Texas draws in many people each year due to its size and reputation. This state is an excellent place to become part of the field of social work and has many different options for students interested in a MSW degree program. The University of Texas at Austin has an interesting MSW program that requires students to complete 60 credit hours total and has 2 available concentrations - Clinical Social Work and Administration and Policy Practice. This flexible program can be completed in 1-3.5 years, depending on how much time a student dedicates to coursework. The University of North Texas in Denton, Texas also offers a competitive MSW program that has only recently been introduced.
This program is currently provided in standard and advanced standing formats. While in a MSW program, students can expect to see courses that blend ideas from Sociology, Psychology, Business, and Law. These topics can be combined to help social workers gain a better understanding of the laws surrounding public service, as well as the different agencies and methods available for assisting the public lead better lives. Austin and Denton are 2 of the most popular cities for college students in Texas. Other cities such as Houston, Waco, and Dallas are also home to large numbers of social work students looking to get involved in the field.
Texas MSW Programs
Schools with MSW Programs
Social Work Licensure
Social Work Careers
Career/Salary Information
Child, Family, and School Social Workers – $43,800 on average per year (BLS; 2016).
Child, family, and school social workers typically work directly with children in a home and school setting. These professionals are responsible for identifying potential issues with children and ensuring that problematic circumstances are handled in an appropriate manner. These professionals are important to ensuring the safety of children at home and at school. There are 16,640 social workers currently employed in this field in Texas (BLS; 2016).
Healthcare Social Workers – $57,950 on average per year (BLS; 2016).
In healthcare and hospital settings, patients require the use of social workers to help them make important decisions regarding their health. These professionals may assess patient needs, find services, and arrange the intake of patients into different facilities. The state of Texas is a popular place for social workers in this domain, with 9,840 professionals currently employed throughout the state (BLS; 2016).
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers – $42,790 on average per year (BLS; 2016).
Mental health and substance abuse are 2 fields that require extra care from social workers. In this field, professionals can assist with the arrangement of treatments, enrollment in facilities, and follow-up services for general health and well-being. There are 3,310 mental health/substance abuse social workers currently working in Texas (BLS; 2016).
Social Workers, all other – $67,860 on average per year (BLS; 2016).
In the remaining fields of social services, social workers can have varying job responsibilities that are vital to the normalcy of their clients. In all other fields of social work, Texas has 1,680 social workers employed (BLS; 2016).
Online MSW Programs
A large number of colleges are starting to add online options for their degree programs. In the fast paced environment of education, most students only consider online degree programs when getting ready to enroll. Texas has several online degree options for those interested in pursuing a MSW. Texas State University and the University of Houston are 2 high-quality universities in Texas that offer online MSW programs. These programs were designed to provide flexible learning opportunities to social work students that need to learn on their own time. Pursuing your degree online can give you more time for work or recreation and cut out a lot of unneeded costs associated with housing, transportation, and loss of work.
Licensing Requirements for LCSW
Texas’ requirements for upcoming LCSW include the completion of a CSWE-accredited Master’s or higher degree in Social Work. Once this step has been completed, students must take part in 3,000 of supervised work experience within a clinical setting. This experience must be monitored by an individual that is currently licensed as a LCSW in Texas and meets all of the qualifications set forth by the state for supervision. Once the supervision period has come to a close, graduates can sign up to take the state’s licensing examination and state law test. These 2 exams can test your knowledge of the curriculum as well as what your individual state requires in terms of the laws and rights of others.
