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Graduate College Division of Research, Graduate Studies & New Program Development

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Graduate College
Edinburg Campus: Marialice Shary Shivers Bldg. 1.158
Brownsville Campus: Sabal Hall 1.202
Email: gradcollege@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-3661
Phone Alt: (956) 882-6552
Text: (956) 446-0116
Fax: (956) 665-2863
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Social Work (MSSW)

Social Work (MSSW)

Social Work (MSSW)

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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.

Why UTRGV?

  • Ranked #79 among 300+ national universities by Washington Monthly in 2018
  • 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

Admission Requirements

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:

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The Graduate College
Marialice Shary Shivers Bldg. 1.158
1201 W. University Drive
Edinburg, TX 78539-2999

 
*Please Note: If you are a graduate of UTPA, UTB/TSC, or UTRGV you do not need to request an official transcript to be sent to the Graduate College.

Review and submit all Program 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.
  • 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 four categories: GPA, three letters of reference, professional experience, 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.

UPDATE ON INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS FROM U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT:

  • 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.

Application Deadlines & Program Contact

To view a list of application deadlines and program contacts for our traditional programs, click here.

Tuition Estimate

Social Work (MSSW) 33 Hour Program
Residency Per 3-Credit Hour Course Semester (9-Credit Hours) Total Estimated Cost
Texas Resident $1,481.39 $3,894.17 $16,295.29
Non-Resident/International $2,708.39 $7,575.17 $29,792.29
Social Work (MSSW) 63 Hour Program
Residency Per 3-Credit Hour Course Semester (9-Credit Hours) Total Estimated Cost
Texas Resident $1,481.39 $3,894.17 $31,109.19
Non-Resident/International $2,708.39 $7,575.17 $56,876.19


*We estimate that tuition and fees will closely approximate the rates shown above; however, rates are subject to change. Please note that the rates above are estimated for on-campus students and those enrolled in 16-week online programs. The rate is different for Accelerated Online Programs (AOP). Visit the tuition and fees page for detailed information.

Course Requirements

Click here to view the program's course requirements from the current catalog.

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