7 Top Clinical Social Work Programs in Texas
Clinical Social Work Programs in Texas are thriving, and with good reason too. Healthcare and mental health social work roles will grow by nearly 10% over the next decade, substantially outpacing the national average. On top of that, mental health and substance abuse social workers can expect an impressive 18% growth over the coming 10 years.
Texas offers excellent opportunities to start your experience or advance your career as a clinical social worker. Master’s-level clinical professionals are in high demand, as the Health Resources and Service Administration reports a 30% increase needed in master’s and doctoral-level social workers by 2030. Students can choose between UT Southwestern’s complete fellowship program with rotations at Children’s Medical Center and Texas A&M-Kingsville’s unique Clinical/Activist MSW program serving the rural U.S./Mexico border regions. These options provide promising career paths.
Let’s take a closer look at seven top-rated programs that prepare you to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Each program offers specialized training aligned with your career goals.
1. UTHealth Houston MSW in Clinical Social Work
UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences launched its Master of Clinical Social Work (MSW) program. This program gives students a clear path to careers in mental and behavioral health care. The program is distinguished among Texas clinical social work programs because of its clinical focus and detailed preparation for professional licensure.
Program overview
The UTHealth Houston MSW program started after the University of Texas System Board of Regents approved it in November 2022. Students who want to change lives through mental health care will find this program valuable. The main goal is to help Texas communities by training qualified mental health professionals to address workforce shortages. Students graduate ready to become Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) who can work with patients from all backgrounds in healthcare settings.
Curriculum structure
The MSW program needs 62 semester credit hours (SCH), with 20 SCH dedicated to practicum work (1,020 field hours). Students with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited school can qualify for Advanced Standing. This reduces their requirements to 30 SCH with 12 practicum SCH (540 field hours).
Full-time students usually finish the program in two years. The curriculum builds skills step by step:
- First year: Students learn fundamental concepts through a generalist point of view. This includes core practice skills, human behavior, research, social welfare policy, and field instruction
- Second year: Students specialize in advanced micro/mezzo practice to work with individuals, families, and groups
CSWE core competencies are the foundations of this program, with extra focus on clinical and medical social work. Students take courses in generalist practice with individuals and families, social welfare policy, human behavior in social environments, and specialized training in mental health and healthcare practice.
Fieldwork and practicum
Fieldwork is central to social work education at UTHealth Houston. Students work in places that match their career goals, such as hospitals, clinics, schools, and community organizations. Tangible experience helps students use their classroom knowledge and build vital professional skills.
Students complete two practicum placements, one each year (advanced standing students need one practicum). The Advanced Seminar and Field Practicum II includes a capstone project. This gives students a chance to show their clinical skills in action.
Admission requirements
Students must meet these requirements:
- 0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school (liberal arts degree with social and behavioral sciences background preferred)
- Three recommendation letters (one from an academic professor)
- Personal statement
- Official transcripts from previous schools
International students need a TOEFL iBT score of 80 or higher, or an IELTS score of 6.5. Their transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
Advanced Standing applicants must have a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
Clinical focus
Graduates learn specialized skills for mental health and healthcare settings. The program teaches mental health treatment, evidence-based approaches for different populations, and health policy analysis.
Students develop skills in ten key areas. These include ethical behavior, human rights work, diversity participation, research-based practice, policy work, and helping individuals, families, and groups. The program’s unique tenth skill focuses on social work methods to improve health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.
Students can also choose specialized courses like End-of-Life Care and Bereavement Support and Substance Misuse Treatment. These courses help them become experts in high-demand clinical areas.
Licensure preparation
The program prepares students to become Licensed Clinical Social Workers in Texas. Students meet all requirements for LMSW licensure, which leads to LCSW credentials. Texas requires an LMSW license through a CSWE-accredited master’s degree, supervised practicum verification, and passing scores on both the ASWB master’s exam and Texas jurisprudence exam.
Many graduates join the MSW Fellowship, a two-year program for LMSWs working toward LCSW licensure. This fellowship offers intensive clinical training to help address public mental health system workforce shortages.
2. UT Southwestern Clinical Social Work Fellowship
UT Southwestern has a unique post-graduate fellowship for Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSWs) who want advanced clinical training in pediatric and adolescent mental health. This program stands out among Texas clinical social work programs because of its complete approach to training future clinical social workers.
Fellowship structure
Full-time, paid two-year program describes the UT Southwestern Clinical Social Work Fellowship. The Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium funds this intensive program specifically for LMSWs pursuing clinical licensure. Students get paid while they learn through a mix of hands-on clinical practice and classroom training.
Weekly training sessions help fellows build skills in individual, family, and group psychotherapy. Fellows work alongside physicians, residents, interns, nurses, advanced practice providers, psychologists, and pharmacists in a team setting. This mix of healthcare professionals helps create a complete understanding of mental healthcare delivery in an academic medical center.
Clinical training and supervision
Fellows learn evidence-based clinical social work practices that prepare them for independent work. Each fellow meets one-on-one with a Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor (LCSW-S) weekly, plus group supervision sessions. This individual attention helps tailor guidance to each fellow’s learning needs.
The training covers neurobiological and biopsychosocial clinical applications, building a strong base in modern therapeutic approaches. Supervisors watch fellows work and provide immediate feedback on their clinical techniques. Fellows develop better assessment skills, intervention strategies, and treatment planning abilities as they progress.
Rotations and specialties
First-year fellows work in various settings at Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, and UT Southwestern Medical Center. They spend time in children’s and adolescents’ Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), and outpatient pediatric and family psychotherapy mental health services.
Special placements include the Rees Jones Center for Foster Care Excellence, Suicide Prevention and Resilience at Children’s (SPARC), Children’s Mental Health Assessment Team in the Emergency Department, and the Texas Perinatal Psychiatry Access Network. New rotations keep being added. Fellows gain experience in neurology, behavioral health, developmental disorders, gastroenterology, substance use, and eating disorders.
Eligibility and application
Candidates need an active LMSW in good standing, preferably in Texas. Program requirements include:
- MSW degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited program
- Minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
- Statement of purpose
- Two-year commitment to in-person, full-time position
The best candidates have 1-2 years of experience in child and family mental health services, know pediatric mental health settings, and understand community resources. Strong organizational and time management skills matter too. Candidates should be good with electronic health records and communication.
The fellowship trains specialists in children and adolescent mental health to meet Texas’s critical workforce needs. Working with the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium helps address the state’s shortage of pediatric behavioral health services.
Fellows learn Texas-specific mental health processes like Orders of Protective Custody (OPC) and Apprehension by Police Officer Without Warrant (APOWW) procedures. This knowledge helps them handle unique challenges in Texas’s mental healthcare system.
Fellows complete enough supervised clinical hours for LCSW licensure in Texas by the end of the program. Direct clinical hours, specialized training, and supervision prepare practitioners to meet mental health needs in Texas communities of all sizes.
3. Texas A&M Kingsville MSW Program
Texas A&M University-Kingsville sits at the heart of South Texas with a distinctive MSW program that blends clinical expertise and activist approaches. This fully accredited program by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is known among clinical social work programs in Texas because it focuses on helping people in rural U.S./Mexico border regions.
Mission and values
The MSW program at TAMUK has a clear purpose: students learn clinical/activist generalist practice suited to South Texas’s rural environment. Students respect how people traditionally seek help and understand the spiritual aspects of Mexican heritage families along the bi-national border regions.
The program lines up with Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s core values – Care, Integrity, Pride, Innovation, and Excellence. Students learn to serve people from all backgrounds with dignity and respect. Social work values guide the program: service, social and economic justice, human dignity, relationships, integrity, and skilled practice. Students become clinical/activists who keep learning and lead efforts to promote justice – social, economic, political, and environmental – from a human rights view at local, state, national, and global levels.
Program tracks
Students can pick between two paths to earn their MSW degree:
- Regular/Foundation Track: This track works best for students who have bachelor’s degrees in subjects other than social work. Students need five semesters (two calendar years) of full-time study. The first year covers foundation content, and the second year focuses on clinical/activist social work.
- Advanced Standing Track: Students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited university can take this faster route. They finish in just three semesters (one calendar year) of full-time study. These students jump right into clinical/activist social work content.
Both tracks feature field practicum experiences. Students put their classroom knowledge to work in real settings under professional guidance. Field education makes up much of the 60-credit Regular Track and 30-credit Advanced Standing curriculum.
Admission requirements
TAMUK makes applying simple – no GRE scores needed. Applications come in year-round, but August 1st marks the priority date.
Regular 2-Year Track students must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in any field except social work. Advanced Standing Track needs more specific qualifications:
- BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited university
- 0 GPA or higher in BSW program from the last 5 years
- Four prerequisite courses: human biology, introduction to psychology, introduction to sociology, and statistics (3 credits each)
- BSW completion by spring semester before starting MSW
New students start with conditional admission. They must keep a 3.0 GPA in their first semester to get full admission.
Clinical/activist focus
This program’s special clinical/activist approach makes it different from other MSW programs that stick to just clinical practice or advocacy. Students learn:
Clinical practice skills to help clients directly through therapy and counseling, plus activist methods to work with communities and create social change. Applied seminars help students become experts in leadership, supervision, rural communities, and intervention strategies.
Students learn about rural social work, economic policy and development, military/veterans services, and elder care. They also learn to see how “Rurality” helps build strength through spiritual, family, and community systems.
Graduates can work in social work and social services, and take the master’s level social work examination in Texas. They’re ready to help diverse communities in South Texas and beyond face their unique challenges.
4. University of Texas at Arlington MSW Program
The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) runs one of the most respected and flexible Master of Social Work programs in the Lone Star State. The School of Social Work has managed to keep its top ranking among CSWE-accredited programs for over 50 years. Students appreciate its affordability and detailed approach.
Program overview
UTA’s MSW program equips students with skills for advanced roles in one of the fastest-growing career fields. Job outlook projections show a 16% increase in need. Full-time traditional students must complete 61 semester hours through classroom instruction and field experience.
UTA excels among clinical social work programs in Texas because of its versatility. Graduates build careers as counselors, promoters, and leaders in settings of all types. The program ranks as the #1 military/veteran-friendly program in Texas and #5 nationally.
Students can choose between:
- Full-time or part-time study options
- Traditional or advanced standing tracks
- On-campus or fully online learning formats
- Five specialty areas (more than most competing programs offer)
Students interested in clinical focus can select specialized tracks in Mental Health and Substance Misuse, Health, Children and Families, Aging, and Community and Administrative Practice.
Field placement opportunities
Field education serves as the substance of UTA’s social work training. The school partners with more than 800 agencies for required field internships. Students get exceptional opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings.
The Practicum Education program links students with agencies matching their career goals and interests. These hands-on experiences help students graduate, obtain licensure, and succeed professionally. The school accepts agencies that meet strict requirements for appropriate staffing, accommodating hours, and line up with the School of Social Work values.
Students develop valuable hands-on experience through:
- Direct practice with individuals, families and groups
- Program development and evaluation
- Policy analysis and promotion
- Research and community education
To name just one example, clinical social work interns at the Center for Addiction and Recovery Studies (CARS) develop skills in psychosocial assessments, individualized service planning, and clinical case management using Motivational Interviewing. Students graduate with practical experience in evidence-based interventions that prepare them for licensure.
Advanced standing option
Students with a BSW degree received within the last six years who meet GPA requirements can take advantage of the advanced standing option. This fast track lets students finish the program in just 12 months full-time, unlike traditional students who take 24 months.
Advanced standing students start in fall, spring, or summer semesters. They can enter through:
- Quick Admissions Process – Students with a 3.0+ GPA in their last 60 undergraduate credit hours
- Traditional Admissions Process – Students below the 3.0 GPA requirement
Advanced standing students pick one specialty area from the five clinical and macro practice options. They complete 38 credit hours including required internship hours, focusing on advanced content.
UTA’s clinical emphasis readies students to work in mental health, substance misuse treatment, healthcare, schools, and family services. Graduates demonstrate nine core competencies set by CSWE plus additional specialized skills.
The clinical track teaches evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, and intervention techniques for work with people of all backgrounds—from children and youth to adults and families. Graduates qualify for advanced-level positions and eventual licensure as clinical social workers in Texas.
The program’s clinical curriculum helps students become skilled at:
- Ethical and professional behavior
- Diversity and difference in practice
- Human rights and social justice
- Practice-informed research
- Policy practice
- Engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation with clients
UTA’s detailed approach to clinical social work education makes it a top choice for future clinical social workers in Texas.
5. Baylor University MSW Program
Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work has a faith-integrated MSW program in downtown Waco. The program blends coursework, internships, and social justice curriculum to prepare graduates for social work careers with a unique spiritual dimension.
Program structure
The MSW Standard Program at Baylor University has 58 semester hours with credits for two internships. Students start their internships in their first semester while getting foundation training for direct practice, administration, and community development. Second-year students then choose either Clinical or Community Practice specialization.
Students can pick a concentration within their specialization. They might focus on children and families, gerontology, death and grief, or international social work. A one-week capstone seminar ends the program before graduation.
BSW holders can complete Baylor’s 30-hour Advanced Standing program in nine consecutive months. These students begin advanced internships during fall semester and create research projects based on their placement experiences.
Clinical training
The Clinical Practice specialization readies students for advanced social work in various clinical and mental health settings where they work with interdisciplinary teams. This track gives graduates the skills to serve clients through case management, counseling, and mental health care.
The curriculum has key courses that build clinical expertise:
- Human Diversity & Social Justice (learning how diversity shapes human experience)
- Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families (applying the generalist intervention model)
- Clinical Diagnosis in Social Work (using strengths-based points of view with DSM diagnoses)
- Clinical Social Work Practice I (building specialized knowledge of theories and practice models)
This track’s graduates often move into careers in healthcare, schools, behavioral health organizations, trauma intervention, and work with children and families.
Admission and prerequisites
Students need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to join the Standard MSW program. The application process needs a completed form with a $45 fee, three recommendation letters (one must be from an academic professor), all previous institution transcripts, and essay responses.
Advanced Standing applicants should have a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned within the last five years. They need a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher and a social work coursework GPA of 3.0 or higher. All practice and internship courses must have minimum grades of B. Students must also submit their final practicum evaluation.
Fieldwork and practicum
Practicum education is a life-changing part of Baylor’s MSW program. Students apply their classroom knowledge through internships while getting hands-on experience with authentic challenges they’ll face in their careers.
BSW and MSW Foundation students complete 430 hours total, spread across two semesters with 215 hours each. MSW Advanced students complete 520 hours over two semesters. Students work in various settings like hospitals, schools, non-profit organizations, mental health facilities, adoption and foster care agencies, residential treatment centers, veteran services, and grief support programs.
Baylor’s Practicum Team supports students throughout their experience to ensure meaningful learning opportunities that enhance their academic training.
6. Texas State University MSW Program
Texas State University School of Social Work runs a 40-year-old MSW program that readies graduates for direct practice and administrative roles. The program has built its reputation through its graduates who excel in state licensing exams and find success in a variety of service fields.
Curriculum overview
Students can choose between campus-based and online options that use similar textbooks, curricula, and core faculty. The program offers two tracks:
- Foundation/Regular Track (62 credit hours): This track suits students with bachelor’s degrees from fields other than social work
- Advanced Standing Track (36 credit hours): Students who graduated from CSWE-accredited BSW programs in the past 10 years can take this track
Both tracks center on Advanced Practice Leadership (APL) as the major. This focus helps students prepare for direct practice or administrative roles. Beyond core courses, students can pick specialized electives in health care, diversity, international social work, gerontology, spirituality, adventure therapy, and veterans services.
Clinical specialization
Whatever path students choose, they learn skills to become effective clinical practitioners. The curriculum helps students create positive change through effective communication, active listening, psychoeducation, and problem-solving. Students graduate as leaders with strong research and policy analysis skills.
Graduates work with people of all ages in fields like child welfare, mental health, education, healthcare, veterans services, and public policy. The program’s clinical focus helps students combine social work values and direct practice skills smoothly in many settings.
Field education
Field education is the cornerstone of the MSW program. The Office of Field Education handles all foundation and advanced practice internships, and students get help from their Field Advisors. Students don’t need to find their own internships, whether they study full-time or part-time.
Full-time students finish one block placement in about 15 weeks. Part-time students complete their requirements over two semesters. Starting Fall 2025, MSW Advanced Field will need 500 contact hours for full-time students.
Licensure preparation
After graduation, students can apply for the state social work licensure examination to become a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). All the same, we focused on giving students a foundation to study and prepare for the licensing exam on their own using Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) resources. With enough post-graduate supervised hours in clinical settings, graduates can pursue Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credentials later.
7. Stephen F. Austin State University MSW Program
Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches gives students a chance to earn their MSW with advanced generalist practice expertise in rural settings. The Council on Social Work Education has accredited this program since 1998. Students learn to tackle unique challenges that rural communities face.
Program explains
Students can choose from several study paths. Traditional students complete the program in two years full-time or up to four years part-time. BSW degree holders can take advantage of advanced standing and finish in just 10 months full-time or two years part-time. SFA’s curriculum combines ecological systems approach, strengths point of view, and social capital theories.
Clinical practice focus
The program helps students develop specialized clinical skills for rural settings. Students start with generalist practice foundations in their first year. They then move on to specialized content that centers on rural ecological systems. Graduates gain advanced knowledge and skills to work with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations in different settings.
Fieldwork and community engagement
Field education is the foundation of SFA’s program. Students must complete three sequential field instruction experiences. This includes 500 agency-based hours combined with a two-hour weekly integrated seminar. The Center for Rural Social Work Research and Development has helped students since 2010. Students can join community-based projects that address actual challenges in rural populations.
Admission process
Your application must include:
- SFA Graduate School application
- Official transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- Written statement of interest
- Résumé
- Criminal History Notification Form
You need an overall GPA of 2.5 and 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours to gain clear admission. If you’re applying for advanced standing, you must have earned your BSW from a CSWE-accredited program with minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credits.
Next Steps
Picking the right clinical social work program is a crucial step toward a rewarding career in this growing field. Texas offers seven outstanding programs with different paths that match various career goals and personal needs. You can choose UTHealth Houston’s specialized clinical focus, UT Southwestern’s detailed fellowship, or Texas A&M Kingsville’s unique clinical/activist approach. Each program gives you the essential training you need to get your LCSW license.
UTA is notable because it works well for military personnel and offers flexible scheduling. Baylor brings faith perspectives into clinical practice naturally. Texas State and Stephen F. Austin give you more choices with their specialized training in leadership and rural practice.
Each program has its own focus, but they all share key elements you need to grow professionally. The mix of challenging coursework, supervised fieldwork, and specialized clinical training helps build your skills in assessment, intervention, and ethical practice with people from all backgrounds.
Mental health social work jobs will grow by 18% in the next decade. Texas communities need more qualified professionals, which means graduates from these programs will find many meaningful job opportunities.
Your career goals, priorities, and personal situation should guide your choice. In spite of that, any CSWE-accredited MSW program you pick will give you the skills, knowledge, and credentials to help Texans who need support. Your experience of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker starts with choosing the right educational foundation – and Texas has excellent options to build on.