Master’s in Social Work
Get started on your Journey
Offered through Our Lady of the Lake University’s Worden School of Social Service, the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program prepares students to change the lives of children and families in need while building the foundation for their own careers in social service leadership and advanced direct practice.
The program is:
- Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
- Part of the Worden School – the first school of social work in Texas – founded in 1942
- Available in advanced standing (30-credit hour) and foundation (57-credit hours) formats
- Focused on social work practice with Hispanic children and families
Master of Social Work Program Overview
Social service leadership and advanced direct social work practice are crucial to the well being of our communities. In fact, the employment rate for social workers is expected to grow by about 7% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The comprehensive social work education provided by the Worden School combined with its extensive alumni network across the region, provides a foundation for a meaningful and successful social service career.
The OLLU Master of Social Work program is designed for busy working professionals and provides students a variety of study options:
- Hybrid program with classes that meet during the evenings and online
- Full and part-time study options offered
- Available on the San Antonio or Rio Grande Valley campuses or fully online
- Open to those with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and those who want to transition from another field into social work
Program Design
The OLLU- MSW program is a hybrid program with classes meeting during the evenings
and online. This allows working adults the opportunity to balance work and family
while still pursuing their degree. Options for full-time and part-time are available.
The program is also offered:
- On the RGV campus - the OLLU social work program was started on the main campus more than 75 years ago.
- Online - our online programs offer the same service-focused values of personal support and hands-on learning as our on-campus programs.
Program Offerings
- MSW - Foundation Program (57 credit hours) - this program is for students whose bachelor's degree is in something other than social work.
- MSW - Advanced Standing Program (30 credit hours) - this program is designed for those students who have a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
Program Benefits
Accredited by CSWE
Extensive alumni network
First social work school in Texas
What Will I Learn in This Master’s in Social Work?
The MSW programs at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) offer a comprehensive and specialized education in social work, catering to students with diverse academic backgrounds and career aspirations.
The curriculum is structured into three main tracks: the Foundation Program, the Advanced Standing Program, and the Advanced Standing Program with a Certificate in Business Essentials for Health Care Professionals.
Foundation Program
Students who enroll in the Foundation Program are typically those whose bachelor's degree is not in social work. This program provides a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of social work, covering topics such as generalist practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, professional writing, social welfare policy, human behavior, and social environment. It also includes several integrative seminars and three phases of field education.
Advance Standing Program
The Advanced Standing Program, aimed at students with a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program, offers an accelerated track focusing on services to Hispanic children and families. This specialization introduces students to the social work practice with Hispanic elders and children, perspectives and theories related to Hispanic families, policies and programs affecting Hispanics in the U.S., and psychopathology. Advanced integrative seminars and field education courses are also integral components.
Advanced Standing Program with a Certificate in Business Essentials for Health Care Professionals
For those pursuing the Advanced Standing Program with a Certificate in Business Essentials for Health Care Professionals (MSW/BEHP), the curriculum is further enriched with insights into health care management, planning, policy, data analytics, and managed care. This track is tailored for students aiming for leadership, administrative, and management positions in health care. This program uniquely prepares students to become ethical, knowledgeable, and collaborative leaders equipped to handle the complexities of health care administration.
MSW Program Goals
The goal of the MSW program is to prepare professionally trained social workers for specialized intervention in advanced social work direct practice with Hispanic/Latin@ children and families in a way that fosters commitment to culturally competent practice with diverse populations. To that end, the program focuses on ten learning outcomes for MSW students. Each social work student will:
-
- Identify as a professional social worker and conduct yourself accordingly
- Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice
- Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgment
- Engage diversity and differences in practice
- Advance human rights and social and economic justice
- Engage in research informed practice and practice informed research
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment
- Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services
- Respond to context that shape practice
- Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities
Is an MSW Degree Worth It?
Pursuing a Master of Social Work degree, such as the one offered by Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), is a worthy investment. This degree provides an extensive education in social work principles and practices, preparing students to address complex social issues with skill and empathy. This comprehensive training prepares graduates to support individuals, families, and communities effectively, fostering personal and professional growth through a commitment to service and advocacy.
In addition, an MSW degree opens many career opportunities and can lead to higher earning potential and job security. The program at OLLU provides the necessary credentials, expertise, and credibility to influence policy, lead organizations, and contribute significantly to the field of social work.
Courses in the Master of Social Work Degree
Students who hold a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE accredited program take 30 credit hours in the Advanced Standing program. Students who hold a bachelor's degree in another field, take 30 credit hours of foundation course work plus 27 credit hours from the Advanced Standing level. The following courses in the Advanced Standing program:
SOWK 6328 | 3 CREDIT HOURS
Study and practice of academic-level and Social Work-specific writing methods and
document design, with research applications and development of general and specialized
writing skills included.
SOWK 6347 | 3 CREDIT HOURS
Application of formative and summative evaluation methods employed to determine the
effectiveness of program and interventions in working with Hispanic children and families.
SOWK 7157 | 1 CREDIT HOUR
SOWK 7158 | 1 CREDIT HOUR
SOWK 7159 | 1 CREDIT HOUR
Seminars are designed to ensure students integrate their required graduate social
work coursework with the experiential learning in their field education internship.
Provides opportunity for students to demonstrate attainment of core competencies.
Concentration is social work practice with Hispanic children and families.
SOWK 7332 | 3 CREDIT HOURS
This course prepares students for social work practice with Hispanic youth, including culture, theory, engagement, assessment, interventions and evaluation.
SOWK 7334| 3 CREDIT HOURS
This course prepares students for social work practice with Hispanic children and
families, including theory, engagement, assessment, interventions and evaluation.
This course will focus on theoretical frameworks and perspectives, research, practice
and intervention strategies specific to social work practice when working with Hispanic
children and families.
SOWK 7338 | 3 CREDIT HOURS
Critical analysis of theories and perspectives on Hispanic child and family development,
functioning and interaction in the social context.
SOWK 7366 | 3 CREDIT HOURS
Critical analysis of US social policies and social welfare programs utilizing theories
of power and oppression to understand issues of human rights, and social and economic
justice impacting Hispanic children and families.
SOWK 7371 | 3 CREDIT HOURS
Study of basic concepts related to the development and assessment of abnormal behavior.
Content focuses on major mental disorders, the diagnostic/assessment process and its
application in a variety of settings, the use of assessment tools such as the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
SOWK 8255 | 2 CREDIT HOURS
Field placements in human service organizations under the instruction and supervision
of licensed master level social workers. Advanced social work practice with families
and children, with emphasis on Hispanics.
SOWK 8256 | 2 CREDIT HOURS
SOWK 8257 | 2 CREDIT HOURS
Second and third field sequence courses. Required field placement in approval human
service organizations under the instruction and supervision of licensed master’s level
social workers. Concentration is social work practice with Hispanic children and families.
A minimum of 500 clock hours in an agency must be completed and equally distributed
over the terms.
Field Education
Field Education is an integral part of the social work program at OLLU. The Worden School of Social Service has established partnerships with an extensive network of public and private social service agencies to provide students with a wide range of opportunities for internships. Worden's Field Education Office will assist students with securing appropriate field placements once the student has identified an eligible agency.
Admission Requirements
Faculty
Worden School of Social Service faculty hold advanced degrees and have extensive experience with advanced diret practice and social service leadership. View Social Work Faculty.
Alegnta Felleke
PhD Program Directory & Assistant Professor
Kimberly Gallegos
BSW Program Director & Assistant Professor
What Can You Do With an MSW Degree?
Obtaining a Master of Social Work degree enriches graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge to work efficiently in various settings, addressing different needs ranging from individual counseling to community development.
The versatility of this degree unlocks doors to a broad spectrum of career opportunities, each contributing uniquely to the well-being of individuals and communities.
Potential careers for MSW graduates include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Clinical Social Worker
- School Social Worker
- Healthcare Social Worker
- Child and Family Social Worker
- Mental Health Social Worker
- Community Social Worker
- Policy Analyst
- Social Work Administrator
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Geriatric Social Worker
- Social Work Education
Tuition & Financial Aid
The Master of Social Work from the Worden School of Social Service offers a comprehensive social work education from one of the nation's oldest and most respected schools of social work. Combined with the personal attention from faculty and the extensive alumni network, a Master of Social Work is an excellent investment in your advanced social work career.
| Tuition | Costs |
|---|---|
| Our Tuition (2024–2025 rate) | $2,973 per course |
| Average Tuition of Peer Online Institutions | $4,330 per course |
| Average Total Tuition Cost | $29,730 (Advanced Standing Program) |
You should begin the Financial Aid application process at the same time that you apply to the graduate program. To be considered for financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov . Please list Our Lady of the Lake University, federal school code #003598, as one of the schools to receive your application information. OLLU will receive your results electronically and use them to award your financial aid.
Please note: You must be officially accepted for admission to the university before a financial aid award can be processed.
FAQs
OLLU offers several options for its MSW program:
- The Foundation Program (57 credit hours) - for students with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than social work.
- The Advanced Standing Program (30 credit hours) - for students with a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
- The Certificate in Business Essentials - for Health Care Professionals (45 credit hours, online only) for students with a CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work.
Yes, the OLLU MSW program is designed to accommodate working adults. It is a hybrid program with classes conducted during the evenings and online, offering a balance between work, family, and education. Students can choose between full-time and part-time options.
The program aims to foster culturally competent practice with diverse populations. It focuses on ten key learning goals, including professional identity, ethical practice, critical thinking, diversity engagement, and policy practice, among others.