University of Texas at Arlington Social Work Programs
Are you looking at the University of Texas at Arlington social work programs? You’ve picked a great social work school. UTA ranks as the #1 college for social work majors in Texas. The school combines quality education with affordable tuition rates, which makes it an excellent choice for future social workers.
The University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work has earned impressive national recognition. Their Bachelor of Social Work program ranks as the third most popular nationwide. The school’s social work masters program stands out as the best online MSW in the country. It’s also the most affordable CSWE-accredited program available today. Students who want to advance their careers can look forward to a new online Doctor of Social Work program. The program launches in Spring 2026, pending final approval.
This piece will help you understand how UTA’s respected programs can turn your education into a rewarding social work career.
Social Work Degrees Offered at UT Arlington
The School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Arlington provides degree options that fit students at any point in their educational path. Students can choose from bachelor’s to doctorate programs that blend academic rigor with adaptable schedules.
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) need 120 credit hours to graduate. This program readies students for entry-level roles in social services through three study options:
- Traditional in-person classes at the Arlington Campus
- A fully online program available to students inside and outside Texas
- Select in-person classes at the UTA Fort Worth Location based on availability
The university’s Bachelor of Science in Substance Use & Treatment (BSSUT) program helps students build careers in substance use disorder assessment and treatment.
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program features an advanced curriculum with five specialized areas:
- Direct Practice in Mental Health & Substance Misuse
- Direct Practice in Aging
- Direct Practice in Children & Families
- Direct Practice in Health
- Macro-Practice: Community and Administrative Practice
The MSW program welcomes students from all backgrounds – no BSW degree or GRE required. Full-time students can complete the 61 semester hours of graduate work in just four semesters.
The School’s Ph.D. program prepares students for academic careers and includes funding packages that cover three years of tuition. A new Online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program plans to launch in Spring 2026, pending final approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The School of Social Work has fostered a diverse community of over 1,800 students in these programs. Both BSW and MSW programs maintain full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education.
Specializations
UT Arlington’s MSW program sets itself apart with an impressive range of specialty options. The program features five distinct specialty areas while most MSW programs have all but one of these options. Students can shape their education to match their career goals.
Here are the five specializations in the MSW program:
- Direct Practice in Mental Health & Substance Misuse: This specialty helps students master assessment and intervention techniques for clients with mental health challenges and substance abuse problems. Students learn to identify needs and create effective treatment strategies.
- Direct Practice in Aging: Students who choose this path learn to create and use effective interventions specifically designed for older adults and their caregivers. The specialization meets a growing demand for social workers with expertise in gerontological practice.
- Direct Practice with Children & Families: This specialty gives you the skills needed in schools, foster care, adoption, child protective services, and family crisis intervention. Students become experts who support youth and families through trauma-informed, equity-focused practice.
- Direct Practice in Health: Students in this specialization learn to explain treatment options, handle crisis situations, and support patients. Healthcare facilities now recognize how social workers improve patient outcomes.
- Community and Administrative Practice (CAP): This macro-level focus builds expertise in creating, managing, and evaluating community programs. Students master strategies in community needs assessment, program leadership, and policy support.
Online MSW students can choose from four specializations: Mental Health and Substance Misuse, Aging, Children and Families, or Community and Administrative Practice.
UT Arlington enriches its program with graduate certificates in Military Social Work, Military Veteran and Family Care, and leadership concentrations such as Community Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Administrative Leadership, and Policy Leadership.
Online and Hybrid Options
UT Arlington’s School of Social Work has created flexible learning paths that work for students in a variety of situations. The school offers multiple formats that balance easy access with strong academic standards.
Texas residents can complete their MSW coursework through the asynchronous online program at their own pace from anywhere. Students pay the same affordable in-state tuition as on-campus programs and can choose from four of the five specialization areas. The program’s quality has earned recognition consistently, and professors receive extensive training to teach effectively online.
Benefits of the online format include:
- Flexible scheduling that works around your existing commitments
- Freedom to complete coursework from anywhere
- Learning from the same renowned faculty who teach on-campus
The school’s Non-Resident Distance Education Program (NRODE) extends beyond Texas borders. Out-of-state students can save 40-50% on tuition compared to regular non-resident rates. NRODE students must live outside Texas during their studies and complete field internships at approved agencies in their local communities.
Your entry point determines how long it takes to finish the program. Advanced Standing students can graduate in 12 months, while Traditional Standing students usually need 24 months. Full-time and part-time options are available, and part-time students have up to six years to earn their degree.
Students can also choose from several hybrid options. The Fort Worth Center MSW Cohort Program combines evening classes with a Children and Families specialization and an Administration Certificate. A partnership with Lubbock Christian University serves Lubbock area students through mixed on-campus and online learning.
Distance education programs use a cohort model where students move through their courses together. This creates a supportive learning community even when students aren’t physically together. Fully online students only need to complete their field education face-to-face.
Graduation rates
The University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work uses graduation rates to show how well their programs work. Their master’s programs have achieved an impressive 80% five-year graduation rate as of 2023. This is a big deal as it means that UTA students graduate at much higher rates than the UT System peer average of 65%. Students who choose UTA’s social work master’s program have excellent chances of finishing their degree.
The School’s doctoral program shows equally impressive results with a 69% ten-year graduation rate. This matches closely with the UT System peer average of 68%. The spring 2025 graduation ceremony showcased these achievements when three PhD, 120 master’s, and 91 bachelor’s students received their degrees.
UTA’s undergraduate programs continue to improve steadily. The six-year graduation rate reached 56% for the 2016-2017 cohort. This exceeds UTA’s minimum acceptable rate of 48% and moves closer to their 2024 goal of 60%. First-time, full-time students achieve a 50% six-year graduation rate.
Students in the School of Social Work perform well academically at every level. Recent graduates earned strong GPAs – 3.02 for first baccalaureate students, 3.03 for master’s students, and an outstanding 3.73 for PhD students.
Success means more than just numbers at UTA. The school’s faculty and staff work hard to “create and maintain a positive, inclusive, welcoming, and supportive environment for students to learn and develop”. They help students graduate by removing first-semester registration holds, finding more funding sources, and offering more academic scholarships and field stipends.
These efforts have helped UTA become the #1 university in North Texas and #36 nationally for social mobility. This makes UTA’s social work programs an excellent choice if you want to advance your career.
Career outcomes
A Master of Social Work opens doors to one of the fastest-growing career fields. Job growth is expected to jump by 7%. MSW graduates find rewarding work in several key areas:
- Direct clinical practice areas (mental health, substance misuse, aging, healthcare)
- Government agencies and private organizations
- Social, racial, and economic justice advocacy
- Community organizing and administrative practice
Some graduates start their own therapy and counseling practices. Others become activists, social entrepreneurs, elected leaders, professors, or lawyers. This versatile degree creates career opportunities in education, health, aging, children & families, government, criminal justice, counseling, and nonprofit sectors.
The university helps students advance their careers through several channels. The Online Social Work Career Development Corner serves as a professional resource hub for students and alumni alike. Professor Regina Trudy Praetorius, who brings unique experience from the Dinitto Center for Career Services and the Louisiana State University Olinde Career Center, manages this resource.
The School of Social Work keeps a curated list of social work job opportunities ready for job seekers. Students also get access to the Lockheed Martin Career Development Center. The center provides detailed services including job fairs, Career Spot Drop-Ins, and one-on-one meetings with Career Consultants.
Students can pair their degree with skills-based microcredentials to boost their job prospects. A recent graduate who earned a Google IT Support Certificate with her BSW puts it well: “As an IT support computer specialist, you help solve problems. That’s also helping people, like with social work. You help them in a different capacity”.
Unique Features about the Social Work Programs at UT Arlington
The School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington stands out with unique features that make it different from other schools. UTA offers a rare blend of academic excellence, affordability, and accessibility in social work education.
UTA has earned national recognition as the 3rd most popular Bachelor of Social Work program in America. The school leads Texas as the #1 college for social work majors and gives students unique value within the state.
Affordable education serves as the life-blood of UTA’s advantage. The school offers the most affordable CSWE-accredited MSW program in the nation without compromising academic quality. Students from other states can benefit from the Non-Resident Distance Education Program (NRODE), which cuts non-resident tuition by 40-50%.
More than 1,800 students from various backgrounds demonstrate UTA’s dedication to inclusion. This mix of perspectives creates a dynamic learning environment that prepares graduates to work with clients from every background.
Students get practical skills through field education at over 500 partner agencies throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. They learn ground skills before graduation through these partnerships.
Master’s students new to the program enjoy a unique cohort model. They progress together even when studying online, which promotes lasting community bonds and support networks.
A new Doctor of Social Work program planned for Spring 2026 (pending final approval) puts UTA at the vanguard of advanced social work education.
The program’s exceptional 80% five-year graduation rate for master’s students beats the UT System peer average by 15 percentage points. These features make UTA’s social work programs an excellent choice for future professionals who want quality education with great returns.