University Catalog

MSSW Program Goals

Admission Requirements

Students are admitted to the MSSW program for Fall or Spring semester with the excecption of students that qualify for advanced standing with their undergraduate social work degree. Advanced Standing students can be admitted for a fall, spring or summer semester. Please contact the MSSW Admissions Office (sswadmissions@uta.edu ) to obtain the complete application checklist and information concerning specific application deadlines. Applicants may also visit the MSSW Admissions webpage for more information (https://www.uta.edu/ssw/admissions/msw ).

The admissions process is the same for all MSSW programs, including the Distance Education Cohorts.

*Please note that the School of Social Work’s deadline for application is different from the published deadlines of the Graduate School.

General Admission Criteria

1. A bachelor’s degree with a liberal arts perspective from an accredited college or university.
2. Undergraduate GPA must be equal to or greater than 3.0 in the last 60 hours as calculated by Graduate Admissions or GRE score that evidences an ability to do satisfactory graduate work.
3. Three letters of reference indicating professional or academic promise.
4. Personal statement providing evidence of professional or academic goals consistent with the Social Work Program.
5. Personal qualifications considered essential to the successful practice of social work including leadership ability, personal maturity, motivation for a human service profession and experience in social work. A personal interview may be required.
6. Applicants to the school whose native language is not English must take, in addition to the Test of English as a Foreign Language, the Test of Spoken English.

Financial Aid

Scholarships are awarded annually and administered by the School of Social Work. Link to scholarship info: https://www.uta.edu/ssw/admissions/scholarships.php .

A limited number of traineeships are available through Child Protective Services.

Graduate Fellowships

Candidates for fellowship awards must have a GPA of 3.0 in their last 60 undergraduate credit hours and in any graduate credit hours, and must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours in both long semesters to retain their fellowships.

Degree Requirements

The curriculum is organized around five curriculum areas: Direct Practice, Community and Administration Practice, Research, Policy, and Human Behavior and the Social Environment. Required and elective courses are offered in each curriculum area. Students must complete foundation (first year) required courses before taking advanced (second year) courses. In the advanced year, a specialty is selected in child/family, mental health, and a combination of administration and community practice. First year courses have 5000 numbers; second year courses have 6000 numbers. Master’s level students are also allowed to take doctoral level courses with permission of the instructor and MSSW Program Director.

Degree Requirements

The program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Social Work covers a minimum of four semesters for full-time students and requires the completion of 61 semester hours of graduate work including class and field instruction, as well as thesis or integrative seminar (non-thesis option).

In addition to the general graduate admission requirements of the University, each graduate student in the social work program must:

1. maintain at least a B (3.0) overall GPA in all coursework;
2. demonstrate suitability for professional social work practice; and,
3. demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers and if licensed in Texas the Code of Ethics as currently published by the Texas Council for Social Work Examiners.

At such time as questions are raised by Social Work faculty or field instructors regarding a student’s violation of #2 or #3 of the above requirements, the student will be notified and will be provided the opportunity to respond to the Academic and Professional Standards Committee. The committee will review the student’s performance and make a recommendation concerning the student’s eligibility to continue in the program. Appeal of a recommendation may be made to the Dean of the School of Social Work.

Special Note: No credit is given for life and/or work experience.

Advanced Standing

An applicant meeting all regular admissions requirements who have graduated from an accredited undergraduate program in social work, within six years, will automatically be considered for advanced standing status in the graduate program. Advanced standing is not granted to students admitted on probation.

Prior, advanced standing students may have received credit hour waivers for some undergraduate social work courses which are considered equivalent to the first and second semester courses, provided the student’s grades in those courses are B or better. Students may receive course waivers for more than 23 hours, but only 23 hours may be applied to the 61-hour MSSW degree.

Students requesting advanced standing status who completed their BSW degrees more than six years prior to the semester in which they propose to begin their graduate studies must provide a documented summary of their work as a social worker, and may or may not, be granted course credit toward advanced standing. Students who have completed their BSW degrees within six years of their planned start of studies are not required to submit these materials. Advanced standing will be granted on a case-by-case basis contingent upon evaluation of transcripts and any other required supporting information.

Advanced Specialty Program

An applicant meeting all regular admissions requirements who has completed the foundation year at an accredited master’s program in social work may request admission into the Advanced Specialty MSSW program.

Students in the Advanced Specialty MSSW Program may receive credit hour waivers for some graduate level social work courses which are considered equivalent to the foundation year courses taken at an accredited social work program, provided that the grades in those courses are B or better. Students applying to the Advanced Specialty MSSW Program may be required to provide course syllabi for each course taken in the foundation year at their MSSW program prior to entering UT Arlington’s program. Students may receive course waivers for more than 23 credit hours, but only 23 hours may be applied to the 61-hour MSSW degree. Additionally, three credit hours may be transferred from foundation year courses taken at another accredited social work program.

Students requesting admission into the Advanced Specialty MSSW program must have completed the foundation year course work no more than six years prior to the semester in which they seek admissions. Admission to the Advanced Specialty MSSW program will be granted on a case-by-case basis contingent upon evaluation of transcripts and any other required supporting information.

Dual Degree Programs - On Campus

Students in social work may participate in one of five dual degree programs whereby they can earn a Master of Science in Social Work and:

1. a Master of City and Regional Planning,
2. a Master of Public Administration,
3. a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs,
4. a Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice, or
5. a Master of Arts in Sociology.

By participating in a dual degree program, students can apply some semester hours jointly to meet the requirements of both degrees, thus reducing the total number of hours which would be required to earn both degrees separately. The number of hours which may be jointly applied ranges from 6 to 18 hours, subject to the approval of Academic Advisors or Graduate Advisors from both programs.

To participate in the dual degree program, students must make separate application to each program and must submit a separate Program of Work for each degree. Those interested in a dual degree program should consult the appropriate Graduate Advisor(s) for further information on course requirements. See also information on Dual Degree Programs in the Advanced Degree Requirements section of this catalog.

MSSW Programs - Distance Education Programs

UT Arlington Fort Worth Center MSSW Cohort Program

The UT Arlington School of Social Work offers an MSSW Degree with a Concentration in Direct Practice that includes a specialization in Children and Families with a Certificate in Administration through our Fort Worth Center location. This program will prepare students to work directly with families and children while also acquiring knowledge in administration that will enhance their ability to assume leadership and administrative positions in social service agencies.

This program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Students will take one class at a time in 5-week blocks. Classes will be offered twice each week in the evening (scheduling may be subject to change during the summer semester as well as the intersessions). This will enable students to remain employed full time. The program of work for the degree is scheduled to be completed in 2 years. A new cohort of students will be admitted to the MSSW program at the UTA Fort Worth Center every fall.

Students applying to this program must meet all regular admissions requirements. The application process is the same as for students applying to our traditional MSSW program.

UT Arlington / Lubbock Christian University Cooperative MSSW Program

The UT Arlington School of Social Work in conjunction with LCU offers an Advanced Standing MSSW Degree with a Concentration in Direct Practice that includes a specialization in Children and Families.

This program is designed the needs of students in the Lubbock area. Students applying to this program can expect to complete the required courses both on the LCU campus and online through UT Arlington.

Students applying to this program must meet all regular admissions requirements. An applicant meeting all regular admissions requirements who has graduated from an accredited undergraduate program in social work and meets the Advanced Standing criteria will be eligible for this program. Advanced Standing status is not granted to students admitted on probation.

The application process is the same as for students applying to our traditional MSSW program.

MSSW Online Program

The MSSW Online Program is designed as a cohort that begins every fall and continues through a predetermined 61 hour degree plan at a part-time pace for three years. If you qualify for advanced standing then you will follow a 38-hour degree plan at a part-time pace for two years. Students in this cohort focus on Direct Practice (Children and Families) as their concentration area and are required to complete two field practicums for a total of about 900 hours. The practicum is the only face to face requirement; all of the courses are fully online. Expectations of the courses (assignment requirements, deadlines, discussions, etc…) will vary by instructor.

This program is open for anyone who qualifies for admission into the MSSW Program. At this time you must be a Texas resident currently living in Texas to apply to the MSSW Online Program (Please ask about changes to this requirement when seeking admission).

Joint Master’s in Social Work and Masters in Public Health (MSSW/MPH)

The Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health (MSSW/MPH) joint degree is a collaborative program between The University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work and The University of Texas School of Public Health (UTSPH). The MSSW/MPH joint degree program was developed to respond to the need for a greater integration of the knowledge and skills shared by social work and public health professionals. The MSSW/MPH program will prepare students to integrate social work and public health knowledge and skills in their professional lives as practitioners and researchers.

The curriculum is a general plan for the MSSW/MPH. By taking a specified number of approved courses in both programs, it is possible for students to complete both degrees in three years (two years for Advanced Standing students), while customizing the program to meet their interests and educational goals. Flexibility in the program allows most students to combine the MPH and MSSW requirements of a practicum with other learning experiences from the MSSW program. Students are guided by a Student Advisory Committee comprised of faculty from both participating school programs.

Students seeking admission to the MSSW/MPH program must meet the application requirements of each University, apply and be admitted to both degree programs before being considered for acceptance into the dual degree program by the MSSW/MPH Coordinating Committee. Please note: admission to one program does not ensure admission to the other.

Students are responsible for tuition and fee payments for courses taken in both schools, and upon successful completion of the degree requirements will receive a diploma from each university. Current MSSW or MPH students may decide to add the joint degree option to their educational plan and receive credit for courses. MPH students must declare their intent to enter the program by the completion of their second semester. MSSW students must declare their intent to enter the program by the completion of the foundation year (2 year students) or completion of 9 credit hours (advanced standing students)

Part-Time Students

Admission and degree requirements for part-time students are the same as those for full-time students. Likewise, part-time students must maintain the performance level required of full-time students.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work program, an applicant must satisfy the general admission requirements of the Graduate School and his or her academic record must show preparation for advanced study in social work. The students accepted for admission are those whose academic achievements, previous experience, and aptitude for research and scholarship indicate the potential for achieving the objectives of the program. In addition, admission to the program requires:

1. Master’s degree in Social Work or related field. For applicants with a master’s in a related field, a background in social and behavioral science and research methods is desirable.
2. Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 minimum, in the last 60 hours as calculated by Graduate Admissions.
3. Master’s GPA of 3.4 minimum as calculated by the Graduate School.
4. A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or EXADEP score that evidences an ability to do satisfactory graduate work if master’s GPA is less than 3.4.
5. Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work.
6. Curriculum vita.
7. Academic goals consistent with the Social Work Program.
8. Professional writing sample.
9. Evidence of statistics course in the last 5 years.
10. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from those holding a Ph.D., indicating professional and academic potential and addressing the areas of writing skills and analytical ability.
11. International applicants must submit a score of at least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, a score fo at least 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, minimum score of 7.0 on the IELTS, or a minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 90 with additional scores that meet or exceed 23 for the written section, 23 for the speaking section, 22 for the reading section, and 22 for the listening section to meet this requirement.

Unconditional Ph.D. Admission: An applicant is admitted unconditionally when all documentation relating to admissions criteria is received and performance on the criteria is acceptable.

Probationary Ph.D. Admission: An applicant who’s Master’s GPA is below 3.4 or that scores GRE or the EXADEP do not indicate ability to do satisfactory graduate work may be admitted on probation when performance on the majority of the remaining criteria is acceptable.

Provisional Admission: An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission decision deadline but that otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission.

Denial of Ph.D. Admission: Candidates may be denied admission if they have less than satisfactory performance on a majority of the admissions criteria.

Deferred Admission: A deferred decision may be granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate.

An application for admission, transcripts of previous academic work and Graduate Record Examination or EXADEP scores must be submitted to Graduate Admissions. An additional separate application and supporting materials must be sent to the Graduate Advisor, Ph.D. in Social Work Program.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

The program leading to the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work covers nine semesters (three years) of full-time study and requires the completion of 48 semester hours of graduate work including coursework, a qualifying examination, a comprehensive specialty examination and a dissertation. Students and their faculty supervisory committee together develop a plan of study geared to the students’ interests. Included in this plan are a set of required and elective courses in which students pursue their specialized interests.

1. 18 hours of Core coursework.
2. The core coursework qualifying examination must be satisfactorily completed before progressing in the program.
3. Six hours of nine hours Research Practicum.
4. Six hours electives selected from relevant graduate courses offered outside the School of Social Work.
5. Upon completion of 36 hours of required or elective coursework, the specialty comprehensive examination is taken prior to application for candidacy and registration for dissertation.
6. Three hours of dissertation tutorial taken upon successful completion of comprehensive specialty examination.
7. Nine total hours of dissertation must be taken for a student to graduate.

Successful completion of both the core qualifying examination and the comprehensive specialty examination in the area of study to advance the student to candidacy at which time he or she devotes time to the completion of the dissertation. The last step before the degree is awarded is the successful final defense of the dissertation.

Doctoral students must demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers and the Code of Ethics as currently published by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners.