Social Work
Department website: https://socialwork.utexas.edu/
School of Social Work
Allan Cole, PhD, Dean
Rebecca Gomez, PhD, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
Stacey E. Jordan, MSSW, Assistant Dean, Administration and Planning
Yolanda C. Padilla, PhD, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs
Joan Asseff, LCSW-S, Assistant Dean, Master's Programs
Noel Busch-Armendariz, PhD, LMSW, MPA, Associate Dean, Global Engagement
Tanya Voss MSSW, Assistant Dean, Global Engagement
Lauren Gulbas, PhD, Associate Dean, Doctoral Education
Yessenia Castro, PhD, Associate Dean, Student Success and Well-Being
Mary Beer, LCSW, Assistent Dean, Practicum Education
Sarah Sloan, LCSW, Assistant Dean, Health Affairs
Esther J. Calzada, PhD, Associate Dean, Research
Carol Lewis, PhD, Interim Associate Dean, Research
Vision
To educate and inspire future social work leaders who are committed to advancing society through research, education, advocacy and practice. We strive to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and in the world through innovative teaching, impactful scholarship, and compassionate service.
History
In 2025, The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work celebrated 75 years of innovative teaching, impactful scholarship, and compassionate service.
The School of Social Work was established as a graduate program in 1949 and began classes in the fall of 1950 with 24 students enrolled in the Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program. Undergraduate courses in social work were first offered in 1958. These were incorporated into a full Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program in the fall of 1974.
The first BSW degree was awarded in December 1977. Since that time, the program has been strengthened by curriculum modifications reflecting changes in the profession and in society that have implications for beginning social work practice.
The School of Social Work also established programs leading to the Master of Science in Social Work and the Doctor of Philosophy. These are described in the Graduate Catalog.
Through generations of exceptional faculty and staff, outstanding students, accomplished alumni and generous friends, the School now stands as the flagship school for social work education in Texas. The School is also home to 10 institutes and centers focused on rigorous social and behavioral research and the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, which has led innovative initiatives for decades to advance mental health for all Texans.
With strategic partners at UT Austin, including Dell Medical School, the School of Nursing, the College of Pharmacy and others, UT social work researchers, educators and practitioners lead in the areas of health and behavioral health, housing, children and family wellness, aging and longevity, and disability access to transform lives for the better.
Financial Assistance Available through the School
In addition to many University scholarships awarded to undergraduate students through the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, the School of Social Work offers select scholarship opportunities for eligible undergraduate social work students. Awards are made for reasons ranging from academic promise to financial need. Scholarship information, including eligibility requirements and the application process, is available through Longhorn Awards & Student Scholarship Opportunities (LASSO), the campus-wide scholarship management system.
Student Services
Academic Advising
The Office of Academic Affairs in the School of Social Work supports students in exploring social work as a career, planning academic programs aligned with their interests and strengths, addressing academic or personal concerns, and preparing for post-graduation opportunities in employment or further study. The office also provides administrative and student support services, including maintaining academic records, issuing official degree audits, and certifying graduation for social work majors. Faculty and staff are available to assist with questions about scholarships, degree requirements, academic policies, and campus resources. Students pursuing the Bachelor of Social Work degree are required to meet with a social work academic advisor at least once each semester. To schedule an appointment, students should contact the Office of Academic Affairs or visit the Bachelor's Program webpage.
During the first and second academic years, advising is designed to address the student’s career interests, the selection of a major, degree requirements, and the requirements for advancement to the practice sequence. In the third year, advising is intended to focus on the coursework required for completion of the major and preparation for entry into the practicum. In the fourth year, advising is expected to center on the practicum experience and the student’s post-graduation plans.
Career Services
The School of Social Work offers career development services through the DiNitto Career Center (WWH 2.234) to help students prepare for the professional job market. The center provides resources on social work careers, graduate programs, licensure, and professional development. It also hosts workshops on social work practice areas, résumé writing, job searches, and interview preparation. Dedicated to supporting both students and alumni, the DiNitto Career Center provides comprehensive guidance at every stage of their career journeys.
Social work graduates pursue careers across a broad range of settings, including hospitals, schools, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and community-based programs. They contribute to areas such as behavioral and mental health, policy and advocacy, criminal justice, healthcare, education, crisis response, research,, corporate and military social work, and international work. Opportunities are available serving individuals, families, and organizations in both urban and rural communities, and across social, cultural, and professional contexts.
The University makes no promise to secure employment for each graduate.
Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health funds and advocates for programs in mental health service research and public policy analysis.
Social Work Council
The Social Work Council is open to all students pursuing a social work degree or interested in the profession. The council helps students build a stronger understanding of social work, share input on the curriculum and School initiatives, and participate in programs that benefit students, the School, the University, and the wider community.
In collaboration with the Office of Academic Affairs, the Council organizes guest speaker forums, community service projects, discussion groups on social work topics, and social events. Council members also serve as student representatives on the school’s curriculum committees, the Senate of College Councils, and student government.
Review and Grievance Procedures
The School of Social Work document Student Standards for Social Work Education in the BSW Handbook delineates standards for professional education that apply to students enrolled in the School of Social Work. Because of the nature of professional social work practice, the School of Social Work has different expectations of students than do nonprofessional programs. All social work students are expected to abide by the Standards and by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. When a student’s performance does not meet expectations according to these established guidelines, a review may be called to bring the problem to the student’s attention and to develop a plan to address the problem. Usually, the issue is resolved and the student is continued in the program with additional support provided to the student and/or conditions established for the student’s continuance in the program. In some instances, depending on the nature of the problem, the student may be referred to the University’s Office of the Dean of Students, counseled to change majors, or dismissed from the program.
Students enrolled in the social work program have the right to appeal decisions made by the social work program, including academic dismissal. Students are assured freedom from reprisals for filing appeals. Students who wish to appeal a decision made during a school review process should consult the Standards for information on grievance procedures, located in the BSW handbook.
Graduation
Special Requirements of the School
All students must fulfill the General Requirements for graduation. Students in the School of Social Work must also fulfill the following requirements:
- Students must also have a grade point average of at least 2.50 in required social work courses.
- Students must complete at least 24 upper-division hours in the major in residence.
- Social work required field practicums must be taken in residence.
- An Air Force, Army, or Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps student who elects the basic and/or advanced program in air force science, military science, or naval science will not be approved for graduation until the government contract is completed, unless the student is released from the ROTC.
Applying for Graduation
An official degree audit compares a student's coursework with degree requirements for a particular degree, major and catalog. The degree audit normally provides an accurate statement of requirements, but the student is responsible for knowing the requirements for the degree as stated in a catalog under which the student is eligible to graduate and for registering to fulfill those requirements. The student should seek an official ruling in the Office of Academic Affairs before registering if in doubt about any requirement.
Students are strongly encouraged to schedule an official degree check with a UT Social Work academic advisor once they are one semester away from graduating.
In the semester in which the degree is to be conferred, the candidate must be registered at the University and must apply for the degree in the Office of Academic Affairs. This should be done at the time of registration for the last semester, if possible, but in no event later than the deadline given in the official academic calendar. No degree will be conferred unless the graduation application form has been filed on time.
Applicability of Certain Courses
No more than 36 semester hours in any one field of study other than social work may be counted toward the Bachelor of Social Work degree. No more than 60 semester hours of social work may be counted toward the degree.
Physical Activity Courses
Physical activity courses (PED) are offered by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. Six semester hours of this coursework may be counted toward the Bachelor of Social Work degree. All physical activity courses are counted among courses for which the student is enrolled, and the grades are included in the grade point average.
ROTC Courses
No more than six semester hours of credit for air force science, military science, or naval science courses may be counted toward the Bachelor of Social Work. Such credit may be used only as lower-division electives in degree programs that have room for such electives and only by students who have completed the third and fourth years of the ROTC program.
Correspondence and Extension Courses
Credit that a University student in residence earns simultaneously by correspondence or extension from the University or elsewhere or in residence at another school will not be counted toward a degree in the School of Social Work unless specifically approved in advance by the dean. No more than 30 percent of the semester hours required for the Bachelor of Social Work may be taken by correspondence. More information is available from the assistant dean for undergraduate programs.
Courses Taken on the Pass/Fail Basis
Undergraduate students who have received at least 30 semester hours of college credit may take no more than 16 hours of courses in elective subjects outside their major area on the pass/fail basis. Students must state their intention to register on this basis by the deadline given in the official academic calendar; they may not change the basis of registration in a course more than once; and they may not take more than two courses a semester on this basis.
Other Courses
MUS 101Q or MUS 101V may not be counted toward any degree in the School of Social Work. Other introductory courses, such as MUS 201J, MUS 201M, and MUS 201N, may be counted toward degrees in the school.
No more than six semester hours of Bible courses may be counted toward the Bachelor of Social Work degree.
Admission
Admission Policies of the School
The School of Social Work offers freshman and transfer admission for all entry terms: summer, fall and spring. Students admitted to the School of Social Work enter as pre-social Work majors. After completing prerequisite courses, they are eligible to apply for admission to the BSW program.
Freshman Admission
The Office of Admissions manages applications for first-year undergraduate students applying to The University of Texas at Austin. First-year students are those who will have completed high school but have not yet enrolled in another college or university prior to attending UT Austin.
Transfer Admission
Internal Transfer Admission
A student may transfer from another division of the University to the School of Social Work in accordance with the regulations given in General Information.
A University student who wants to transfer as a social work major must meet the following requirements:
- Completion of at least 12 semester hours of coursework in residence at the University. Credit earned by exam, correspondence, and extension may not be counted toward this requirement.
- A cumulative in-residence grade point average of at least 2.00.
- Completion of S W 310 with at least a C or higher.
- If social work coursework has been completed prior to the application, a grade point of at least 2.50 in those courses is required, and all social work courses must have been completed with a grade of at least C.
- Additional requirements may apply. Please contact social work undergraduate advising office for more information.
Only currently enrolled students may apply. Applications are evaluated after the end of each fall and spring semester. Decisions will be made prior to the start of the following long semester.
Admission to the School of Social Work is offered to the students who are best qualified on a space-available basis.
Students applying for an internal transfer who have over 90 semester hours of coursework or have a completed degree are encouraged to consider other options, such as completing a degree in their current college/school or alternate institution with the option of pursuing a MSSW degree at a later date.
Interested students should consult The University of Texas at Austin policy for transfer from one division to another within the General Information Catalog, as well as the School of Social Work website for current details about the transfer process and available information sessions.
External Transfer
Students who wish to transfer to the University from another college or university must apply to the Office of Admissions as described in the General Information Catalog.
Transfer Credit
As part of the application for admission to the University, students must submit transcripts from all other colleges and universities they have attended to the University’s Office of Admissions. Students seeking readmission must submit transcripts from all schools they have attended since leaving the University. The Office of Admissions evaluates all transcripts and grants the student transfer credit when possible for coursework completed at the other schools.
Although the University’s Office of Admissions may grant the student a certain number of semester hours of transfer credit for work completed in another social work program, the associate dean for undergraduate programs in the School of Social Work determines whether this coursework may be counted toward fulfillment of the BSW degree requirements. Students who wish to use transfer credit to meet degree requirements should submit a course syllabus, assignments, and the titles and names of authors of textbooks to the associate dean for undergraduate programs for evaluation.
Students may also seek transfer credit for coursework they complete at another institution after enrolling at the University. In this case the student should submit a transcript from the other institution to the University’s Office of Admissions.
Registration
The General Information Catalog provides information about registration, adding and dropping courses, transferring from one division of the University to another, and auditing a course. Published before registration each semester, the Course Schedule includes registration instructions, advising locations, and the times, places, and instructors of classes. The Course Schedule and the General Information Catalog are published on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
Honors
Criteria for graduation with University Honors are given in General Information. Criteria for program honors are given in the program page.
Special Honors in Social Work
The Social Work Honors program is available to outstanding students who have distinguished themselves by superior academic performance during their time at the University. Students admitted to the honors program design and carry out their own research projects on topics that matter to the field, culminating in a thesis developed under the guidance of a social work faculty mentor. The honors program challenges students to see the world as presenting research questions that can be answered through the application of social work theories and values.
Interested social work majors should apply for admission to the Honors Program Subcommittee of the BSW Curriculum Committee at least one full year before they expect to graduate.
Requirements (in addition to major requirements):
- admission to the honors program (requires a minimum 3.00 university grade point average and a minimum 3.00 social work major grade point average for completed courses)
- a six-hour, two-semester honors tutorial course with a grade of at least B- for each semester;
- an oral presentation of the student's honors thesis in a research colloquium open to the School of Social Work community and the public;
- a University grade point average of at least 3.50 and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in the courses required for the major and for the Social Work Honors Program; and (4) completion in residence at the University of at least 60 hours of coursework counted toward the degree.
Facilities
The School of Social Work is located at Walter Webb Hall, designated "WWH" on campus maps and information directories. The address is 405 W 25th St, Austin, TX 78705. Walter Webb Hall provides space for offices for faculty and staff providing academic advising and student services. The building also houses the Moritz Center for Societal Impact, the DiNitto Career Center, and a spacious area for student and school-activities wide events.