meaningful contributions in healthcare, mental health, family services, and educational settings.