BECOME A SOCIAL WORKER IN TEXAS

Texas Master of Social Work

If you wish to devote your life to changing the world for the better, you may find your calling in the social work profession. In communities nationwide, social workers take on the critical work of providing supportive services to the people who need them most, changing the lives of the disadvantaged for the better.

Social workers are involved in a huge range of civic causes, helping diverse populations facing all different sorts of issues. This means there are opportunities for people with a wide variety of skill sets and interests to pursue meaningful work to support the causes they care about.

Becoming a social worker in Texas requires dedication and no small amount of hard work. But the rewards of the career are deep, offering individuals the opportunity to truly make change in our society.

This website provides extensive resources to aspiring social workers in Texas to help you on your path to making the world a better place.

WITH A SOCIAL WORK DEGREE

You Can Bring Positive Change to Texas

If there’s a civic cause that you care about, chances are there’s a branch of social work related to it. The social work profession has existed in the United States for more than a century, and in this day and age extends into the majority of societal issues, reaching our neediest populations in communities all over the country.

Social workers take on delicate responsibilities on behalf of their clients, which means that their roles require a high degree of expertise. To ensure that all social work professionals are thoroughly trained to handle the work that is expected of them, the state of Texas requires all practitioners to complete a Master of Social Work degree program to gain the insight and experience needed to work with vulnerable communities.

There are many excellent Masters in Social Work schools in Texas, available in a variety of delivery formats and scheduling options so that more students can pursue an education that will launch their careers.

Upon graduating from your MSW program, you’ll be equipped with everything you need to bring your talents to the world of social work.

RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Types of Social Work Degrees

young student talking with school social worker

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

Duration (full-time): 4 years
Intended for: Students who don’t hold bachelor’s degrees of any type

If you haven’t yet obtained a bachelor’s degree, the first step in pursuing your social work education will be to complete undergraduate college. This is because you cannot qualify for a masters program without a bachelor’s degree. While graduate-level applicants are not required to hold bachelor’s degrees in social work specifically, those who are certain they would like to pursue careers as social workers will benefit from pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. This is because BSW programs include much of the coursework of Master of Social Work programs, allowing those who hold BSW degrees to bypass their first year of graduate school and attend an Advanced Standing MSW program.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Duration (full-time): 2 years
Intended for: Students who hold bachelor’s degrees in any subject other than Social Work

A Master of Social Work degree is the requirement to receive social work licensure in the state of Texas. MSW programs incorporate classroom learning with hands-on field experience to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to become social work practitioners. In these programs, you’ll gain a broad overview of the place of social work in the United States as well as an in-depth understanding of each focus area of the social work field, allowing you to find the specialization that most calls to you. There are numerous Masters in Social Work schools in Texas, with options to accommodate a huge variety of aspiring social workers.

older social worker talking with young man

Advanced Standing MSW

Duration (full-time): 1 year
Intended for: Students who hold BSW degrees

If you have obtained a BSW degree, you are in a unique position to reduce the length of your MSW program by a full year by pursuing an Advanced Standing MSW. This degree option is not available for students who hold any other type of bachelor’s degree. An Advanced Standing MSW skips over the foundational coursework included in a traditional MSW program, as students will already have studied this material as undergraduates. This is why students who know as undergraduates that they would like to become social workers are encouraged to pursue their BSWs, as the Advanced Standing MSW option will reward them later on.

MSW'S IN TEXAS

Education is Easier Thanks to Online MSW Programs

Though graduate school has often been prohibitively time- and cost-intensive for many students, the arrival of virtual technologies has done wonders over the past several years in making a quality education accessible to more people. Offering students a newfound flexibility, online Master of Social Work programs are ideal for those who are continuing to work while in school, as well as those who have outside responsibilities such as childcare.

Many of the best schools in Texas for social work now offer online degree programs, recognizing that they are able to reach more students and in turn, bring more talented minds into the social work profession.

Online schools frequently offer full-time and part-time course schedules to further account for students’ individual needs outside of school. If you’ve been hoping to attend graduate school but haven’t been sure how you could make it happen, take a look at the different options at Master of Social Work schools in Texas. You may find your goals are more attainable than you’d realized.

COURSEWORK & FIELD WORK

The MSW Experience

Though different schools with Masters of Social Work programs have different areas of specialty, there is a common experience that future MSW students can expect to find wherever they enroll in school. So what does getting an MSW look like?

Coursework in a Master of Social Work Program

Classes in an MSW program tend to focus on two different approaches to social work: macro-level social work, which takes a bird’s eye view of societal issues to identify root causes and widespread issues, and micro-level social work, which is concerned with interpersonal care. Both of these perspectives are important parts of the social work profession that can feature heavily in different social work roles, such as program management and clinical practice, respectively.

Field Work in an MSW Program

In addition to classroom time, your MSW program will include a significant amount of required field work. The purpose of this is to build the hands-on skills and seasoned instincts needed to respond to the variety of unpredictable situations that might arise in a social work organization. The field work requirement of an MSW program ensures that any licensed social work professional has already spent a substantial amount of time on the clock providing social services, giving them experience and insider knowledge before they have even begun their careers.

Social Work Certifications

There are two primary types of social work license available in Texas, both of which are available to have attended MSW programs. The primary difference between these two licenses is the type of work they allow social workers to do. Though you may not know at the outset of your social work education which type of license you wish to pursue, it can be helpful to gain a sense of this while you’re still in school, as the processes of obtaining these licenses are different. Read on to learn which license level is appropriate for your goals.

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) are the only social workers authorized to provide direct counseling or therapy to individuals, families, and groups. If you know you wish to hold a therapist role in a social work organization, this is the path you will want to pursue. While it is possible to pursue an LCSW after obtaining a Master of Social Work degree from any accredited institution, there are some clinical social work schools that specialize in this type of work, helping students build the critical skills needed to support others in a therapeutic context.

Social Worker Career Paths

There are many different types of work that fall under the umbrella of social work practice. Indeed, social workers are employed by a huge variety of organizations, offering different workplace experiences, opportunities to work with different communities, and addressing different civic causes.

Social Work Focus Areas

While in an MSW program, you can expect to learn about all of the different focus areas within the social work profession, offering you a chance to find the area you most gravitate toward so that you can begin cultivating your long-term career goals. Areas of specialty in the social work profession can vary greatly, including (but not limited to) the following:

For more complete information on the different focus areas you may study at a graduate school for social work, take a look at our guide here.

Social Work Job Titles

Beyond the wide range of focus areas in the social work field, there are also many different job titles social workers can take on. These include:

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an MSW to become a social worker?

Yes. In the state of Texas, it is not possible to qualify for your social work licensing exam without first obtaining a Master of Social Work degree. This means getting your MSW is a critical step in starting a career as a social worker.

How long does it take to complete an MSW program?

When completed on a full-time schedule, a traditional MSW program typically takes two years to complete. MSW programs taken on a part-time schedule tend to take three years to complete.

How do I find Masters of Social Work programs near me?

There are excellent MSW schools throughout the state of Texas. To find the one that is best for you, take a look at our guide to the top MSW programs in the state of Texas.

How do I know if I need an LMSW or LCSW?

If you haven’t yet started your MSW program, you have some time to determine which type of social work license you wish to pursue. LMSWs are authorized to perform most social work roles, such as case manager, program director, and more. LCSWs are the only social workers permitted to provide counseling to clients, so if you know you wish to work as a therapist or counselor, this will be the path for you.