Master of Social Work (MSW)

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Offered through the Worden School of Social Service, the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program will prepare students to change the lives of children and families in need while building the foundation for their own career in social service leadership and advanced direct practice. Whether already working in the field or have a desire to join it, OLLU's MSW can help students achieve their goals of helping society and fighting for justice. The MSW program's concentration is social work practice with Hispanic children and families.

Program Design

The OLLU-RGV MSW program is a hybrid program with classes meeting during the evenings and online. This allows working adults the opportunity to balance work and family while still pursuing their degree. Options for full-time and part-time are available.

The program is also offered:

On the San Antonio campus - the OLLU social work program was started on the main campus more than 75 years ago.
Online - our online programs offer the same service-focused values of personal support and hands-on learning as our on-campus programs.

Program Offerings

MSW - Foundation Program (57 credit hours) - this program is for students whose bachelor's degree is in something other than social work.
MSW - Advanced Program (30 credit hours) - this program is designed for those students who have a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
MSW: Certificate in Business Essentials for Health Care Professionals - Advanced Standing Program (online only) (45 credit hours) - this program is designed for those students who have a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program.

Accreditation

OLLU's MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation. CSWE is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States.

Social Work Practice with Hispanic Children and Families

OLLU's MSW is one of only a few social work master's degree programs in the country with a practice concentration on Hispanic children and families. The Hispanic population is the fastest-growing demographic community nationwide, meaning social workers all over the U.S. can benefit from particular expertise and understanding of the issues facing the Hispanic community. Such an advantage can help social workers provide excellent service and position themselves for maximum success and leadership in their social work careers. The MSW from OLLU also focuses on social work across the life span, including service to elderly adults, who currently represent the largest single community of social service recipients.

MSW Program Goals

The goal of the MSW program is to prepare professionally trained social workers for specialized intervention in advanced social work direct practice with Hispanic/Latin@ children and families in a way that fosters commitment to culturally competent practice with diverse populations. To that end, the program focuses on ten learning outcomes for MSW students. Each social work student will:

Identify as a professional social worker and conduct yourself accordingly
Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice
Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgment
Engage diversity and differences in practice
Advance human rights and social and economic justice
Engage in research informed practice and practice informed research
Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment
Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services
Respond to context that shape practice
Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

MSW Foundation Assessment of Learning Outcomes MSW Advanced Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Field Education

Field education is an integral part of the social work program at OLLU. The Worden School of Social Service has established partnerships with an extensive network of public and private social service agencies to provide students with a wide range of opportunities for internships. Worden's Field Education Office will assist students with securing appropriate field placements once the student has identified an eligible agency.

Visit the Worden School website for more Field Education information.

Admission Requirements

Fall admission only

Completed application for admission (no application fee)
Official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities where degrees were conferred and official transcripts from all previous post-secondary work if applicable (download instructions for submitting transcripts from outside the United States and transcripts not in English ).
Submit a personal statement (one to two pages, APA format encouraged) addressing the following areas:
- Motivation for MSW degree, understanding of and identification of the Worden Student Code of Conduct, understanding of and identification with Worden School of Social Service’s mission.
Three letters of recommendation: From employer, supervisor or professional colleague; an academic reference recommended
Résumé to include any licensure, professional and volunteer social work experience
Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 on all undergraduate work attempted for the baccalaureate degree or 3.00 on the last 60 semester hours

Summer admission only

In addition to the foundation program admission requirements, applicants to the advanced standing 30-hour program must have the following:

Completed application for admission (no application fee)
A Bachelor of Social Work degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
Cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
Official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities where degrees were conferred and official transcripts from all previous post-secondary work if applicable (download instructions for submitting transcripts from outside the United States and transcripts not in English ).
Submit a personal statement (one to two pages, APA format encouraged) addressing the following areas:
- Motivation for MSW degree, understanding of and identification of the Worden Student Code of Conduct emphasizing the growth and continued challenges from BSW to MSW student, understanding of and identification with Worden School of Social Service’s mission.
Three letters of recommendation: From employer, supervisor or professional colleague; an academic reference recommended
Résumé to include any licensure, professional and volunteer social work experience

Applications are reviewed upon receipt. Accepted applicants will be notified promptly.

Deadline for submitting all credentials for priority consideration for Master of Social Work - Advance program is April 1.
Deadline for submitting credentials for priority consideration for Master of Social Work - Foundation is May 15.

Applications completed after these dates will be considered on a space available basis. Upon acceptance to the MSW program, an advance tuition deposit of $250 is required to confirm enrollment in the entering class.

The deposit will be applied to your tuition and is required to register for classes.

Each application is independently reviewed by at least two Worden School of Social Service faculty members. The faculty consider the Grade Point Average, personal statement and letters of reference in the admissions process.

Reviewers may recommend admission into the program, conditional admission into the program, or non-admission to the program. If there is a disagreement, a third reviewer is assigned. No admission decision is made without the concurrence of at least two faculty reviewers.

Special admission into the MSW program must be approved by the dean and is only granted to transient students wishing to transfer graduate credit to a home institution, or a post master's student wishing to take graduate credit for special interest.

Before registering, an applicant for special admission must submit official transcript(s) showing degree awarded, to include master's degree if applicable. Transient students need only submit a letter of good standing from their home institution verifying graduate status.