University of Texas Permian Basin

What you'll study

Core study areas include clinical practice methods, social welfare policy, human behavior across the lifespan, social work research methods, supervision and administration, psychopathology, foundations of social justice, and group work. Electives may focus on work with children and adolescents, Latinx families, and other specialized populations.

• SOWK 6310 Clinical Social Work Practice I (3 credits, 16 weeks) — introduces foundational theories and methods for practice with individuals, families, groups and communities, including ethics, interviewing, engagement, assessment and intervention planning.
• SOWK 6320 Social Welfare Programs and Policies (3 credits, 16 weeks) — examines social welfare policy historically and presently, policy practice and advocacy, and the impacts of racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, classism, and heterosexism.
• SOWK 6330 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3 credits, 16 weeks) — applies biological, social and behavioral theories to human functioning across the lifespan and within cultural, class, race/ethnicity, sexuality and gender contexts.
• SOWK 6341 Practicum I (3 credits, 16 weeks) — first of five practicum courses; orients students to fieldwork and professional use of self; requires 240 hours of supervised clinical practice in an agency or organization; co-requisite SOWK 6310.
• SOWK 6141 Practicum Seminar I (1 credit, 16 weeks) — seminar taken alongside Practicum I.
• SOWK 6311 Clinical Social Work Practice II (3 credits, 16 weeks) — advances intervention and evaluation skills; introduces Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing and Critical Time Intervention; prerequisite SOWK 6310 and SOWK 6330.
• SOWK 6331 Human Behavior in Global Contexts (3 credits, 16 weeks) — expands on human behavior study to include impacts of socioeconomic environments, migration, poverty, war and climate-influenced hardship, with attention to culturally and economically diverse rural communities (including the Permian Basin); prerequisite SOWK 6330.
• SOWK 6361 Foundations of Social Justice (3 credits, 16 weeks) — examines historical and contemporary marginalization and oppression across identity domains and strategies to address disparities in practice and policy.
• SOWK 6342 Practicum II (3 credits, 16 weeks) — continuation of field practicum to deepen competency integrating theory and practice.

Entry requirements

The program page specifies that no GRE is required. It does not list other specific academic prerequisites or admission criteria in the provided text. Students should consult the university for complete application requirements and deadlines.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for clinical social work roles in healthcare and behavioral-health settings and for broader positions that aim to improve access to health and mental-health services for culturally diverse individuals and families. The program emphasizes evidence-based, ethical interventions, community-oriented work beyond clinical settings, and preparation for licensure (LMSW and LCSW).

Scholarships & funding angle

The program notes career-entry guidance and resources and mentions a special scholarship opportunity for residents of the Permian Basin. Beyond that, the provided text does not enumerate additional funding details; prospective students should contact the university financial aid or program office for comprehensive scholarship and funding information.