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Social Work

MSW-Social Work

The Master of Social Work program at Texas A&M University-Commerce is designed to meet the educational needs of advanced level social workers. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). All MSW graduates are eligible to sit for the State of Texas LMSW licensure testing. The program follows an advanced generalist practice model. 

The MSW program offers 2 programs:

  • a fully online program option for students who reside within a 500-mile geographic radius of the Commerce campus, and
  • a face-to-face option in which the courses are offered during the day and evenings on the Commerce campus, Mesquite Metroplex Center, and Collin County Higher Education Center.

Program types:

Foundation – Students with an undergraduate degree in any field other than Social Work.  This is either a full time, two-year program offered over four regular semesters and one summer semester or a part-time program in which students can expect to earn their degree in about four years. Students beginning the program in a fall term can choose the full time program and students beginning in a spring and/or summer term must select the part-time program.

Advanced Standing (AGP/Concentration) – Students who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) within the last six years and have a 3.0 GPA are eligible for expedited admission to the Advanced Standing Program.  Students with a BSW older than 6 years, from a CSWE accredited program may apply to the Advanced Standing program, but may be required to take additional course work to update knowledge, skills and abilities as recommended by the Admissions Committee. Full-time students can expect to complete the program in one year.

Students transferring from another MSW program are required to sign a release of information form; which will be used to communicate with the previous MSW program.

This program is not available to international applicants since the program is online.

Social Work Admission Packet

Departmental Website

Required Documents for Admission

Admission Consideration Requirements for All Students

  • Apply Texas Application
  • Application fee:  $50 domestic student 
  • All official transcripts - Bachelor's degree, including all transcripts used towards bachelor's degree.  Any master's degree transcript or transcripts with graduate coursework (if applicable).
  • PLEASE REVIEW THE INFORMATION BELOW AND FOLLOW EITHER A OR B, DEPENDING ON YOUR DEGREE AND GPA:

    A. ADVANCE STANDING PROGRAM:

    Applicants who have earned an undergraduate degree in Social Work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited BSW program within six (6) years of their planned start and whose overall GPA is 3.0 or higher or at least 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, will be considered for Advanced Standing. 

    Applicants who meet these criteria (CSWE accredited BSW degree and overall 3.0 GPA or 3.0 on last 60 hours of undergraduate work or hold a conferred master's degree with an overall 3.0 GPA or higher) only need to submit the items listed below (1-3) to the School of Social Work department:

    1. Apply Texas application,
    2. application fee, 
    3. resume,
    4. statement of goals, and
    5. all official transcripts from any university attended.

    B. FOUNDATION PROGRAM:

    Applicants with one of the below degrees must submit the items listed below (1-6 and possibly 7 and 8)

    • A bachelor's degree (*BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program that is older than 6 years from their anticipated start date (no matter of GPA), or
    • a bachelor's degree (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program and whose overall bachelor's GPA is less than a 3.0 GPA , or
    • a bachelor's degree (BSW) from a non-CSWE-accredited  program (no matter GPA), or
    • a bachelor's degree (non-BSW) from an accredited program.
    1. Apply Texas application,
    2. application fee, 
    3. resume,
    4. all official transcripts from any university attended,
    5. Three (3) current recommendations:
    • References must be submitted on TAMUC School of Social Work reference form and include an original signature,
    • References from co-workers, family, or friends are not acceptable, 
    • References must be less than one year old at the time of the admission review,
    • References forms must be completed and submitted by the person providing the reference.  References submitted by the student will not be accepted.

            5. Current Resume (less than one year old at time of the admission review)

            6.  Current 2-3 page Professional Narrative Statement addressing items outlined in 1-10 on the form

             * Applicants who hold a BSW from a CSWE accredited institution that is older than 6 years must complete steps 1-6 for those seeking admission to the Foundation Program.  However, all documents will be reviewed and a determination will be made as to admission for Advanced Standing or Foundation based on course work competencies

Application Packet Submission Deadline:

MSW Admission application deadlines are as follows:

Fall                   July 1
Spring              November 1 
Summer           March 1