Degree Requirements, Social Work
Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online at https://utexas.box.com/v/UTAustinGraduateHandbooks. Please contact the program with concerns or questions.
Approval of the graduate advisor is required for registration in any social work courses.
Master of Science in Social Work
Developed in accordance with the Council on Social Work Education curriculum standards and policies, the full-time Master of Science in Social Work degree program requires 60 semester hours of coursework. Experiential learning is provided through internships in selected government, nonprofit, and for-profit agencies. Course content and field experiences are organized and integrated using a systems/developmental framework and a biopsychosocial perspective.
Of the 60 semester hours required for graduation, a maximum of 24 may be accepted by waiver from an accredited Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work program. Waivers are awarded only after careful evaluation by the faculty of a student’s training and experience in the areas in which waivers are sought.
Most students enroll in the regular full-time program, which can be completed in two academic years. Extended and part-time programs of work can be completed in two and one-half to three and one-half years. Students accepted into a modified program of study complete a 42 to 48-semester-hour program in 12 to 16 months. Each option provides students with opportunities to study independently with individual faculty members and to take elective courses in other University departments. The school offers required courses during evening hours but cannot guarantee that the degree program can be completed by taking courses only at night.
Doctor of Philosophy
Students seeking the doctoral degree must meet the following requirements:
- Completion of a program of courses prescribed by the Graduate Studies Committee.
- Completion of a written comprehensive examination that tests the student’s knowledge of theory, research design and methodology in social work, and of selected aspects of social work practice.
- Completion of an acceptable program of original research, including the submission of a dissertation that extends the knowledge base of social work.
- Satisfactory performance on an oral examination in defense of the dissertation.
Students should consult the graduate advisor for additional requirements.
Dual Degree Programs
Master of Science in Social Work/Master of Divinity
The graduate program in social work offers a dual degree program with the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (APTS). Applicants must apply separately and be admitted to both the Master of Science in Social Work program at The University of Texas at Austin and the Master of Divinity program at APTS. The degrees are conferred separately by each institution. Additional information is available from the director of admissions at the School of Social Work.
Master of Science in Social Work/Master of Public Health
The graduate program in social work offers a dual degree program with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health (UTSPH). Applicants must apply separately and be admitted to both the Master of Science in Social Work program at The University of Texas at Austin and the Master of Public Health at UTSPH. Students accepted into the dual degree program complete the three-year program of work in both schools. The degrees are conferred separately by each institution. Additional information is available from the director of admissions at the School of Social Work.
In addition, the School of Social Work offers the following dual degree programs in cooperation with other divisions of the University. More information is available from the graduate advisor in each program.
| Major(s) | Degree(s) |
|---|---|
| Business administration | Master of Business Administration |
| Latin American studies | Master of Arts |
| Law | Doctor of Jurisprudence |
| Public affairs | Master of Public Affairs |