Social Work (MSSW)
Social Work (MSSW)
The Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) prepares graduates for advanced practice with Latino individuals and families, and groups or advanced practice with organizations and communities. Distance Education classes are available in Laredo.
If you are interested in the traditional (face-to-face) format, be sure to know that the Regular (63 credit hour) MSSW program will start in the Fall semester and the Advanced (33 credit hour) program will start in the Spring and Summer II semesters.
Students in the Advanced (33 credit hour) program are also eligible to apply for the Sustainable Community Health Promotion in Social Work certificate program.
- Ranked #79 among 300+ national universities by Washington Monthly in 2018
- Ranked 4th best college in Texas 2018 by BestColleges.com
- Accredited, cutting edge degree program
- Experienced, dedicated faculty
- Affordable tuition (ranked #1 in net price among national universities by Washington Monthly in 2018 and #3 most affordable university in America 2018 by BestValueSchools.com)
- Demonstrated student success in research, professional certification and career advancement
Step #1: Submit a UTRGV Graduate Application at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply. There is no application fee.
Step #2: Request your official transcripts to be sent electronically to gradapps@utrgv.edu or mailed to:
Admission Requirements
- 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.
- Official transcripts from each institution attended (must be submitted directly to UTRGV).
- Personal statement detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.(Instructions)
- Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources using the following Reference Form. (Reference Form)
- Verified successful completion of a course in basic statistics.
Advanced (33-hour program):
- Clear admission to the UTRGV Graduate College.
- BSW from a CSWE accredited program.
- 3.2 GPA or higher, in social work core undergraduate courses.
- Official transcripts from each institution attended (must be submitted directly to UTRGV).
- Personal statement detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree. (Instructions)
- Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources using the following Reference Form. (Reference Form)
- Verified successful completion of a course in basic statistics.
Application Review
The evaluation process for admission to the program begins after the Spring deadline for receipt of all materials. At least two reviewers, of the departmental graduate faculty, independently review completed applications. Reviewers assign points based on accomplishments in three categories: GPA, three letters of reference, and a personal narrative.
Offers of Admission to The Graduate College
Official admission offers will be made only by The Graduate College and are valid only for the semester requested on the application. Through the online application web site, you will be able to view the status of your application. Students who are accepted but do not attend the semester requested on the application must submit an application for readmission to enroll for a later semester. An additional fee will be charged if the student applies more than one year from the semester originally requested.
Additional requirements for domestic applicants who attended foreign universities:
- TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on Internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years. For additional information, visit the Additional Documents for Domestic Applicants who Attend Foreign Universities section of our website.
- Certified English translation of educational records.
Additional requirements for international applicants:
- TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on Internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. For additional information, visit the English Proficiency Exam section of our website.
- Certified English translation of educational records.
- Financial Documentation showing sufficient funds to cover all expenses (living and academic) for the first year of study. For additional information, visit the Financial Documentation section of our website.
- Immigration documents, including a current copy of your valid passport. For additional information, visit the Immigration Documents section of our website.
- International applicants are required to use the following credential evaluation services: Foreign Credential Service of America (FCSA) or World Education Services (WES). Applicants are required to select the course-by-course report option – general reports will not suffice.
UPDATE ON INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS FROM U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT:
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SEVP regulations prohibit the issuance of a Form I-20 based on conditional admission, effective July 13, 2016. University officials can only issue a Form I-20 when students have met all standards for admission for the program of study listed on the Form I-20. These standards for admission include any English proficiency requirements.
To view a list of application deadlines and program contacts for our traditional programs, click here.
| Fall 2021-Summer 2022 Rates Tuition and Mandatory Fees | ||||
| Graduate | ||||
| Resident | Non-Resident* | |||
| Number of graduate course(s) (hours per course) |
Fall or Spring | Summer Session (each) | Fall or Spring | Summer Session (each) |
| One graduate course (3 hours a semester) |
$1,584.89 | $1,437.79 | $2,808.89 | $2,661.79 |
| Two graduate courses (6 hours a semester) |
$2,875.58 | $2,728.48 | $5,323.58 | $5,176.48 |
| Three graduate courses (9 hours a semester) |
$4,166.27 | $4,019.17 | $7,838.27 | $7,691.17 |
Fees included above:
- University Services Fee - $38.10 per hour ($457.20 maximum)
- Student Services Fee - $5.83 per hour ($69.96 maximum)
- Intercollegiate Athletics Fee - $15.00 per hour ($180.00 maximum)
- Recreation Fee ‐ $75 per Fall or Spring; $37.50 per summer term
- Medical Services Fee ‐ $30 per Fall or Spring; $15 per summer term
- Student Union Fee ‐ $30 per Fall or Spring; $15 per summer term
All resident tuition and mandatory fees shown above remain the same for hours over 20. Add $408 nonresident tuition for each hour over 20.
*Includes nonresident statutory tuition charges set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and subject to annual change.
Total does not include Lab and Supplemental Instruction Fees which vary by course, or Differential Tuition. To view graduate tuition and fees rates, visit UTRGV’s U Central.
Click here to view the program's course requirements from the current catalog.
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