Master of Social Work Online
Accredited Online Master of Social Work Degree for Students in Texas
Build on your passion for helping others with UK’s CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work degree. The online master’s degree program prepares you to support people and communities across Texas—without having to leave Texas.
Learn More Today
Complete the form to learn more about this program.
Regular Standing MSW
Format 100% Online
Total Credits 60
Program Length As few as 4 semesters
Certificate Options Yes
Advanced Standing MSW – Accelerated Format
Format 100% Online
Total Credits 30
Program Length As few as 2 Semesters
Certificate Options Yes
Prepare to Support Vulnerable Populations in Texas.
You have a passion for advancing the ideals of human rights and social justice in Texas. Now, you can start an online master’s degree program that prepares you to make a meaningful difference for people in Texas’s diverse communities.
Get started in the online Master of Social Work degree program that fits your schedule and supports your career goals. You can customize the curriculum UK’s MSW program based on the services and assistance people need most in Texas. What’s more, you can choose from multiple certificate options to customize and enrich your education.
No matter the option, you’ll graduate exceptionally prepared to provide research-informed support to Texas communities—from serving individuals directly to coordinating organizational practice. You can also explore macro-level social work to drive positive change in social policy and large-scale systems of care across Texas. And with our Advanced Standing master’s degree program, eligible full-time students can graduate in 12 months.
Making a Difference in Texas Can Become Your Career Focus.
Prepare to meet Texas’s rising need for social workers by seeking our CSWE-accredited social work degree online. You can gain qualifications to work as a mental health counselor, a role that could experience 26% growth in Texas through 2028.1 Projections also show Texas will see 19% employment growth for healthcare social workers2 and mental health and substance abuse social workers3 during that timeframe.
Texas’s Social Work Jobs by the Numbers.
Check out five social work roles you could pursue in Texas, ranked by employment projections for 2028. Completing our accredited social work degree can provide qualifications for these roles on an accelerated schedule.
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers: 24,290 jobs4
- Mental Health Counselors: 14,380 jobs1
- Healthcare Social Workers: 12,260 jobs2
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: 7,550 jobs3
- Social Workers (All Other): 2,220 jobs5
13% Ten-year projection for healthcare social workers in the U.S.2
19% Ten-year projection for healthcare social workers in Texas.2
No. 6 Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington, Texas is a Top 10 metropolitan area for healthcare social workers.6
Prepare to Attain Licensure in Texas.
With our accelerated master’s degree program, you can build the confidence and expertise to create social change in Texas. Plus, our accredited MSW degree program was created with a focused Licensing Preparation Initiative (LPI). Learning through LPI’s specific instruction and exam structure throughout the coursework, you’re better prepared to sit for the social work licensure exam. Our licensure pass rates surpass the national average.
Professional licensure or certification may be required to practice, advance, or specialize in social work. However, educational requirements for licensure vary by state. You can view more information on social work licensure here.
Get more information about our online degree program’s SARA compliance.
Curriculum: Offer Ethical Support to Communities Across Texas.
Texas students with a bachelor’s in social work degree can apply to our 30-credit Advanced Standing master’s degree program to earn a master’s degree in 12 months. We also offer a Regular Standing program with 60 credits for students with bachelor’s degrees in other fields. You will complete one of our multiple certificates in areas like Clinical Social Work, Child Welfare, Trauma-Responsive Practice, Military Behavioral Health, School Social Work and Substance Use Disorder, or select elective courses to complete an Individualized Plan of Study while pursuing the online Master of Social Work degree.
Our accredited master’s degree program offers courses that help fulfill your passion for providing ethical support in Texas. Our faculty teaches you to navigate poverty, inequality, injustice, and other complex social work issues, along with the theory behind psychopathology, effective policy, and group practice. To provide hands-on experience for careers in Texas, our online degree program includes a series of practicums guided by a faculty field professor and an agency field instructor.
Our online MSW is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Explore CurriculumChoose an Area of Focus for Careers Across Texas.
With our accredited master’s degree program, you can choose either a certificate or an individualized plan of study. Each option includes online classes that enhance your learning experience and focus on topics relevant to social work careers in Texas.
Build a comprehensive understanding of topics influencing child welfare practice, including historical perspectives, child protection policy, and abuse intervention. Students may apply for the certificate after being accepted to the online MSW program.
View CertificateGain an advanced level of clinical knowledge and skills including application of social work practice in a variety of clinical settings. Students may apply for the certificate after being accepted to the online MSW program.
View CertificateGain a deeper understanding of the unique experiences of military members, veterans, and their families, and explore effective and culturally-sensitive behavioral healthcare services for this population. Students may apply for the certificate after being accepted to the online MSW program.
View CertificateDevelop critical skills through study and experience to assess and intervene on behalf of children and adolescents in a school setting. Students may apply for the certificate after being accepted to the online MSW program.
View CertificateLearn treatment and prevention approaches related to substance use disorders and develop essential intervention skills through a curriculum founded on evidence-based practice. Students may apply for the certificate after being accepted to the online MSW program.
View CertificateCreate your plan of study based on your specific career goals through a selection of social work elective courses designed for your professional success. Students may apply for the certificate after being accepted to the online MSW program.
View IPSLearn how to help individuals in their healing journeys and promote post-traumatic growth and healing. Students may apply for the certificate after being accepted to the online MSW program. Students who have a conferred MSW from a regionally accredited institution may also apply.
View CertificateAdmission Requirements
You don’t need to take the GRE or have previous work experience to apply to the online Master of Social Work degree program at UK. Admission requirements include*:
An application to the 30-credit-hour Advanced Standing program requires:
- A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program, earned within the past seven years
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0, social work GPA of 3.5, or a graduate GPA of 3.0 (if applicable)
An application to the 60-credit-hour Regular Standing program requires:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- A GPA of 3.0 or above in all of your academic endeavors
Other requirements include:
- Application Form
- Personal Résumé
- Two letters of recommendation
- If you graduated within the past five years, at least one academic reference is required
- References you provide should fit the following categories: professor, social work professor, professional social worker/field instructor, and work or volunteer supervisor
- Please exclude personal, pastoral, and relative references
- Four-page autobiographical personal statement
- 250-word writing sample on an ethical dilemma
- All transcripts from any higher education institution attended
*Students may apply for the certificate after being accepted to the online MSW program.
Apply NowTuition & Financial Aid
Students in the online MSW pay UK’s in-state tuition regardless of the state in which you reside. With a cost per credit hour of $753, the total tuition for the 60-credit Regular Standing master’s degree program is $45,180*, or $22,590* for the 30-credit Advanced Standing master’s degree program.
Students can save up to 40% on tuition by taking advantage of the block tuition rate offered for our online degree program.
Learn MoreWe’re here to help students in Texas meet their commitment to academic excellence. For instance, we can connect you with financial aid to make your online degree program more affordable. Options include federal loans, scholarships, and military benefits.
Note that additional fees may apply, and total tuition will depend on various factors, such as the number of credits taken and time to complete our CSWE-accredited social work degree program. Tuition rates for on-campus and online degree programs are subject to annual changes.
*Published tuition costs to attend UK may differ from a student’s estimated total “cost of attendance,” which includes the amount an online student may choose to spend on expenses such as housing and food, books and supplies, transportation and other personal items or activities per academic year. For further information regarding specific charges for instruction and related services (excluding other living and personal expenses), please refer to the tuition and fees page.
Tuition Details
Military Student Support
The flexible nature of our online degree program is ideal for U.S. military service members and veterans across Texas. With faculty who have military backgrounds, courses specific to the issues relevant to you, and military-specific benefits like our Veterans Resource Center, our mission is to support your academic success.
Get SupportExperienced Faculty Prepare You to Practice in Texas.
UK faculty understand the theory behind social work and the realities of professional practice in the field. While seeking your social work degree, you’ll learn from licensed professionals who bring their deep passion and experience to the online classroom.
Through our master’s degree program, you can engage directly with professors committed to the ideals of justice and equity in social work. The program also lets you work with a field advisor to cultivate hands-on experience relevant for careers with Texas-based organizations.
Our FacultyWhy Texas Students Should Choose UK Online.
Bring Big Blue Nation to the Lone Star State
Enrolling in the online MSW at UK means becoming part of a tradition of excellence while building your career with confidence—all while learning at your pace. With experienced faculty, a thoughtfully designed curriculum, and a licensure exam pass rate surpassing the national average, we enable Texas learners to graduate exceptionally prepared for real-world practice.
How to Apply
Follow these steps to apply to UK’s online degree program:
- Create an online account
- Submit your undergraduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other supporting materials
- Pay the $65 application fee
You can expect to receive a decision 2 to 3 weeks after you apply.
Get StartedFrequently Asked Questions
Have more questions about the online MSW program? Visit our Resource Center to find answers fast.
Resource CenterUp to 25% of coursework can be transferred toward either program courses or electives, with up to 15 credit hours for Regular Standing and 9 for Advanced Standing.
Yes, the online MSW program does offer virtual open houses. These events are held regularly—register to participate in an upcoming virtual open house here.
Regular Standing requires three practicum courses and Advanced Standing requires two practicum courses. Each practicum requires 300 hours over 16 weeks.
The online MSW program does not offer concentrations. However, students may choose to complete a certificate or Individualized Plan of Study along with their master’s degree to gain in-depth skills in a specific area of study. Learn more about available certificates and developing an Individualized Plan of Study here.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. (2022, March 15.) Texas Employment Trends for: 21-1014.00 – Mental Health Counselors. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/21-1014.00?st=TX&g=Go.
- O*NET OnLine. (2022, March 15.) Texas Employment Trends for: 21-1022.00 – Healthcare Social Workers. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/21-1022.00?st=TX&g=Go.
- O*NET OnLine. (2022, March 15.) Texas Employment Trends for: 21-1023.00 – Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/21-1023.00?st=TX&g=Go.
- O*NET OnLine. (2022, March 15.) Texas Employment Trends for: 21-1021.00 – Child, Family, and School Social Workers. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/21-1021.00?st=TX&g=Go.
- O*NET OnLine. (2022, March 15.) Texas Employment Trends for: 21-1029.00 – Social Workers, All Other. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/21-1029.00?st=TX&g=Go.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, March 31.) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020: 21-1022 Healthcare Social Workers. Retrieved March 14, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211022.htm#st.