Texas A&M University-Kingsville Social Work Programs

Texas A&M University-Kingsville social work programs equip graduates to boost human well-being and address simple needs of all people. A career in social work lets you advocate for those without a voice and promote social policy changes that help vulnerable populations.

The program provides both undergraduate and graduate options that align with your educational goals. The Bachelor of Social Work program requires 120 credit hours to graduate. Students appreciate the master’s program’s exceptional value with in-state tuition at just $3,409 per year. The graduate program, known as the “Clinical/Activist program,” emphasizes direct client services including therapy and counseling. Students work in a variety of areas from elder care to veterans’ social work.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation ensures licensing eligibility after graduation. Online options make education available to more people, which explains why these programs consistently achieve remarkable job placement rates. This piece explores the degrees, specializations, and unique features that make TAMUK’s social work programs stand out.

Social Work Degrees Offered at TAMUK

Texas A&M University-Kingsville provides two complete social work degree programs that prepare you for professional practice in settings of all types. Students experience excellence through both undergraduate and graduate offerings at this Texas social work program.

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program takes 120 credit hours to complete. This CSWE-accredited program focuses on generalist practice, social justice, and ways to strengthen communities with special attention to rural areas. Students must formally apply to the program and keep a minimum 2.5 GPA before taking advanced coursework.

Getting into the BSW program requires:

• 42 semester hours including psychology, sociology, and introductory social work courses
• 20 hours of approved social/human service work
• A personal narrative paper
• 5 GPA in prerequisite courses

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program stands out with its Clinical/Activist orientation. Students can choose between two distinct pathways:

Regular Track (2-year program) – Students with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than social work can take this track. The program spans five semesters of full-time study, starting with foundation coursework and moving to advanced clinical training.

Advanced Standing Track (1-year program) – BSW holders from CSWE-accredited institutions can take this accelerated option. The program takes three semesters of full-time study. Students need specific prerequisite courses and must keep a minimum 3.0 GPA in their BSW program.

TAMUK’s MSW program costs just in-state tuition at just $3,409 per year. Students learn to provide direct client services in therapy and counseling while studying elder care, veterans’ social work, and leadership.

Field practicum experiences in both programs help you apply theoretical knowledge in ground settings under professional supervision. MSW program graduates can take the master’s level social work examination in Texas.

Specializations

TAMUK’s social work program stands out by offering specialized training paths that prepare you for a variety of career opportunities. The MSW program’s Clinical/Activist orientation specifically targets practice along the rural U.S./Mexico border region.

You’ll get advanced intervention skills and develop your capacity for social advocacy and policy change through the graduate program’s Clinical/Activist focus. TAMUK differs from other programs that might concentrate solely on clinical practice or advocacy work.

The social work minor helps undergraduate students gain specialized knowledge through 18 credit hours of coursework in different concentration areas. These specialized courses include:

• Youth & Family Social Work – Principles for working with children, adolescents, and families in practice settings
• Mental Health Social Work – Methods for supporting individuals with mental health challenges
• Health Social Work – Approaches for practice in healthcare environments
• Forensic Social Work – Techniques for work in criminal and juvenile justice systems
• Geriatric Social Work – Specialized care for aging populations
• School Social Work – Supporting vulnerable youth in educational settings

The MSW curriculum features focused seminars in critical areas like rural community practice, economic policy and development, leadership and supervision, military/veterans services, and intervention with elders. The “Rurality” seminar, to name just one example, tackles the unique challenges of delivering social services in less-populated areas with limited resources.

The program teaches you to serve clients from different socio-cultural backgrounds through culturally responsive approaches. This training becomes particularly valuable for practice in the multicultural U.S./Mexico border region, where cultural understanding substantially affects service delivery effectiveness.

Field placements that match your specialization interests provide hands-on experience. This practical training reinforces classroom learning and builds your professional identity in your chosen focus area.

Online and Hybrid Options

Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s social work programs are available to students with different scheduling needs. The BSW and MSW programs blend online coursework with some in-person classes.

Many students need to balance their education with work and family commitments. The program offers part-time, full-time, evening, and online course options to help students succeed. You can tailor your learning path based on your personal situation.

Students looking for flexibility will find these features of the online/hybrid format helpful:

• The hybrid/blended model works for both undergraduate (BSW) and graduate (MSW) programs, so you don’t need to be on campus full-time
• You can complete most coursework online, which saves commute time and lets you schedule classes around your life
• Field education matches the on-campus programs because hands-on experience builds practical skills

While some Texas universities offer fully online MSW programs, TAMUK uses the hybrid model to give students the best of both worlds – online convenience and valuable in-person learning.

Students from different areas can join the Texas A&M Kingsville social work program without moving. Working professionals can keep their jobs while getting their degree.

Students can complete their field education – a vital part of social work training – at approved locations near their homes or workplaces. This practical experience naturally fits with online theory courses to create a well-rounded education.

TAMUK’s social work program strikes the right balance between availability and quality education. It keeps high academic standards while meeting the needs of today’s diverse student population.

Graduation rates

Texas A&M University-Kingsville puts student success at the top of its priorities. Graduation rates continue to climb steadily. The university helps students finish their degrees, and the numbers prove it.

The 6-year graduation rate at TAMUK is 44.0%. This number beats the university’s target of 43%. The rate has jumped significantly from 34.7% back in 2017. Students now have more options to complete their courses through online and hybrid classes that fit their schedules better.

Looking at different student groups tells an interesting story. Hispanic/Latino students graduate at 44.0%, and White students show a slightly higher rate at 47.2%. Black or African American students face more challenges with a 30.3% completion rate.

The numbers also show a clear gap between male and female students. Women at TAMUK graduate more often than men. Female students achieve a 49.0% six-year graduation rate while men reach 39.3%. Female graduation rates have steadily climbed from 35.7% since 2017.

Transfer students at Texas A&M University-Kingsville show remarkable success. Their 4-year graduation rate reaches 71.7%, which beats both the threshold of 68% and target of 70%.

The TAMUK social work program builds on these positive trends. Students get ground experience during field practicum, which helps them complete their program successfully. The university’s strategic plan focuses heavily on keeping students enrolled and graduating. Specific performance indicators track this progress through 2027.

The Texas A&M social work program shows the university’s commitment to student success. A strong curriculum combined with proper support helps students graduate on time.

Career outcomes

Texas A&M University-Kingsville social work programs boast a remarkable 95% job placement rate thanks to their complete career support systems and strategic collaborations. Students get the knowledge and practical tools they need to land jobs right after graduation.

Javelina Careers, powered by Handshake, stands as the cornerstone of career success. Students can upload their resumes and connect with employers who match their career goals. This platform becomes your go-to resource when you look for part-time positions, internships, or full-time jobs.

TAMUK supports your career experience even after graduation through:

• Indeed’s Job Search Academy – A free virtual training program that gives all Javelina alumni access to on-demand job search content and career planning resources. Students learn five key skills: job searching, resume writing, interview preparation, job offer evaluation, and career direction planning.
• Career Engagement Services – Alumni can book virtual appointments to get personalized job search help beyond Indeed’s Job Search Academy’s resources.

The program’s high graduate employability rate attracts international students to the texas a&m kingsville social work program. Students learn to work effectively in social work and social service settings of all types.

MSW program graduates can take the master’s level social work examination in Texas, which opens the door to licensed practice. The program’s focus on hands-on experience through field placements helps students build theoretical knowledge and ground skills that employers value.

Social work research doctorate graduates nationwide typically work as tenure-line faculty (40.9%), postdoctoral fellows (19.7%), non-tenure-line faculty (13.8%), and private clinical practitioners (12.2%). Social work graduates earn competitive salaries, with assistant professors making an average of $67,150 yearly, associate professors $82,462, and full professors $106,044.

Unique Features about the Social Work Programs at TAMUK

Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s social work programs excel with their unique focus on rural social work practice. The programs feature a special “Rurality” curriculum that prepares students to handle challenges in areas with sparse populations and limited resources. Very few social work programs in the country offer this rural emphasis.

The graduate program takes an innovative Clinical/Activist approach. It respects how people traditionally seek help while recognizing family values’ spiritual aspects in the border region. Students develop therapy skills alongside community advocacy capabilities through this dual focus.

The BSW program’s foundation rests on social justice, community enablement, and culturally sensitive approaches for vulnerable populations in rural communities. Since 2004, the program has kept its accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education, showing its dedication to professional excellence.

Students master nine Social Work Competencies through the curriculum. These competencies help them work with clients from different backgrounds in youth and family services, mental health care, veterans support, criminal and juvenile justice, and elder care.

The program’s strength lies in producing clinical/activists who understand bi-national border regions. These professionals serve Mexican heritage families with cultural awareness. Traditional family structures and language needs receive special attention in these communities.

Students become critical thinkers and leaders who can tackle complex social issues in our global society. They learn to use professional judgment and technology ethically to support clients at individual, group, and community levels.

These distinctive features help graduates become lifelong learners and leaders who champion justice and human rights from local to global levels.