Master of Social Work in Macro Practice (Political Social Work)

The Face to Face MSW prepares students to move into clinical or macro practice. Students primarily attend face to face classes at the main UH campus and have access to two areas of specialized practice, four specializations and our four dual degree programs. Face to Face program students attend full-time. The Face to Face program is primarily a day-time program and cannot be completed only on evenings. Both program options, Advanced Standing and full program are available Face to Face.

Macro Practice prepares students for practice in urban settings where the needs of diverse, vulnerable populations require highly skilled professional leaders. Students are prepared to work in communities, in public and private organizations to promote progressive social change that contributes to the growth and empowerment of individuals, agencies and communities. Core concepts and practice skills are developed for work at the community, organizational, societal, and global levels. Students are prepared to assume leadership positions as advocates, managers, program planners, researchers, policy analysts, and agency and community capacity builders.

The Political Social Work specialization builds off of the GCSW's historical tradition as a national leader in political social work and our innovative and unique programming in this area. This includes the Austin Legislative Internship Program and our status as the only social work program in the world with a Nobel Peace Laureate on its faculty. Students enrolled in this specialization benefit from the research, teaching, and practice expertise of our College faculty in areas of local, national and global advocacy, policy, and civic engagement. Students completing the Political Social Work Specialization possess advanced skills that prepare them to assume leadership positions as community organizers, policy advocates, policy analysts, and legislative staff. Students are able to integrate political advocacy skills into all levels of social work practice in order to promote social, economic, and political justice on behalf of vulnerable populations. Alumni who have graduated with this specialization hold positions in both clinical and macro settings.

Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. The undergraduate education must reflect a sound liberal arts foundation, including courses in the humanities, arts, and in the social and biological sciences. Scanned copies of official transcripts can be used to make an admissions decision. If admitted, an official transcript showing degree awarded must be sent to the UH Graduate School in order to enroll in classes.

Have achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or better (4.0 scale) for all undergraduate and graduate course work.

The minimum TOEFL score required is 79 for the internet-based test.
The minimum TOEFL score for the paper-based (pBT) exam is 550 or higher.
The minimum TOEFL score for the new revised paper-based exam is: Reading 20, Listening 20, and Writing 20.
The minimum IELTS score required is an overall score of a 6.5.