Prairie View A&M University MSW Programs

Prairie View A&M University is the second oldest public institution of higher learning in Texas, established in 1876. The university’s Department of Social Work has created a legacy of excellence since getting its accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in 1980. The department has produced outstanding professional social workers who serve Texas, the nation, and global communities.

Students can choose from both undergraduate and graduate social work degrees. These include a Bachelor of Social Work (BASW) program and an innovative online clinical Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Students pursuing other degree programs can also opt for a minor in social work.

Prairie View A&M’s social work education holds a special place in the educational world. The university runs one of the few fully CSWE-accredited BASW degree programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Texas. The MSW program stands alone as Texas’s only such program at an HBCU. This gives students a unique viewpoint and approach.

The MSW program shines with its specialized focus. Only three MSW programs in Texas concentrate on healthcare, and Prairie View A&M is the only one that trains students specifically for medical social work. This specialization helps graduates excel in faster growing hospitals and healthcare systems. Texas medical social workers earn between $50,000 and $90,000 each year.

Students learn through an Africentric curriculum that teaches evidence-based interventions, research, and theory. This creates a space where students accept core values of spirituality, interdependence, and collectivism. Students also learn without facing common challenges that minority students experience at other institutions, such as alienation, discrimination, and stereotyping.

The core team of educators drives these achievements. The department has passionate faculty members who excel at teaching, research, and service. They focus on mentoring and one-on-one advisement, with a remarkably low faculty-to-student ratio. This creates an ideal learning environment and maintains excellent customer service.

Prairie View A&M’s social work programs shape careers beyond the classroom. Texas reported 5,764 openings for medical social workers and 12,387 positions in behavioral health as of March 2022. Graduates find great opportunities in this growing job market. The department’s mission statement says it best: “Education for Enhancing Social Change and Making a Difference in People’s Lives”.

Programs offered

Prairie View A&M University’s Department of Social Work provides complete degree paths that prepare skilled practitioners at every career stage. The Bachelor of Social Work (BASW) program requires 120 semester credit hours. Students learn generalist practice skills at micro, mezzo, and macro levels, which prepares them to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program features a clinical focus with a specialized curriculum. This program stands out as the only MSW program in Texas to deliver an Africentric curriculum. Students learn evidence-based interventions, research, and theory. The program helps students become advanced clinical social work professionals who specialize in Medical Social Work/Behavioral Health.

Students can choose from three flexible MSW program formats:

• Traditional Program – 56 semester credit hours completed over two years full-time or three years part-time
• Advanced Standing Program – 33 semester credit hours designed for students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited institution earned within the last six years
• Online Delivery – All MSW coursework follows CSWE accreditation standards and gives working professionals easy access

The Traditional Program’s curriculum splits into two parts: the professional foundation (first year) and the clinical concentration (second year). This structure builds expertise step by step, starting with core competencies before moving to specialized practice.

Students become skilled at several therapeutic approaches including case management, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and dialectical behavior therapy. The curriculum highlights the importance of building rapport, networking, and maintaining self-awareness and self-care.

The program’s career prospects make it valuable. Medical Social Workers are among the highest-paid professionals in the field, earning between $50,000 and $90,000 yearly in Texas. Jobs are plentiful, and graduates find opportunities in growing hospitals and healthcare systems.

The program aims to create social work practitioners who use strengths-based, person-centered approaches. These practitioners lead efforts to improve health and wellness through an integrated approach in local and global communities. Through curriculum and structured internships, graduates are ready to meet Texas’s growing need for qualified healthcare social workers.

About the online program

Prairie View A&M University’s Master of Social Work program runs completely online. This setup helps professionals balance their careers with education goals. Students get the same high-quality education as traditional classroom learning that meets CSWE accreditation standards.

Students can choose from three enrollment options that fit their needs:

• Traditional Program (56 credit hours) – Students complete this in two years full-time or three years part-time
• Advanced Standing (33 credit hours) – Students complete 500 internship hours over 11 months with 9-11 clock hours weekly
• Part-time options – Working professionals can advance their education while keeping their jobs

The program structure stays the same whatever the delivery method. Students in two-year and three-year programs start with professional foundation courses in year one and move to clinical concentration in year two. Each student must finish courses in their Plan of Study, which builds skills step by step.

Technology powers the learning experience. Students connect through video calls, podcasts, and live events that promote teamwork across distances. These digital tools help students learn and build tech skills that employers value.

Class schedules rotate to help working professionals access courses easily. This flexibility gives students a major advantage over traditional programs with set class times.

The program goes beyond just putting classroom content online. It creates an environment where students develop critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills that today’s social services need. Students can plan their studies around work and life without losing educational quality.

This MSW program leads the way in training social workers who have specialized knowledge about health disparities. The online platform prepares graduates to provide culturally aware, evidence-based, Africentric Social Work Practice to different communities across Texas and beyond.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a vital quality indicator for social work education that proves program rigor and ensures graduates meet professional standards. Prairie View A&M University’s social work programs have shown their dedication to excellence through CSWE accreditation for over four decades.

The program earned CSWE accreditation in 1980, marking a milestone in social work education’s progress at Prairie View. The program went through substantial development before this achievement. The department built toward this recognition throughout the 1970s and got “approved” status from CSWE in 1970 to prepare students for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a social work emphasis.

The path to full accreditation required several strategic steps. The department got the latest Accreditation Standards from CSWE in 1978 and worked step by step toward getting the original accreditation. Their hard work concluded with formal recognition two years later.

Prairie View has managed to keep this prestigious status since its original accreditation. The program has maintained uninterrupted accreditation for over 40 years with regular reaffirmation. Their commitment to quality education led to reaffirmation in 1987 and again in 2003 for the full eight-year cycle until 2011.

Prairie View A&M University also holds institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. This complete recognition covers all academic offerings, including social work programs.

This accreditation holds special importance in Texas higher education. Prairie View A&M stands out among 53 social work programs with CSWE accreditation across Texas. It offers one of the few fully CSWE-accredited BASW degree programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the state.

The accreditation’s practical value goes beyond institutional prestige. It arranges curriculum with national standards and ensures graduates meet established professional competencies. Most states require graduation from CSWE-accredited programs for social work licensure, which helps students qualify.

MSW students’ degrees meet the same rigorous standards as programs nationwide, whatever the delivery format. Traditional and online programs follow similar content and competency guidelines set by CSWE accreditation standards. This ensures consistent quality across all learning platforms.

Admission Requirements

Prairie View A&M University’s MSW program sets specific academic and professional standards to help students succeed. The program team reviews each candidate’s readiness for advanced social work education through several criteria.

Students applying to the Traditional Program (full-time or part-time) need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college. Regular graduate status requires a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale during upper-division coursework (junior and senior years). Beyond academic records, the program looks at your background in specific areas.

Students must complete an introductory statistics course with a grade of C or better. The program also expects a strong foundation in liberal arts and behavioral sciences that prepares you for graduate-level social work education.

Advanced Standing program has stricter academic requirements due to its faster pace. This option works only for students who meet these criteria:

• Hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited institution
• Finished their BSW in the last six years before starting MSW Advanced Year
• Maintained a 3.0 undergraduate GPA
• Earned B or better in all required undergraduate social work courses

The application package must include:

• Three letters of recommendation
• A personal statement
• A completed “Apply Texas” application

The program follows standard university graduate admission deadlines. Domestic students should submit Fall applications by April 15. Spring semester applications are due October 1. Summer I applicants need to apply by April 15, while Summer II candidates must submit by May 15.

The Graduate School sends completed applications to the Social Work Department for detailed review. Acceptance depends on meeting both university and department requirements. The program remains available to qualified candidates who show academic potential and dedication to social work values.

The MSW program sometimes extends admission dates to consider qualified applicants. Students should check current deadlines with the department even after standard deadlines pass.

Tuition

Prairie View A&M University’s MSW degree provides exceptional value among graduate education options in Texas. The program maintains competitive tuition rates in the state’s higher education system.

The numbers tell a compelling story. Resident graduate students pay $7,992 per year in tuition and fees, making it one of Texas’s most economical MSW programs. Out-of-state students face an annual tuition of $17,379. These costs apply to full-time enrollment – nine semester hours during fall or spring semesters or six hours in summer terms.

Prairie View A&M University’s guaranteed tuition and fee plans benefit all enrolled students. Students can plan their finances with confidence throughout their academic trip. New graduate and doctoral students have the option of a 4-year guaranteed tuition rate, which helps with long-term financial planning.

The university supports students with various financial assistance programs. Students can get grants, work-study opportunities, student and parent loans, scholarships, and non-resident tuition fee waivers. These financial aid options make education more affordable while supporting student success.

The university emerges as a standout choice among Texas MSW online programs by combining quality education with affordability. The program’s steadfast dedication to available education aligns with its mission to prepare practitioners from different backgrounds to lead social services in Texas communities.

Additional Information

Prairie View A&M University’s MSW program shapes exceptional professionals who make the most important contributions to Texas social services, beyond just academic excellence. The program’s graduate demographics show a diverse group – about 93% women and 7% men, with 83% identifying as Black or African American.

The curriculum develops three key categories of marketable skills:

• Degree Skills: Advanced micro-level practice with individuals, mezzo-level practice with families/groups, and macro-level practice with organizations/communities
• Concentration Skills: Knowing how to practice in mental/behavioral health settings, apply medical systems approaches, and implement advanced problem-solving
• Co-curricular Skills: Interpersonal abilities, empathy development, critical assessment capabilities, and effective collaboration

Students grow professionally through three departmental organizations: the Social Work Action Club, Phi Alpha International Honor Society, and Alpha Delta Mu SW Honor Society. These groups boost professional development among other academic preparations.

The department offers complete MSW exam preparation courses to licensed practitioners and recent graduates. These $500 workshops are a great way to get digital resources, practice exams, audio libraries, and instruction from licensed experts. PVAMU supports professionals through every career stage.

Campus resources make student success easier with everything from tutoring services to career development opportunities. Students also have access to specialized facilities like the Recreation Center, Nutrition Demonstration Kitchens, and health services.

The Department of Social Work stays true to its mission of “Education for Enhancing Social Change and Making a Difference in People’s Lives”. This guiding principle pervades every aspect of the Prairie View A&M University MSW experience. Graduates revolutionize Texas social services through their expertise in medical and behavioral health interventions.