St. Edward’s Social Work Programs
St. Edward’s Social Work Programs prepare students for influential careers in a variety of fields such as public health, child welfare, education, and mental health. The university’s impressive 66% graduation rate puts it in the top 35% of institutions nationwide. St. Edward’s provides a complete pathway to professional success in social work.
Students who choose social work degrees at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX benefit from the program’s unique hands-on approach. The program starts with a 40-hour service-learning component and culminates in an intensive field internship at a social justice-focused organization during the senior year. This practical experience serves as the core of St. Edward’s counseling program where students develop professional skills under experienced mentors’ guidance.
The Council on Social Work Education accredits St. Edward’s Social Work Program, which ensures education meeting rigorous professional standards. The university’s strong retention rate of 76% ranks in the top 45% nationally and shows its commitment to student success. These social work master’s programs in Texas help students understand how race, class, gender, sexuality, and disability shape people’s experiences and opportunities. This knowledge prepares them for meaningful careers in social work.
Types of Social Work Degrees Offered at St. Edward’s
St. Edward’s University’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree builds a strong foundation in social work education. The program gives you key skills in policy analysis and direct client services. Students learn both theory and hands-on practice, which helps them land entry-level jobs in community organizations, healthcare facilities, and government agencies.
The university also offers a Master of Social Work (MSW) program for advanced education. This graduate degree helps you gain specialized expertise while building on your undergraduate knowledge. Students develop clinical skills, research methods, and policy analysis expertise – all vital for leadership and clinical practice roles.
These programs meet the quality standards set by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). St. Edward’s social justice framework is woven throughout, and students learn to support fair policies and practices.
The BSW program takes 120 credit hours to complete. This includes general education, core social work courses, and electives. Students starting the MSW program typically need 60 credit hours. BSW graduates might qualify for advanced standing and complete it in just 30 credit hours.
Both programs teach human behavior, social welfare policy, research methods, and working with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Students gain a complete understanding of social work in different settings.
Field education makes St. Edward’s social work degrees stand out in Texas. Students work in real-life settings under experienced practitioners. This hands-on experience builds professional skills quickly.
The programs prepare students well for Texas licensing exams. The curriculum matches state requirements perfectly, setting graduates up for success in their professional practice.
Degree Specializations
St. Edward’s University’s social work programs let you choose specialized pathways that line up with your career goals. The program goes beyond generic curriculum to help you build expertise in specific areas that match your professional aspirations.
Students can shape their undergraduate social work education in several key areas. The program lets you focus on public health, education systems, child welfare services, or mental health and wellness fields. You can achieve these specializations by selecting specific courses like Chemical Dependency Issues, Migration and Detention, Families and Intimate Relationships, and Trauma Informed Care With Children, Teens, and Families.
St. Edward’s takes specialization beyond the classroom through field placements. Senior students complete an intensive field internship at a social justice-focused organization. Experienced mentors help develop your professional skills in your chosen specialty area. This combination gives you both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in your field of choice.
Graduate students can choose from several specialization paths. The Master of Arts in Counseling program features two distinct tracks: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage, Couples and Family Counseling. These specialized paths prepare you to become either a Licensed Professional Counselor or a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Texas.
The university’s advanced specialization options include an online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership that focuses on managing positive organizational change. The Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis emphasizes interventions that help people with autism and related disorders.
St. Edward’s professors conduct ground research on critical issues like human trafficking, immigration detention, and LGBTQIA+ youth in foster care. This connects your specialized education directly to today’s social challenges and adds depth to your professional preparation.
Online and Hybrid Options
St. Edward’s University makes learning work around your schedule with online and hybrid options that fit different student needs. The university started its distance learning journey in 1994, making quality education available to more students.
The Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis program runs completely online. You’ll learn to assess, analyze and create evidence-based behavioral interventions if you have autism and related disorders. Faculty mentors from different backgrounds will guide you as you get ready for the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst® exam.
The Master of Science in Organizational Leadership program runs fully online too. It gives you the skills to drive positive organizational change—a vital skill in today’s ever-changing business world. Students learn about leadership from personal, team, organizational and global points of view.
St. Edward’s also offers an Online Doctorate (EdD) of Education in Leadership and Higher Education. You can complete this adaptable program in as little as 39 months while keeping your career on track.
The university’s online courses blend quality with convenience. The mix of live online sessions and self-paced coursework lets you balance your life and studies effectively. These remote programs deliver the same high-quality education, networking chances, and skill development as traditional campus programs.
Some students prefer a mix of online and in-person learning. Most campus classes meet during evenings and weekends at the main Austin downtown campus. This setup works great if you have a full-time job and want to boost your credentials.
Online students get complete support including academic advice, bookstore access, career help, email services, and library resources. These tools help ensure your success in the program.
Graduation Rates
Graduation success shows how well any educational program performs. St. Edward’s University shows impressive completion rates in its academic programs, including social work.
The university’s overall graduation rate of 65-66% puts it among the top 35% of schools nationwide. These numbers show how many students finish their degrees within 150% of the expected time. Students in traditional bachelor’s programs, including social work degrees in Texas, usually complete their studies within six years.
Looking at specific timeframes, students typically earn their bachelor’s degrees in 4.26 years. The 4-year graduation rate is 55%, while 66% of students graduate within 6 years. Students who need more time push the 8-year completion rate up to 60%.
St. Edward’s students perform better than national averages. Full-time students nationwide typically have a 4-year graduation rate of 38%, with 6-year rates reaching 46%. Students in social work masters programs in Texas and other fields consistently outperform these measures.
The university tracks completion rates for students of all types. Full-time students starting college for the first time achieve a 62% six-year graduation rate. Part-time students reach 50%. Transfer students and returning adults who attend full-time match the 62% six-year completion rate.
Student retention rates tell an equally positive story. The university maintains a strong 76% retention rate, ranking in the top 45% nationally. This number represents first-year students who return for their sophomore year – a vital early sign of program success at St. Edward’s University in Austin TX.
The St. Edward’s counseling program and social work specializations thrive on these institutional strengths. This is a big deal as it means that graduation rates exceed national averages. These programs help students progress from enrollment to graduation successfully – something prospective social work students should think over when choosing their education path.
Career Outcomes
St. Edward’s University’s Social Work Program graduates build careers in a variety of sectors and roles. We found students moving into social worker positions at organizations like Integral Care, Communities in Schools, Jolt, Austin Independent School District, Lifeworks, and Con Mi Madre. Many get licensed as LBSW, LMSW, or LCSW professionals and work for private companies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.
The program’s financial outlook remains solid. St. Edward’s graduates earn approximately $41,000 in their early career stages. These earnings line up with expectations based on the institution’s academic offerings.
The program’s graduates often look beyond traditional social work roles. They pursue service-oriented opportunities with organizations like Peace Corps, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and Mercy Corps. In fact, some have secured prestigious positions such as English Teaching Assistant in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
Many social work alumni choose to advance their education. They join graduate programs at distinguished institutions like Washington University, Columbia University, The University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Houston.
St. Edward’s aids these career transitions through detailed support services:
- Career counseling for all undergraduate students both individually and in group settings
- Access to an alumni network, career library, interview workshops, and resume preparation
- On-campus recruitment opportunities with over 200 organizations visiting each year
- A dedicated Career and Professional Development team that provides tailored guidance
Students create professional connections through professors, guest speakers, and on-campus recruiting events. On top of that, seniors complete an intensive field internship at social justice-focused organizations and develop professional skills under experienced mentors.
The program’s extensive preparation creates opportunities for career growth. The Council on Social Work Education’s accreditation means students receive credit for completed field placements when pursuing accelerated Master of Social Work degrees. This streamlines their professional advancement effectively.
What’s Unique about the Social Work Programs at St. Edward’s
St. Edward’s University’s social work programs stand out from other Texas educational offerings in several ways. The program’s dedication to social justice runs through everything in the curriculum. The program goes beyond conventional approaches and teaches students to analyze how race, class, gender, sexuality, and disability affect people’s lives and opportunities.
Students learn through a well-laid-out hands-on approach. They start with 40 hours of service learning and then move on to an intensive field internship at a social justice organization in their senior year. This gives them real-life experience while being guided by seasoned professionals.
The professors bring their research on current social issues like human trafficking, immigration detention, and LGBTQIA+ youth in foster care right into the classroom. Their expertise helps students understand today’s challenges in the field.
Austin’s location is perfect for students to find field placements in the city’s thriving nonprofit sector. They work with organizations like Integral Care, Communities in Schools, and the Austin Independent School District.
The program’s graduates often land jobs at prestigious organizations or continue their studies at distinguished institutions like Washington University and Columbia University.
The Council on Social Work Education accreditation gives graduates another advantage. Their field placements count as credit when they pursue accelerated Master of Social Work degrees, which speeds up their career growth.
St. Edward’s University’s social work degrees in Texas excel because they combine academic excellence, social justice focus, hands-on experience, and strong ties to Austin’s community support network. This creates a complete educational journey that prepares graduates to tackle complex social challenges through evidence-based solutions and advocacy.