Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in Waco, Texas – Campus and Online

Updated: December 9, 2025

Two schools with campuses in the Waco area currently offer Master of Social Work (MSW) programs: Baylor University and Tarleton State University. Both schools have traditional MSW programs that are designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field or discipline, as well as advanced standing program tracks for graduates of Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programs that are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Baylor University offers its programs in a campus-based format and in a fully online format. Tarleton State’s program combines online classes with face-to-face instruction at the school’s Waco campus. Both Baylor University and Tarleton State University offer MSW programs that are fully accredited by the CSWE.

Baylor University (Accredited)
Tarleton State University (Accredited)

MSW programs offered by schools in the Waco area are described in detail in the sections below, where programs are grouped separately based on admissions requirements (traditional vs. advanced standing programs) and delivery method (campus-based vs. online programs).

Traditional MSW Programs in Waco

Both Baylor University and Tarleton State University offer traditional MSW programs in the Waco area. These are full-length, CSWE-accredited master’s programs in social work that provide training and instruction in clinical and/or macro practice social work to qualified students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field or discipline. A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) is not required for admission to a traditional MSW program. Most traditional MSW programs consist of roughly 60 credits of coursework that can be completed in approximately two years of full-time enrollment. Students who pursue their degree part-time typically take three to four years finish a traditional MSW program, depending on the program and the number of credits taken per semester/term.

All CSWE-accredited MSW programs require students to complete field education, a signature pedagogy of social work education that involves in-person, hands-on experiential learning at sites where social work services are provided. The CSWE requires traditional MSW programs to include at least 900 hours of field education that all students must complete, even students who enroll in MSW programs with fully online instruction.

Traditional Campus-Based MSW Programs in Waco

Baylor University’s Diane R. Garland School of Social Work offers a traditional MSW program at its main campus in Waco. The 60-credit program has a Community Practice Social Work specialization, as well as a Clinical Social Work specialization with concentrations in Diversity, Gerontology, Congregational Social Work, Trauma, International Social Work, and Integrated Behavioral Health. As part of the curriculum, traditional standing students are required to engage in 1030 hours of supervised field education. The program is designed to be completed in two years of full-time enrollment. However, students are permitted to enroll on a part-time basis with the approval of an academic advisor.

Tarleton State University has a traditional MSW program that combines online instruction with in-person classes that are held at the school’s campus in Waco. The program gives students the choice of two specialization options: Advanced Direct Practice (clinical social work); and Administration and Leadership Practice (macro social work). Students are required to complete 60-credits, which includes 900 hours of field education. The program is designed to be completed in two years of full-time enrollment or three to four years of part-time enrollment.

Traditional Online MSW Programs in Waco

Baylor University is currently the only school in the Waco area that has a fully online traditional MSW program. The program, which is offered through the Diane R. Garland School of Social Work, has two specialization options: Clinical Social Work Practice with a focus on Physical and Mental Health; and Community Practice Social Work. Traditional standing students complete a 60-credit curriculum that includes 480 hours of foundation year field education and 550 hours of specialization fieldwork (for a total of 1030 hours of field education). The program has 16-month and 24-month completion plans for full-time students, and a 36-month, part-time enrollment track.

Advanced Standing MSW Programs in Waco

Advanced standing MSW programs are designed for students who have already completed foundational social work coursework and field placements through a CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program and who are therefore qualified to begin their master’s-level studies with specialization coursework and field placements. This allows students who qualify for an MSW program’s advanced standing track to graduate in one year of full-time enrollment. Part-time enrollment in an advanced standing MSW program generally leads to graduating in about two years. Advanced standing students are given credit for the field education hours they completed during their undergraduate program; therefore, most advanced standing programs only require a minimum of 450 hours of field education versus 900 hours for traditional MSW programs.

It is important to note that MSW program commonly have selective admissions criteria for advanced standing applicants. Many programs require applicants to have graduated from a CSWE-accredited BSW program within the last five, six, or seven years, and some have baseline undergraduate grade point average (GPA) requirements as well (typically 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale). BSW graduates who do not qualify for an advanced standing program can still earn their MSW degree by enrolling in a traditional program.

Advanced Standing Campus-Based MSW Programs in Waco

Baylor University’s Diane R. Garland School of Social Work offers its campus-based MSW program in an advanced standing format for CSWE-accredited BSW graduates whose degree was conferred within the last five years. In addition, applicants to the advanced standing program track are expected to have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or higher on a four-point scale, a minimum 3.0 GPA in all social work major courses, and a grade of B or better in all undergraduate field education courses. Advanced standing students complete a 32-credit curriculum that includes 540 hours of field education. The program offers a Community Social Work specialization, as well as a Clinical Social Work specialization that has six concentration options: Diversity, Gerontology, Congregational Social Work, Trauma, International Social Work, and Integrated Behavioral Health. Advanced standing students can earn their degree in one year of full-time enrollment or speak with a program administrator regarding part-time enrollment options.

Tarleton State University offers an advanced standing MSW program at its Waco campus that combines online instruction with in-person classes. The program is designed for students who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program and who earned their degree within the last ten years. Advanced standing students complete a 30-credit curriculum that includes 500 hours of field education and two specialization options: Advanced Direct Practice (clinical social work), and Administration and Leadership Practice (macro social work). The program can be completed by advanced standing students in two or three semesters.

Advanced Standing Online MSW Programs in Waco

Baylor University offers its advanced standing MSW program in a fully online format for students who would prefer not to attend campus-based classes and for students who do not live within commuting range of Baylor’s campuses in Waco and Houston. Applicants are required to have earned a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program within the last five years, and to have graduated with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher on a four-point scale, a 3.0 GPA in all social work major courses, and a grade of B or better in all undergraduate field education courses. The online program offers specializations in Community Practice Social Work and in Clinical Social Work Practice with a focus on Physical and Mental Health. Online advanced standing students are required to engage in 540 hours of site-based field education and can earn their degree in one year of full-time enrollment.