Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition and fees for the TWU MSW program vary based on residency status, program length, and the number of credit hours taken. For detailed and up-to-date costs, prospective students can use TWU’s tuition calculator available on the university website: Tuition Estimator.

Using the Estimator, here are some examples of estimated costs for Fall 2024:

• Full-Time Generalist Students (12 credit hours):
• Texas Residents: $6,102.00
• Non-Residents: $11,022.00
• Full-Time Advanced Standing Students (15 credit hours):
• Texas Residents: $7,494.00
• Non-Residents: $13,644.00

Please note that these figures are subject to change without notice, as determined by the University Board of Regents and State Legislature.

• MSW Program Scholarships:
  Newly admitted MSW students may be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship during their first year in the program. Each year, up to five students are awarded this scholarship, and no application is required. Whether you are admitted as a generalist or an advanced standing student, you will automatically be considered for this scholarship at the start of your first semester. Recipients are typically selected based on academic excellence, with preference given to those who achieved a 4.0 GPA in their last 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework.
• Division of Social Work Scholarships:
  MSW students are automatically considered for all active social work scholarships when they submit the General Scholarship Application at twu.academicworks.com. The system matches you with scholarships you qualify for, and a scholarship committee reviews and scores applications using a standardized rubric. Awards are distributed based on scores until funds are fully allocated.
  • Key Dates: Applications open on July 1 and close on March 1 of the following year.
  • Funding Amount: Scholarships typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 per academic year.
  • Renewability: Most scholarships are renewable for up to two years for MSW students, provided you maintain eligibility.
• TWU Graduate Student Scholarship:
  This scholarship is managed by TWU’s General Scholarship Committee. To be eligible, you need a GPA of at least 3.2 in the last 60 credit hours and enroll in a minimum of 5 credit hours per semester. No application is required—departments nominate eligible students, and awards are distributed accordingly.
• International Students:
  All scholarships at TWU, unless specifically requiring FAFSA, are open to international students. No separate scholarships are designated exclusively for international students. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to provide full financial aid to international students.

TWU’s scholarship system ensures that all eligible students are considered for opportunities that can help fund their education. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact the MSW Program Coordinator at bfelderhoff@twu.edu or reach out to the TWU Scholarships Office. For more information about scholarships or financial aid, visit Financial Aid.

Graduates of the TWU MSW program are prepared for diverse and impactful careers in social work across various settings, such as hospitals, schools, mental health centers, child welfare agencies, and veterans’ services. An MSW degree equips you with the skills to pursue roles including:

• Mental Health Therapist
• Case Manager
• Child and Family Social Worker
• Child Welfare and Foster Care Specialist
• Community Outreach Coordinator
• Geriatric Social Worker
• Nonprofit Leader or Administrator
• Probation or Parole Officer
• Policy Analyst and Advocate
• Research Analyst
• Social Justice and Equity Advocate
• School Social Worker

Our MSW graduates are eligible to pursue licensure as Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW) and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) after fulfilling state requirements. Graduates can take the LMSW exam immediately upon completing the program. To qualify for the LCSW exam, most states require you to complete 3,000 supervised hours of clinical practice. Many social workers with an LCSW license go on to open their own private practice.

The TWU MSW program follows a hybrid online model, offering both flexibility and in-person learning opportunities. Approximately half of the courses are conducted online, either synchronously or asynchronously, while the other half require in-person attendance on campus once a week. Typically, practice courses are held in person, while other courses are offered online. For in-person courses, you will need to come to campus one day a week, with some classes scheduled in the evening to accommodate different schedules.

To view the course format (online or in-person), visit our Generalist Degree Two-Year Plan. Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are delivered online.

A bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution, with a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester credit hours of coursework. No specific major and no prerequisite courses are required.

• What you submit: the TWU Graduate School application in TargetX (with transcripts and the application fee), the MSW Program Application PDF (three essays of up to 3,000 characters each, plus required acknowledgments), and the MSW Application Résumé Template saved as a PDF.
• What you do not need: letters of recommendation, GRE scores, or prerequisite coursework. Prior work or volunteer experience is not required for admission.

If your GPA is below 3.0, you are still encouraged to apply. Applications are reviewed holistically, and an upward trajectory in your final year, relevant experience, and strong essays all matter. Be honest that a significant gap is weighed seriously, and use your essays to address it directly.

The MSW admits one cohort each year, for fall start only. There is no spring or summer entry. The TWU graduate application portal opens August 1 each year for the following fall. Our priority deadline is January 22, 2027 and our secondary deadline is March 19, 2027; review closes when the program reaches capacity, regardless of date. If you miss the fall cycle, the next opportunity is the following fall.

Advanced Standing (30 credits):

You earned a BSW within the last seven years from a CSWE-accredited program (or a CASWE-accredited program recognized by CSWE, or an internationally earned degree evaluated by CSWE’s ISWDRES as comparable to a BSW). Advanced Standing is an accelerated path: the generalist year is waived, so you finish in one year full-time or two years part-time, with fewer credits and lower cost.

Generalist (60 credits):

Your bachelor’s degree is in any field other than social work, or your BSW is from a program not accredited by CSWE, or your BSW was earned more than seven years ago. You complete the generalist year and the advanced year: two years full-time, or three or four years part-time.

Both tracks earn the same MSW degree and the same eligibility for licensure.

Three things: demonstrated preparedness for graduate-level work; commitment to the values of the social work profession; and willingness and openness to learn, grow, and engage difficult material on the way to professional competence.

At least two faculty members review every completed application using a rubric that considers your academic record, your experience as described in the résumé template, and your essays. Essays are evaluated for content and for written communication: comprehensiveness, organization, critical thinking and self-reflection, and grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Interviews are not required but may be requested if the committee has questions.

Field practicum is the signature pedagogy of social work education and a required part of both tracks. Generalist students complete a foundation practicum (400 hours across spring and summer of the generalist year) and an advanced practicum (500 hours across fall and spring of the advanced year). Advanced Standing students complete the advanced practicum only. Students typically serve about 16 hours per week in their agency while enrolled in the accompanying field seminar.

You do not find your own placement. The Social Work Practicum Coordinator matches each student with an agency, arranges the interview, and manages the affiliation agreement; students should not contact agencies directly to arrange a practicum. Each student is supervised on site by a trained field instructor. Placements are available throughout the Denton, Dallas, and Fort Worth areas and beyond.

No. Every student completes the Advanced Year Comprehensive Exam. In the final semester, students complete either the Integrative Paper in the Advanced Integrative Seminar or a Master’s Thesis. The thesis is optional; it is a two-course sequence completed under a faculty committee and replaces the Integrative Paper and one elective. It is a good fit for students considering doctoral study or careers involving research and program evaluation. You indicate interest in the thesis option on your program application, and faculty follow up with interested students before the advanced year begins.

A criminal history does not automatically preclude admission to the MSW program. Each application is reviewed individually. Criminal history may, however, affect access to certain field placements and may have implications for professional licensure and employment.

Licensure decisions belong to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) and the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, not to the program. If you have a criminal history and are considering social work, we strongly encourage you to request a Criminal History Evaluation Letter from BHEC before you enroll. This pre-enrollment evaluation tells you whether your history is likely to affect licensure. Forms are at bhec.texas.gov/forms-and-publications. If you plan to practice outside Texas, check that state’s licensing board as well.

Some are. TWU posts graduate assistantships on Handshake, and we encourage every admitted student to check it. Many assistantships, however, are funded by individual faculty members’ grants and research projects and are never posted. The most effective strategy is to review faculty profiles across Social Work, Psychology, Philosophy, and the wider university, identify faculty whose work interests you, and email them directly to introduce yourself and ask whether they anticipate needing a graduate assistant.

The application fee ($50 domestic, $75 international) is set and collected by the TWU Office of Graduate Admissions, not the MSW program, and the program does not offer waivers of its own. The university waives fees in certain circumstances; see https://twu.edu/student-records/application-fee/ or contact Graduate Admissions at gradadmissions@twu.edu or 940-898-3192. Ask early so a fee question does not hold up your application.

International applicants follow the same program deadlines as domestic applicants (priority January 22, 2027; secondary March 19, 2027). Because the university steps below take additional time, start early.

• Credential evaluation: transcripts from institutions outside the United States must be evaluated. See Test Scores & Transcripts.
• English proficiency: see TWU’s accepted tests and minimum scores at English Language Proficiency Requirement.
• F-1 student visa: the Generalist track is open to new F-1 students. I-20 issuance, proof of financial support, and visa processing are handled by International Student and Scholar Services.
• Already hold a social work degree from outside the U.S.? Advanced Standing eligibility requires an evaluation by CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES). Begin that review as early as possible; it takes several months. If you already hold an MSW-equivalent degree and your goal is Texas licensure, contact BHEC first to ask whether your degree can be recognized before committing to a second master’s degree.

Scholarship note: all TWU scholarships that do not specifically require the FAFSA are open to international students.

What matters is the degree conferral date on your transcript, not the ceremony date. If your final coursework ends in summer but your commencement ceremony is in the fall, confirm in writing with your registrar when your degree will be officially conferred. You can apply to the MSW while completing your bachelor’s degree, but your degree must be conferred before you begin MSW coursework in the fall.

MSW Program

• Program requirements, tracks, the program application, essays, résumé template, program fit: Dr. Brandi Felderhoff, MSW Program Coordinator, bfelderhoff@twu.edu, 940-898-2072.
• Schedule an Admissions Info Meeting at calendly.com/twu-dr-brandifelderhoff/admissions-info-meeting, or join a weekly Admissions Drop-In Session on Zoom, Thursdays 12:00–12:45 p.m. CST.

Office of Graduate Admissions

• TargetX application, application fee and fee waivers, transcripts, application status: gradadmissions@twu.edu, 940-898-3192.
• For transcripts showing as missing in TargetX, call Graduate Admissions Processing at 940-898-3188.

International Student and Scholar Services

• I-20, visas, financial documentation: twu.edu/international-student-scholar-services.

Social Work main office

• General questions: socialwork@twu.edu, 940-898-2071.