Social Work (MSSW)
Social Work (MSSW)
The School of Social Work is committed to preparing entry-level generalist (BSWs) and specialized professional social workers (MSSWs) to meet the needs of a bi-national and multicultural community. The program has two specializations: Direct Practice with Latino Individuals, Families and Groups, and Administration and Community Practice. The program emphasizes multicultural awareness, professional competence, ethical practice, knowledge building acquisition, and social services that promote social and economic justice in a bi-national environment. This program is available traditional (face-to-face) and 100% online. Students are not allowed to alternate enrollment in online and traditional program courses.
If you are interested in the traditional 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.
- Current Resume
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.
- Current Resume
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:
- For additional information, visit the Additional Documents for Domestic Applicants who Attend Foreign Universities section of our website.
Additional requirements for international applicants:
- For additional information, visit the International Admission page of our website.
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.
About O*NET
The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) Database was developed under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor. The database contains information about almost 1,000 occupations covering the entire U.S. economy. The database is free and continually updated with detailed information about jobs in each state and industry.
Job Opportunities
