MSW Fact Sheet

MSW PROGRAM HISTORY AND FOCUS

In 2010, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) began to offer the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. The MSW program has been recognized as an accredited institution by the Council of Social Work Educators (CSWE), most recently as of June 2013. The MSW prepares individuals for advanced practice and leadership within the Paso del Norte border region and beyond. The Program’s concentration is “Social Work in the Border Region.” Students are trained to address the many social and health needs of families and communities in this bi-cultural, bi-national region, including issues related to child welfare, family violence, drug and alcohol abuse, medical social work, immigration and criminal justice.

MSW CURRICULUM

Degree Plan

The MSW degree plans require 60 credits for Full-Time and Part-Time students, and 30 credits for Advanced Standing students. Full-Time is two years (5 or 6 semesters), Part-Time is three years (7 to 9 semesters), and Advanced Standing is one year (3 semesters). All degree plans require students to begin courses in June of their first year.

Advanced Standing is a degree plan option open only to graduates of a BSW program who graduated with a 3.5 overall GPA in social work courses within 5 years of admission to the MSW program.

Students who have a bachelor’s degree in a major other than social work, or do not meet the requirements of the Advanced Standing option are also encouraged to apply. Transfer students from other MSW or Master’s level programs should contact the MSW Program Coordinator to discuss their individual situations.

Course Offerings

Most classes are offered late afternoon (starting at 3:00pm) or evenings (starting at 6:00pm), with some classes offered in the early afternoon (starting at 12noon or 1:00pm) and on Saturdays. Our program is relatively small, so there are typically only one or two sections of a class offered each semester. In addition to required courses, students take 9 credit hours (three courses) of electives from the courses offered in the MSW program or in related fields such as Sociology, Health Sciences, Chicano Studies, Women’s Studies, Anthropology or Political Science.

Field Education

All degree plans require field education. Full-Time and Part-Time require four semesters for a total of 920 hours in the field. Advanced Standing students require two semesters for a total of 460 hours in the field. Students do NOT find their own placements. Field faculty at UTEP help guide students through the process of matching with approved sites.

MSW APPLICATION PROCESS

Application Deadlines

The department will accept applications from September 1 ^st through the January 31 ^st for the next cohort beginning in June. You are encouraged to submit your application early.

Admission Requirements

Acceptance into this program is based on an assessment of a set of criteria that captures a holistic picture of an applicant’s abilities. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.

You must complete a Graduate School application, available on the Graduate School website ( http://graduate.utep.edu). The application can be found on the right side under “Quick Links” then “Apply Now.” Social Work is listed under the Health Sciences heading. You do NOT need to complete the personal statement for the Graduate School. The Department of Social Work essay replaces that essay.

All applications are submitted through the Graduate School Application portal. Application materials, including reference letters, WILL NOT be accepted by the Department of Social Work office. Each application contains the following information:

1. Academic Transcripts from ALL institutions attended. This includes transfer credit (such as from EPCC to UTEP). Each institution must have a separate transcript.
   1. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above (Advanced Standing cumulative GPA of 3.5 in social work courses)
      1. Completion of Pre-Requisite courses with a “C” of better: Undergraduate-level biology, anatomy, or physiology
      2. Undergraduate-level statistics
      3. Statistics course must have been completed with a “C” of better and within 5 years prior to date of application to MSW program; OR must be completed in the first year of the MSW program if conditionally admitted
   2. For international students
2. Degree Plan Preference Form
3. Personal Essay
4. Three Reference Letters
5. Experience Summary Form including employment and volunteer experience
6. Advanced Standing ONLY: Competency Assessment Form

QUESTIONS?

For more information about the program, please visit our website ( http://www.utep.edu/chs/sw/). Click on the “Academic Programs” link, then “Master of Social Work.” You will find links to pages with more information about the Master of Social Work program as well as application materials. If after reviewing the material you still have questions, please contact the Coordinator of the MSW Program.