Texas State University Social Work Programs
Texas State University’s School of Social Work thrives as a dynamic part of the College of Applied Arts. The school prepares social workers who champion cultural responsiveness and advocacy through its accredited programs. A strong liberal arts foundation supports the school’s academic rigor, innovative research, and dedication to social justice.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has fully accredited both the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs. Students in the BSW program learn to help individuals, families, and communities with integrity and purpose. The MSW program builds advanced leadership skills that prove valuable when working with people who receive public services.
Students progress through three phases to earn their BSW degree. The journey starts with entry-level courses and general education requirements. After completing these, students can apply for Phase II, which covers core social work subjects. The final phase places students in social service settings where they train extensively and serve communities. BSW graduates qualify for entry-level positions, state licensure, and graduate studies.
The MSW program combines direct practice with administrative coursework effectively. Students choose between online and on-campus options, and the online track offers scheduling flexibility. National rankings consistently recognize this program’s excellence.
The school’s programs stand out because of their dedication to preparing social workers who serve society’s most vulnerable groups. Students gain unique hands-on experience through partnerships with numerous public and private agencies before graduation.
The university’s growth tells an impressive story. From its modest start in 1899 as a teacher education institution with 300 students, it has become Texas’s fourth-largest university, serving more than 34,000 students today.
Social Work Degrees Offered at Texas State
Texas State University has two CSWE-accredited social work degrees. These recognized programs prepare students to work in social services of all types.
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program has a well-laid-out three-phase approach. Any undergraduate student can start Phase I by declaring social work as their major and taking basic courses while finishing general education requirements. Students need a minimum 2.50 GPA to apply for Phase II and can join either online or on-campus groups. The program ends with Phase III, where students complete an internship with 420 contact hours in one semester. This final hands-on experience helps students use their classroom knowledge in real-life settings.
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program has several paths. BSW graduates can take the Advanced Standing option to finish the program faster than the Regular program, which is meant for non-BSW holders. Both options help students become skilled at social work practice leadership.
Texas State’s programs come with flexible learning options. Students can attend classes on campus in San Marcos or Round Rock or choose fully online programs with similar curricula and textbooks taught by core faculty. Working professionals and distance learners find these options very convenient.
Students must meet strict academic standards. BSW students need to keep a minimum 2.50 Texas State GPA throughout the program and earn at least a “C” in all social work courses. MSW students must maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Field education plays a key role as the “signature pedagogy” in both programs. BSW students complete 420 hours in one semester. MSW students’ practicum requirements vary based on their program track and enrollment status.
BSW graduates can start entry-level jobs or continue their MSW studies. MSW graduates qualify for advanced practice and supervisory roles in a variety of settings.
Specializations
Texas State University’s social work curriculum takes a unique approach. Rather than offering multiple concentration tracks, it helps students develop deep expertise in specific areas.
BSW graduates learn versatile skills they can use in social services of all types. Their training prepares them to work in child welfare, schools, long-term care, mental health care, and public assistance. This broad foundation helps them adapt to their clients’ needs in any workplace setting.
The MSW program features a specialized focus on Advanced Practice Leadership. Texas State equips all MSW students with leadership skills that prove valuable in both hands-on and administrative roles. Students become skilled at guiding other workers while delivering better client care. The program teaches current social work trends and cross-disciplinary approaches that boost professional versatility.
The School of Social Work enhances its core curriculum with specialized electives. Students can head over to courses in:
- Health care and gerontology
- Diversity and international social work
- Spirituality in practice
- Adventure therapy techniques
- Work with veterans and military families
These elective options let students tailor their social work education without limiting themselves to one concentration. The school’s approach reflects its steadfast dedication to creating well-rounded practitioners who can tackle complex social challenges.
Both programs put social justice and professional ethics at their core. This ethical foundation gives graduates the integrity they need, whatever specialized area they choose after graduation.
The university’s flexible approach to specialization ensures all graduates have the core skills they need. They’re ready for licensure exams and diverse career paths in social work’s changing landscape.
Online and Hybrid Options
Texas State University’s social work programs put flexibility first by offering online and hybrid options that work for students with different needs. Students can choose from BSW and MSW programs that are fully online yet maintain the same high standards as traditional campus programs.
The Bachelor of Social Work program lets students complete their degree 100% online through an Online Cohort. Starting Fall 2024, BSW courses will be available at the Round Rock Campus. This makes the program more accessible to students across Central Texas.
The Master of Social Work program features two online paths:
- The Advanced Standing track (36 credit hours) built for students who earned their CSWE-accredited BSW in the past 10 years
- The Foundation track (62 credit hours) created for students with bachelor’s degrees from other fields
The online MSW program uses the same curriculum and textbooks as the campus version, and core faculty teach all courses. This approach gives students a consistent education no matter how they choose to learn.
Students must complete in-person field work even in these online programs. The MSW program requires 900 hours of field education for traditional standing students, while advanced standing students need 540 hours. These hours spread across several semesters and include seminars where students share their experiences with faculty and classmates.
Students can enroll in the online MSW either part-time or full-time. Part-time students usually finish in two to four years. Full-time students complete their degree in one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half years.
The university also offers hybrid “Study-in-America” courses that blend service learning with online study. Students travel to places like California and Hawaii to study social service programs and volunteer with vulnerable populations.
Graduates from these online programs can get licensed in Texas, as long as they meet the same standards as traditional programs, according to the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners. This makes these flexible programs a valuable path to professional success.
Graduation rates
Texas State University tracks completion rates as a key measure of success in higher education. The university’s six-year graduation rate sits at 57-58%, which puts it among the top half of institutions nationwide. Students typically complete their bachelor’s degree in 4.56 years, while the four-year graduation rate ranges between 33-35%.
Social work students face more rigorous academic standards than many other majors. BSW candidates must keep their Texas State GPA above 2.50 in supportive courses. They also need to maintain at least a 2.75 GPA in social work courses. These higher benchmarks ensure graduates are ready for professional work or further studies.
The university’s retention numbers look strong. A record-breaking 93.3% persistence rate was achieved by First Time in College students from Fall 2023 to Spring 2024. This remarkable achievement aligns with the university’s Hopes & Aspirations High strategic vision, which prioritizes student success metrics.
Student completion rates vary among different demographic groups. First-time, full-time students show a six-year graduation rate of 54%. The numbers tell a different story for non-traditional and part-time learners – returning full-time students achieve a higher 65% six-year graduation rate.
Social work education continues to expand nationwide. The field awarded 32,801 master’s degrees during the 2021-22 academic year. More students from diverse backgrounds now choose social work as their career path, and Texas State’s student body reflects this trend.
All the same, future students should know that social work graduates now carry heavier student debt loads than their predecessors from ten years ago. This makes Texas State’s affordable tuition rates a crucial factor to think over when choosing a program.
Career outcomes
Texas State University’s social work graduates step into a field full of career opportunities. The social work profession will grow 7% between 2023-2033, creating 54,700 new positions nationwide. Mental health and substance abuse social workers can look forward to an even better 12% growth rate.
Your earning potential depends on your specialty. Texas-based child, family, and school social workers earn a median annual salary of $49,810, while healthcare social workers make $62,500. Mental health and substance abuse social workers receive $44,100. MSW graduates who develop advanced skills and take leadership roles can earn substantially more. Some hospital-based social workers in metropolitan areas even make over $100,000 annually.
Texas State BSW graduates usually start their careers in entry-level positions at child welfare organizations, schools, long-term care facilities, mental health centers, and public assistance agencies. They become eligible to take state social work licensure examinations right after graduation.
MSW graduates find jobs in Texas and beyond, working in a variety of practice fields. They build careers in child welfare, healthcare, behavioral mental health, education, veteran’s affairs, and criminal justice systems. Many alumni grow into leadership positions in clinical practice, program development, or administration.
Recent surveys show 61% of Applied Arts graduate students, including social work majors, land jobs shortly after graduation. Another 7% choose to continue their education. Healthcare systems, school districts, and government agencies like the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services rank among the top employers of Texas State graduates.
Texas just needs more qualified social workers than it can find. The state runs at only 56% of required capacity, and projections show a deficit of 33,825 social work positions by 2030. Rural areas face an even bigger challenge – 97% of Texas counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas.
These numbers tell a clear story: Texas State social work graduates have skills that employers in all settings and specializations desperately want.
Unique Features about the Social Work Programs at Texas State
Texas State University’s social work programs stand out from other state institutions with several unique features that go beyond regular academic courses.
The School of Social Work produces “Louder Than Words,” a student journal that showcases outstanding work from undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty, staff, current students, and alumni work together on this platform to help new scholarly voices emerge in the field.
The BSW program’s three-phase structure makes it special. Students can take all major courses on campus or online after they get into Phase II. This flexible approach extends to the new BSW program at Round Rock Campus, which will start in Fall 2024.
The program’s extensive field placement network throughout Central Texas connects students with agencies in both rural and urban areas. Students learn hands-on skills in different settings under licensed social work professionals.
The School’s unique elective courses include:
- Adventure Therapy: Theory, Research & Practice (SOWK 5304)
- Hip Hop and Social Justice for Individual and Community Change (SOWK 5302)
- Spirituality in Social Work Practice (SOWK 5303)
Study-in-America courses add an innovative twist to learning. These hybrid, service-learning experiences take students to places like Louisiana and Hawaii where they learn about social service programs that help vulnerable populations firsthand.
Social Work students must show emotional and behavioral stability, strong communication skills, good interpersonal abilities, and high self-awareness to meet the School’s rigorous standards.
Over the last several years since 2004, the MSW program has grown from a traditional setup into an entrepreneurial, tech-savvy educational program that uses technology to benefit both degree levels. This change shows the School’s steadfast dedication to preparing graduates for today’s practice environments.
Outstanding students can receive support through the Ima Hogg Scholarship program, which helps promising future social workers complete their education.