Texas Tech University

About Us

Holden Hall

Our History

The undergraduate social work program at Texas Tech University was developed in the 1967/68 academic year, with just 24 students and 3 courses. With approval by the Board of Regents in 1970, the degree program grew substantially in full-time faculty, course offerings, and majors over the next decade. Full accreditation with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)** was initially granted for the BA in social work degree program in 1979 and reaffirmed every eight years hence. The Board of Regents approved the addition of the Master's in Social Work (MSW) in 2014 and the initial cohort of graduate students started in fall 2015. Fifteen students were awarded the first MSW degrees from TTU in May of 2017. A multi-year process, full initial accreditation with CSWE was granted in February of 2018. Today, nine full-time faculty lines and two full-time staff positions at TTU are dedicated to the preparation of about 150 currently enrolled students for baccalaureate and master's level social work practice in the community. Given the high job growth predicted for the profession, it is anticipated that with ongoing support, the population of social work students at TTU will grow steadily for several decades.

*The Council on Social work Education (CSWE) oversees all social work education programs at the bachelors and masters levels. Accreditation with CSWE provides reasonable assurance of the quality of social work education programs and the competence of graduating students. In order to be licensed as a practicing social worker in most states, a person must have a degree in social work from an institution that is accredited with CSWE. The BASW and MSW degree programs were last reaffirmed in 2023; the next review will occur in 2031.

Our Mission

The social work degree programs at Texas Tech University prepare undergraduate and graduate students to contribute to society through civic participation and generalist social work practice. As critical thinkers and self-directed learners, graduates are able to simultaneously use self-awareness and sensitivity to the plight of humankind to promote social justice within our interdependent global community. The programs are designed to integrate these fundamentals with the core principles and methods of social work, recognizing the context and consequences of professional practice.

Our Goals 

The Social Work Program prepares graduates who identify with the central tenets of the profession, are sensitive to the evolving context of practice, and function effectively in a practice environment. These goals are explicated through the competencies identified by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for all accredited social work education programs. Successful achievement of the competencies are assessed each year for both the BASW program and the MSW program.

Social Work