Your guide to MSW programs in Texas

Students can create an excellent career path in social work. There are many different opportunities to do social work including community practice, clinical social work, rural or urban practice and inter-professional teams. Social workers across the state truly make a difference and they are advocates for change. When students contact me about the MSW program, they are mostly interested in making a difference.

I see a passion in students who are interested in social work. Not only to make a difference, but also to contribute to a better society and a safe place for everyone.

In the future, social workers will continue to play an important role in societal issues including social, economic and environmental justice. The COVID-19 pandemic created many opportunities for social workers. We have the opportunity to advocate for change — for example access to resources for rural residents and effective support services for undocumented individuals and families.

The wide variety of jobs that social workers can choose from still exists. Students can choose from jobs at behavioral health clinics, state departments, schools, hospitals and clinics, and non-profit organizations.

I see more and more social work graduates in Texas working with victims of human trafficking and in community development projects. There are many opportunities to work on inter-professional teams. For example, working on community revitalization projects with geographers, historians, architects and librarians.

Stay focused on your goal to be a licensed social worker. It will open many doors for you to live out your dream to be a social worker. Plan to take the licensing exam as soon as you graduate. Use all resources available to you to prepare for the exam.

I believe the opportunity for social workers in Texas is very positive and social work job trends suggest an increase in jobs for social workers over the next several years. Social workers across the nation are in demand and it has been my experience the vast majority of students find employment shortly after graduating with a degree in social work from an accredited program. Texas is not an exception — social workers are needed in many areas such as gerontology, medical, child welfare, mental health, and substance abuse.

It appears the political landscape of Texas is changing with that social welfare polices may change creating more opportunities for social workers to impact problems such as domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, suicide, poverty, homelessness and other problems. Policy change can allow for increased funding and support to address the issues listed in the previous statement and social workers have the education, skills, and ethical framing to be important agents for change.

In my opinion, there are three important factors when deciding on a MSW program. The first factor has to do with your motivation to become a social worker and the type of social work you want to practice in the future. Students should search for schools based on their motivation and interest areas and make a list of MSW programs that are aligned with said interests. For example, our MSW program at Texas A&M-Commerce prepares generalist practitioners and social work leaders to work in an interconnected world. We are very student focused at TAMUC and strive to prepare future social workers to work with highly diverse populations in both rural and urban regions. We do this by providing opportunities in and out of the class rooms including study abroad experiences and remote learning opportunities.
The second factor is flexibility, especially for students who are currently employed or engaged in other activities. Students should spend time evaluating their own needs and researching programs that would meet their unique needs. I encourage students to explore the following questions based on their past experiences and current needs: Do you wish to attend class face to face, hybrid (online and face to face) or online only? Do you want to begin face to face and later have the option to change to online or vice versa? Once they determine the learning environment that works best for their schedule and learning styles, this will help them further narrow the list of MSW programs in Texas. At Texas A&M-Commerce, School of Social Work, we offer a fully online program as well as the traditional face to face classroom learning experience.
The third factor to consider is affordability. After you have trimmed your list of schools based on you interest area and the programs’ flexibility, it is important to consider how affordable the program is. Future MSW students should spend time researching tuition costs differences as well as the availability of scholarships or graduate assistantship opportunities. As a LMSW student, it would be great to graduate with little to no debt or student loans with greater chances of fulfilling careers.

At least two challenges come to mind: financial and carving out time from your already busy schedule of work, family, and other social activities, etc. As a student, you may experience situational financial strain or poverty while pursuing a MSW. Most students might be unemployed, or might have to give up their jobs to devote to their studies and practicum. However, this is only temporary and the subsequent opportunities that will emerge after earning your MSW in Texas far outweighs those challenges. For instance, with a masters in social work, students have the opportunity to increase their earning potential and expand the fields and populations they are able to work with at an advanced level. Also, a MSW degree might increase the flexibility in your work schedule and that would increase the time spent with family and ultimately your work- life satisfaction.

The future of social work consists of working with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations in innovative ways. The pandemic has ushered in remote working and interactions. Therefore, social workers will be tasked with building and maintaining interpersonal relationships regardless of the medium being used (face to face, zoom, and phone etc.). Additionally, the profession will take the lead in advocating for the rights of diverse population in collaboration with the National Association of Social Work (NASW) Texas Chapter and also research and introduce best practices to address short and long term effects of the pandemic.

In Texas, MSW graduates have access to a myriad of job opportunities in hospitals, hospice, detention centers, schools, government (local and state) and nongovernment organizations as social work practitioners and administrators of human service organizations. There are opportunities for MSWs to work with immigrants through nonprofits throughout Texas and at the U.S. Mexico border.

Go for it! Do not put it off with the hopes of working for a while and taking the licensure exam later. If you can, I will encourage you to take the exam before you graduate. Having your LMSW will open more doors in your career but more importantly, it will provide you with more knowledge, skills and experiences to help members of marginalized populations who are in dire need of your expertise. To prepare for the licensure, begin with a self-assessment. What are your strengths? What areas do you think you need to focus on the most while you are studying? Be sure to review any recent changes to the (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), and review recent information from your MSW programs including but not limited to social work ethics and principles, cultural competency, research process, types of human behavior and the social environment theories and treatments, community practice, and supervision etc. Use the practice exams such as the ASWB as well as other study apps available. Do not forget to use members of your cohort if you tend to benefit from studying in a group setting. Do take good care of yourself while studying and before taking the exam. Eat well, exercise, practice self-care, extend yourself, pray, be thankful and go and get your license!

Let me advertise the key strengths of the Texas Tech University (TTU), located in Lubbock, Texas. The TTU is a Research I University with fantastic institutional research support. For those who have serious interests in research, the TTU can be your choice. Further, the TTU has a strong foundation in teaching, which is also an important strength for quality social work education. The TTU MSW program is one of the fastest-growing programs at TTU. This program applies an advanced generalist philosophy to social work practice, focusing on health and well-being.

We need lots of social workers, given the unique socio-demographics in West Texas. The rule of supply and demand in microeconomics tells us that we need more social workers in town. Lubbock is a great place to start a social venture for those social workers having a spirit of social entrepreneurship (and I can help you with that). In addition, some people said Texas as a whole is an excellent place to work because of a considerable tax benefit: no state income tax!

Very promising, I can say. The West Texas area (especially Lubbock and the surrounding South Plains Region) is demographically growing due to its unique geographic situations. The U. S. Census shows a steady growth trend in demographics. A famous nickname of Lubbock is Hub City. With these situations, we need to strengthen our social services in many areas, including veteran assistance, child protection, and substance use rehabilitation. We want more social workers!

Wow. It is hard for me to tell all possible types of jobs after getting the MSW degree in West Texas. Some of these may include the areas of health, mental health, advocacy, child welfare, school, older adults, families, substance abuse prevention, disabilities, correction and rehabilitation, veterans, administration, research, community development, and homelessness. Social workers work for both public and private organizations in West Texas.

Absolutely! The TTU MSW program maintains a close relationship with the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners and the National Association of Social Workers Texas Chapter for full consultation and guidance.

think students should consider the following:
What is my dream job in social work?
Are there faculty and classes relevant to this direction toward that dream job?
Is the program offered in a way that is a fit for me? (e.g., do I learn best in person or online? Do I need the flexibility of online learning? If online, do I prefer asynchronous or synchronous?)

One challenge in Texas relates to openness to diversity. Texas has large immigrant and refugee populations and a range of liberal to conservative viewpoints. In social work in Texas, one needs to be prepared for discomfort that may arise (as is true for social work anywhere) if confronted with a client whose values or culture are outside of one’s comfort. This preparation requires self awareness and a strong grounding in social work ethics. A good social work program will include preparing you for these challenges.
With these challenges come opportunities; specifically the social work market is very advantageous in Texas for people who are fluent in Spanish and other languages related to our immigrant and refugee populations (varies by region of the state).

I think a major change in social work in Texas will be the continued telehealth presence. While we as providers may desire to be back in person with clients, telehealth affords conveniences related to travel time, one’s comfort in their location for being vulnerable, and for some Telehealth provides opportunity for help when otherwise it would have been more of a struggle (e.g., lack of providers, transportation, social anxiety).

Choosing an MSW program is so important, because it is how students launch their careers. When I went through my own education, I don’t think I fully understood the importance of networking and mentoring. I strongly believe now, after seeing first-hand how students grow in environments where they are connecting closely with faculty members, other students, and community social workers, that it’s important that students have space in their programs to connect closely with faculty for research, mentoring, support, etc.

For instance, in our program, we know all of our students and make a concerted effort to get them into the field placements that would help them develop professionally with their goals in mind, and we support students in obtaining licensing, research experience, scholarships, and more.

Social work as a field is growing, and this is very much the case in Texas where the population has rapidly expanded and diversified over the past several decades. One of the great opportunities of practicing in Texas is that there is a high demand for social workers to fill positions. One unique opportunity here, too, is the need for bilingual social workers. For social workers who only speak English, they can still find jobs – but there is a special demand for qualified individuals who can speak both Spanish and English, or other languages to meet the needs of people rapidly moving in from other areas of the country and internationally.

MSW graduates are in high-demand in Texas. In the DFW Metroplex, where most of our students end up staying and working, LMSWs can expect to find jobs in healthcare systems, military social work, school systems, mental healthcare, child welfare, criminal justice systems, homelessness services, domestic violence agencies, and much more.

Students can and should start the process towards becoming licensed before they graduate from their MSW programs. If students wait until after they graduate, it may be several months before they receive their license, and so they will not be able to find a post-graduation job that requires licensure until graduate school is somewhat of a distant memory.

Within our MSW program, we provide students with a lot of support so that they can graduate with their license. To begin, all of our students are required to take the licensure exam before they graduate. They don’t have to pass to graduate, but they do have to take it as part of their field seminar courses. That being said, we walk students through the process of applying for licensure, and also provide students with study guides so that they are well-prepared to take the exam. Our students tend to do quite well on the exam. Whichever school students choose, they should make sure the school is really there to offer support in their professional careers – in terms of licensing, networking, career building activities, etc.