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MSW Program Options

Accepting Applications for 2022 Spring, Summer or Fall Start

MSW Program Offerings

+ The crosses indicate that these specialties are only offered in certain modes. Aging and CAP specialties only offer online courses. Health has a face-to-face component so you will not be able to complete the specialty only taking online courses.  


Regular/Non-Cohort Matriculation

  • Advanced Coursework and Foundation Coursework students
  • Program length depends on student & course availability
  • Fall, Spring and Summer start
  • Take online & face-to-face classes in Arlington
  • 16-week long classes
  • Take classes full-time or part-time at your own pace and when they are offered per the degree plan
    *Requires Academics Advisor approval to verify availability

12-Month Online Cohort

  • Advanced Coursework students only — 12 months
  • Fall and Spring starts (Aging and CAP Cohorts start only in Fall semester)
  • All classes online
  • 8-week, 11-week or 16-week long classes depending on degree plan

12-Month Online Cohort

Direct Practice Specialty in Aging Direct Practice Specialty in Children & Families Direct Practice Specialty in Mental Health & Substance Misuse Community Administrative Practice

16-Month Online Cohort

  • Advanced Coursework students only - 16 months
  • Fall start only
  • All classes online
  • 16-week long classes
  • Children and Families cohort students receive Administrative Certificate

16-Month Online Cohort

Direct Practice Specialty in Children and Families Certificate in Administration Direct Practice Specialty in Mental Health & Substance Misuse

12-Month Arlington Campus Cohort

  • Advanced Coursework students only - 12 months
  • Fall start only
  • Face-to-face classes at Arlington campus
  • 16-week long classes on Monday & Wednesday evenings

12-Month Arlington Campus Cohort

Direct Practice Specialty in Children and Families Direct Practice Specialty in Health Direct Practice Specialty in Mental Health & Substance Misuse

14-Month or 24-Month Fort Worth Campus Cohort

  • Advanced Coursework & Foundation Coursework students
  • Advanced Coursework - 14 months (Summer Start only)
    Foundation Coursework - 24 months (Fall Start only)
  • Take face-to-face classes at U T A Forth Worth & 3 to 4 online classes
  • 5-week, 8-week, 11-week, and 16-week long classes on Wednesday & Thursday evenings
  • Students receive Administrative Certificate

14-Month or 24-Month Fort Worth Campus Cohort

Direct Practice Specialty in Children and Families and an Administrative Certificate

Traditional Students must complete the Foundation Coursework First

  • Fall start foundation cohorts (face-to-face, Monday & Wednesday evenings) or online - 12 months
  • Spring start foundation cohorts online only - 12 months
  • Start Fall, Spring or Summer Regular/Non-Cohort face-to-face or online

Traditional Students must complete the Foundation Coursework First

Face to Face Foundation Cohort Online Foundation Cohort
Dean Scott Ryan

Expert advice for future graduate students

DEAN RYAN’S PUBLISHED EXCERPT ABOUT CHOOSING AN ONLINE MSW PROGRAM

Today’s online academic programs are nothing like they were 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago. Improvements in technology, course and curriculum development have opened the doors for a generation of new faculty who are not only experienced in teaching online courses but were once online students themselves. This has helped tremendously in bridging the gap and making the online experience equivalent to in-person learning.

Read More

What is a cohort?

A cohort is a group of students that start together at the same time, complete a sequence of prescribed courses each semester, and graduate the program together. The purpose, broadly speaking, of cohort groups is to encourage a more dynamic, collaborative, and supportive learning environment to carry students through their program. Students in cohorts receive priority placement with course offerings. If there are not enough students registered for a particular cohort, students may be asked to...

What is Advanced Standing?

Advanced Standing is a designation for students who earned a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited institution within the past six years and before the start of their MSW Advanced Coursework matriculation. The student must also have met the 3.0 GPA quick admissions standard and earned a B or better in all social work undergraduate required courses.

What is Traditional?

Traditional is a designation for students who earned a bachelor’s degree in another discipline/field/major or BSW graduate who does not meet the Advanced Standing criteria for whatever reason. Traditional students must complete both the Foundation and Advanced Coursework, which consist of 61 credit hours and includes two field internship placements. About 50% of our MSW students are traditional (non-BSW graduates) students.

What is the Foundation Coursework and Advanced Coursework?

Foundation Coursework is the first year of the MSW program. Traditional students must first complete the Foundation Coursework which consists of 23 credit hours including a field internship placement and then traditional students complete the Advanced Coursework of 35 credit hours including a field internship placement. The Foundation Coursework is waived for Advanced Standing students. Advanced Standing students will begin their matriculation in the Advanced Coursework which for them consists...

Traditional students who complete the foundation coursework requirements can with the approval of their Academic Advisor start in an Advanced Coursework or matriculate as a regular/non-cohort student. These traditional students will take one less course than the Advanced Standing students in these same cohorts. For example: A traditional student interested in the Aging or CAP specialty who completes their foundation coursework by the end of the summer, can start with the 12-Month Online Aging or CAP cohort (or any semester start cohorts) in the fall semester pending their Academic Advisor approval.

Get In Touch with SSW Admissions

Leslie Reyna
Admissions Counselor III
Email: leslie.reyna@uta.edu
Phone: 817-272-1475

Shereeta Jones
Admissions Counselor III
Email: shereeta.jones@uta.edu
Phone: 817-272-9488
Office: B-113

Dolores Bevins
Administrative Assistant
Email: doloresbevins@uta.edu
Phone: 817-272-1044

Darlene Santee
Admissions Coordinator