Social Work (MSSW, Entry Level and Advanced Standing Options with Multiple Concentrations)
Mission Statement
The Department of Social Work is committed to preparing entry-level generalist (BSWs) and advanced professional social workers (MSSWs) to meet the needs of a bi-national and multicultural community. The program has two concentrations: Direct Practice with Latino Individuals, Families and Groups, and Administration and Community Practice. The program emphasizes multicultural awareness, professional competence, ethical practice, knowledge building acquisition, and social services that promote social and economic justice in a bi-national environment.
The department implements the mission statement through the goals and objectives that guide the curriculum.
Program Goals and Objectives
The Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) Program at The University of Texas-Pan American is designed to meet the social service needs of the diverse populations that the program graduates will serve. The program complies with the requirements of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
The mission of the Department of Social Work is closely bound to the missions of the University and College. As part of its mission, the University is committed to serving the higher education needs of South Texas. The mission of the College of Health Professions is to enhance the quality of life and health care in the lower Rio Grande Valley binational border community and region.
The department’s mission, the program objectives and the requirements of our accreditation agency provide the foundation for the Master of Science in Social Work Program and for the course content. The desired student learning outcomes are articulated in the objectives and syllabi and are disseminated through student advisement orientation sessions and admission guidelines, as well as in the Graduate Catalog, the Student Handbook and the Field Education Manual.
The social work master’s program seeks, as its major general objective, to prepare competent and effective social work professionals for advanced social work practice with Latino individuals and families who are guided by social work values and ethical principles.
Graduates are of the Master of Science in Social Work are expected to master the following core competencies as required by the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards of the Council on Social Work Education:
Educational Policy 2.1.1- Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly
Educational Policy 2.1.2 – Apply ethical principles in practice
Educational Policy 2.1.3 - Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments
Educational Policy 2.1.4 - Engage diversity and difference in practice
Educational Policy 2.1.5 - Advance human rights and social and economic justice
Educational Policy 2.1.6 - Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
Educational Policy 2.1.7 - Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment
Educational Policy 2.1.8 - Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
Educational Policy 2.1.9 - Respond to contexts that shape practice.
Educational Policy 2.1.10(a)–(d) - Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
The MSSW Curriculum
The Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The master’s in social work is a 63-hour degree consisting of 33 hours of professional foundation courses and 30 hours of advanced professional social work courses.
The foundation curriculum consists of three hours of Introduction to Professional Social Work, nine hours of Generalist Social Work Practice, three hours of diversity, six hours of Human Behavior and the Social Environment, three hours of Research Design and Analysis, three hours of Social Welfare Policy, and six hours of Field Education.
The curriculum of the Direct Practice with Latino Individuals, Families and Groups concentration consists of six hours in Advanced Family Practice, three hours in Social Work Practice with Latinos, three hours in Advanced Clinical Assessment, three hours In Advanced Policy Analysis and Development, three hours in Advanced Practice with Individuals, three hours in Advanced Practice with Groups, six hours of Concentration Practicum, and three hours in electives.
The curriculum of the Administration and Community Practice concentration consists of three hours in social work practice with Latinos, six hours in the area of macro practice assessment and evaluation, three hours in advanced practice with organizations, three hours in advanced practice with communities, three hours in advanced policy analysis and development, six hours in a macro practicum and six hours in social work electives. In addition to full-time study, extended study options are available for the 33-hour advanced standing program and the 63-hour program. The 33-hour advanced standing program can be completed in a two-year extended study period. Similarly, the 63-hour program can be completed in a three year of extended study period.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the graduate program, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other requirements listed below:
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent in a similar or related field.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal statement detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
- Verified successful completion of a course in basic statistics
Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.
Advanced Standing
Applicants who possess a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) may qualify for advanced standing and receive a waiver of up to 30 hours of academic credit for professional foundation courses. The advanced standing curriculum consists of 33 hours. Applicants who wish to be considered for advanced standing must also meet the following admissions requirements:
- Clear admission to graduate study at UT Rio Grande Valley
- GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale in social work core undergraduate courses.
Admissions Committee Review
All applications will be reviewed by the Department of Social Work MSSW Program Admissions Committee. The committee is responsible for the selection of the individuals who are admitted into the master’s in social work degree program.
Program Requirements
33 Hour Advanced Standing Program
Choose one of the following concentrations:
Administration and Community Practice Concentration:
Required Courses (27 Credits)
| SOCW 6315 | Social Work with Diverse Populations | 3 |
| SOCW 6332 | Social Work Practice with Latinos | 3 |
| SOCW 6336 | Advanced Macro Assessment | 3 |
| SOCW 6340 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Organizations | 3 |
| SOCW 6341 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Communities | 3 |
| SOCW 6342 | Advanced Policy Analysis and Development | 3 |
| SOCW 6380 | Accountability and Evaluation in Macro Practice | 3 |
| SOCW 6378 | Macro Practicum I | 3 |
| SOCW 6379 | Macro Practicum II | 3 |
Free Electives (6 Credits)
Capstone Requirement
Completion of Practicum Hours
Direct Practice with Latino Individuals, Families and Groups Concentration:
Required Courses (30 Credits)
Free Electives
Choose from the following:
Capstone Requirement
Completion of Practicum Hours
63 Hour Entry Level Program
Required Courses - 33 Hours
| SOCW 6300 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I: Individuals, Families and Small Groups | 3 |
| SOCW 6301 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II: Social Institutions, Communities and Organizations | 3 |
| SOCW 6302 | Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| SOCW 6311 | Social Work as a Profession | 3 |
| SOCW 6315 | Social Work with Diverse Populations | 3 |
| SOCW 6321 | Generalist Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SOCW 6322 | Generalist Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SOCW 6323 | Generalist Social Work Practice III | 3 |
| SOCW 6381 | Social Work Research Designs and Applications | 3 |
| SOCW 6370 | Field Practicum I | 3 |
| SOCW 6371 | Field Practicum II | 3 |
Choose one of the following concentrations:
Administration and Community Practice Concentration:
Required Courses - 24 Hours
| SOCW 6332 | Social Work Practice with Latinos | 3 |
| SOCW 6336 | Advanced Macro Assessment | 3 |
| SOCW 6340 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Organizations | 3 |
| SOCW 6341 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Communities | 3 |
| SOCW 6342 | Advanced Policy Analysis and Development | 3 |
| SOCW 6380 | Accountability and Evaluation in Macro Practice | 3 |
| SOCW 6378 | Macro Practicum I | 3 |
| SOCW 6379 | Macro Practicum II | 3 |
Free Electives - 6 Hours
Choose from the following:
Direct Practice with Latino Individuals, Families and Groups Concentration:
Required Courses - 27 Hours
Free Electives - 3 Hours
Choose from the following:
Capstone Requirement
Completion of Practicum Hours
The 33-hour degree program consists of courses and field education experiences of the selected concentration, as listed above under the 63-hour degree plan plus SOCW 6315.
The required courses are designed to provide the student with a multicultural background, emphasizing the important social issues in direct services to Latino individuals, families and groups or administrative and community practice. The degree program, administered by the Department of Social Work, offers professional preparation for advanced social work practice. Graduates will have the opportunity to attain advanced analytical and practice skills sufficient for self-critical, accountable and autonomous practice.
Graduates of the Master of Science in Social Work will be eligible to take the state examination to become a licensed master social worker (LMSW's).
Total Credit Hours: 33-63