Our Lady of the Lake University MSW Program
The Worden School of Social Service at Our Lady of the Lake University leads Texas as its first social work education institution. This 82-year-old school first opened its doors in 1942. The school has built an impressive legacy that prepares skilled social workers through complete education programs.
Students can pursue social work degrees at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels within the College of Professional Studies. The school got its first accreditation in 1945 and has managed to keep continuous accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This accreditation will give students education that meets the highest industry standards.
The Worden School’s excellence in education has earned notable recognition. The school received the prestigious Council on Social Work Education Presidential Award for Excellence in Social Work Education in 2009. The Texas Distance Learning Association also recognized the school’s Outstanding Commitment to Excellence and Innovation in Distance Learning by a 4-Year Higher Education Organization in April 2015.
The school’s cultural focus sets it apart. Students learn to be sensitive to cultural and ethnic differences, especially when you have Hispanic populations. This lines up with the university’s position as a Federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution. The university leads all Catholic universities nationwide with 63% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment and 54% Hispanic graduate enrollment. The MSW program at OLLU is one of only three programs in the United States that specifically focuses on serving the Hispanic community.
Worden School’s faculty shows dedication to educational excellence through student-centered teaching, backed by a favorable student-to-faculty ratio. The school has created mutually beneficial alliances with many public and private social service agencies. These partnerships give students various internship opportunities, including bilingual (English/Spanish) practicum settings.
Military members and veterans can get a 10% tuition discount since OLLU is a Yellow Ribbon School. This benefit makes education more available to those who served in the armed forces.
U.S. News & World Report ranked the Master of Social Work program No. 95 nationally and No. 6 in Texas for 2024. These rankings show Our Lady of the Lake University’s quality education and boost graduates’ job prospects.
Programs offered
Our Lady of the Lake University’s Worden School of Social Service offers a detailed Master of Social Work program. Students can choose between two entry pathways based on their educational background and career goals.
The Foundation MSW Program welcomes students with bachelor’s degrees from fields other than social work. Students need to complete a 57-credit hour curriculum that takes about three to three and a half years. This track helps students build their knowledge through courses in generalist practice, professional writing, social welfare policy, human behavior, and social environment before they move to specialized content.
The Advanced Standing MSW Program provides a faster option if you have a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program. This simplified 30-credit hour pathway takes less than two years to complete.
OLLU’s program stands out with its specialized focus on services to Hispanic children and families. The program is one of only three MSW programs in the United States with this unique emphasis. Students learn about social work practice with Hispanic elders and youth, viewpoints and theories about Hispanic families, policies affecting Hispanics in the U.S., and psychopathology.
Both programs use a flexible, asynchronous online format that works well for working adults. Students take classes in seven-week terms and can balance their work and studies effectively. The program runs entirely online without campus visits, but students must complete field education at approved local agencies.
Field education plays a crucial role in both programs. Foundation students must complete 950 hours of field education. This splits into a 450-hour foundational internship and a 500-hour advanced-level placement. Advanced Standing students need to complete one 500-hour field internship.
The Advanced Standing program’s curriculum has specialized courses like Professional Writing for Social Work, Evaluation of Social Work Practice with Hispanic Children and Families, Social Work Practice with Hispanic Elders, and Theories and Perspectives on Hispanic Children and Families. Foundation students complete core coursework first before taking these specialized courses.
OLLU also offers a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree that prepares students for general practice and graduate school. BSW graduates from OLLU or another CSWE-accredited program with a 3.0 GPA or higher can earn their MSW in just one year through the Advanced Standing MSW program. This creates a quick path to success for dedicated students.
About the online program
Our Lady of the Lake University’s online Master of Social Work program gives working professionals a flexible educational experience. OLLU’s online MSW lets you complete coursework on your own schedule without fixed login times. This setup will give you the freedom to balance your education with work and personal life.
Your online experience starts with a complete online orientation to help you get familiar with the virtual learning platform. The program delivers the same service-focused values and hands-on learning as on-campus classes. You’ll have direct access to faculty through phone and email. The program also provides 24/7 technical support and access to the Center for Career Development & Testing.
The virtual classroom makes shared learning possible even from a distance. Students and faculty actively engage in discussion forums and team exercises. Each course needs about 15-20 hours of your time per week. Seven-week terms with clear assignment deadlines help you stay on track.
Field education plays a vital role in the online program, with placements in your local area. Foundation students need to finish two field internships totaling 950 hours (450 hours foundational and 500 hours advanced). Advanced Standing students complete one 500-hour internship.
The program offers different scheduling options. Advanced Standing students can finish in 12 months on an accelerated path or take up to 20 months part-time. Foundation MSW students complete the program in two years with accelerated study or in three years and two months part-time.
OLLU supports military members and veterans as a Yellow Ribbon School. Active military and veterans get a 10% tuition discount. This military-friendly approach combined with online classes makes education more available for service members.
You can start your online MSW program at different times throughout the year – spring, summer, or fall. This flexibility lets you plan your education around your life circumstances.
Accreditation
Accreditation is the foundation of quality assurance for any educational program. Our Lady of the Lake University’s Master of Social Work program has full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This prestigious designation goes beyond mere formality and validates the program’s academic excellence.
CSWE accreditation carries substantial weight in social work education. Yes, it is the only accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories. Programs with CSWE accreditation meet strict quality standards that prepare students for their professional journey. Your degree from OLLU’s MSW program will carry this quality mark that employers and licensing boards recognize across the country.
Our Lady of the Lake University also holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. This institutional accreditation adds another layer of quality assurance that covers all university programs and services.
The Worden School’s MSW program demonstrates a steadfast dedication to accreditation. OLLU’s social work programs have managed to keep their CSWE accreditation, which shows the university’s commitment to educational excellence. Students can rely on this proven track record of stability and quality.
These accreditations bring tangible benefits to your career path. Many state licensing boards require candidates to graduate from CSWE-accredited programs before they can obtain social work licensure. Employers prefer candidates with degrees from accredited institutions because these graduates meet established quality standards.
OLLU’s accredited MSW program has earned national recognition. To name just one example, U.S. News & World Report ranked the Master of Social Work program in a tie for No. 95 nationally and No. 6 in Texas for 2024. These rankings come from a survey of 319 CSWE-accredited social work programs, placing OLLU among top performers nationwide.
OLLU’s MSW program combines its special focus on serving the Hispanic community with CSWE accreditation to deliver specialized knowledge and widely recognized quality education.
Admission Requirements
Our Lady of the Lake University MSW program has specific admission criteria that change based on your chosen track. The program team will review your academic history, work experience, and personal qualities to make sure you’re ready for graduate-level social work studies.
Foundation Program Requirements
Students need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to join the Foundation MSW program. OLLU wants a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 from all undergraduate work or 3.00 for the last 60 semester hours. Students from any undergraduate background can apply, not just those with social work degrees. The program doesn’t require prior social work experience.
Advanced Standing Requirements
Advanced Standing has higher academic standards. You’ll need a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00. This faster track serves BSW graduates who have shown excellent academic results.
Application Materials
Your application package should include:
- Official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges and universities attended
- Personal statement (one to two pages, APA format encouraged) explaining why you want to pursue an MSW degree
- Three recommendations from employers, supervisors, professional colleagues, or academic references
- Professional résumé listing your licensure, work experience, and volunteer activities
Application Timeline
Foundation program students start in fall semesters with a priority application deadline of May 15. Advanced Standing students begin in summer semesters and must apply by April 1. Late applications might get space if spots remain available.
Review Process
At least two Worden School faculty members independently review each application. They look at your GPA, personal statement, and recommendation letters. Faculty might recommend full admission, conditional admission, or non-admission. A third reviewer steps in if the first two disagree. All decisions need agreement from at least two faculty members.
After acceptance, a $250 tuition deposit confirms your spot in the incoming class. You must pay this deposit, which applies toward your tuition, before registering for classes.
International students and those educated in languages other than English must prove English proficiency. OLLU accepts TOEFL scores of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test), or 79 (internet-based test).
Tuition
Our Lady of the Lake University offers competitive MSW education costs and strong financial support options. The university keeps its tuition rates lower than many private schools and provides extensive financial aid.
Students with BSW degrees can join the Advanced Standing MSW program at a total cost of $29,730. This cost is much lower than the Foundation MSW program, which costs $56,487 for the complete 57-credit curriculum. Graduate tuition costs $991 per credit hour. The 2024-2025 rate stands at $2,973 per course.
OLLU shows its steadfast dedication to making quality private education available to all families through various financial aid options. Starting the financial aid process is straightforward. Students should complete their FAFSA along with the program application. They need to add OLLU’s federal school code (#003598) on the FAFSA. Financial aid processing begins after official acceptance.
The university’s commitment to student support shows in the numbers. OLLU meets 88% of its students’ financial needs. A remarkable 98% of full-time students get local or institutional grants that average $18,814. Federal grants help 64% of students with average awards of $5,667.
Military members and veterans get special benefits at OLLU, a Yellow Ribbon School. The university gives them a 10% tuition discount. This makes the program more affordable for service members.
Students can also apply for many scholarships from donor endowments. Some social service agencies provide stipends, though these vary based on availability.
The MSW program at OLLU is an investment in your future. Competitive tuition rates combined with substantial financial aid make this high-quality education achievable. Financial aid counselors at OLLU are ready to help you plan your education funding effectively.
Additional Information
OLLU’s MSW program graduates have excellent career prospects in social work – a field that’s seeing reliable growth. The sort of thing I love about the current outlook is that the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7% growth in social work employment from 2022 to 2032. This is important since it means that average occupational growth rates with roughly 63,800 job openings each year. These numbers show why an MSW degree is such a valuable investment.
The program features a unique focus on Hispanic children and families that prepares you for specialized practice without limiting broader applications. OLLU stands among all but one of these MSW programs nationwide with this specialization. Graduates gain specialized expertise to serve America’s faster growing Hispanic population.
Real-world experience comes through comprehensive field education requirements. Foundation students complete 950 hours of internships – 450 hours at the foundation level plus 500 hours in advanced placement. Advanced Standing students complete a 500-hour field internship.
OLLU proves its military-friendly status as a Yellow Ribbon School by offering active military members and veterans a 10% tuition discount. Online classes remain available to fit around service commitments.
An MSW from OLLU creates paths to specialized roles in healthcare social work with aging populations, mental health practice for treatment seekers, and substance abuse recovery – especially when you have opioid cases. Graduates move into leadership positions that expand access to vital resources for underserved communities.