Social Work Degrees Available at Baylor
Baylor University appears in our ranking of the 35 Best Value Christian Colleges with CSWE-accredited Programs.
Since 1976, the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work has awarded the Bachelor of Social Work to Baylor University undergrads called by God to invoke meaningful societal changes for more equitable living. Chaired by Prof. Luci Ramos Hoppe, LMSW, the 41-credit major builds atop the liberal arts core for entry-level, generalist preparation. Expect wide-ranging courses like Intro to Sociology, Economics of Poverty, Human Diversity, and Data Analysis with a 15:1 learner-faculty ratio for engagement. Two semesters are spent completing 480 internship hours at 200+ agencies, such as Providence Hospice, Friends for Life, Buckner International, and Waco Center for Youth. BSW majors may also pledge Phi Alpha, contribute to the Trauma Response Initiative, write for Community Connection, minor in Forensic Science, and take BearsAbroad trips from Accra to Helsinki.
Partnered with City Year and AmeriCorps, Baylor gives Garland post-grads a Master of Social Work from a strengths-based approach to fulfill Texas LMSW license. The 60-credit, non-thesis curriculum directed by Prof. Sarah Dorrell Ritter spans two years full-time or longer part-time to prepare for advanced, evidence-based interventions. Advanced Standing students with CSWE-accredited training begin each August for a 10-month track. Courses are concentrated in Community Practice and Clinical Practice for Children & Families or Physical & Mental Health. The 480 foundational practicum hours could be waived before the 550-hour MSW Concentration internship from Austin to Baltimore. Other opportunities include adding the Integrated Behavioral Health Certificate, pursuing the M.Div./MSW, continuing for the Social Work Ph.D., attending the Dyer Ethics Workshop, and joining the BEAR Project.
About Baylor University
Baylor University was chartered in 1845 by Republic President Anson Jones. Launched by a $5,000 donation from Sam Houston, Baylor opened in 1846 and merged 40 years later with Waco University. Desegregated in 1964, Baylor proudly operates as Texas' oldest private, Christian NAICU member of the Big 12. Endowed for $1.3 billion, Baylor University currently enrolls 17,059 Bears, including Social Work majors. On the Brazos River, Baylor holds the world's largest 1,000-acre Baptist campus in McLennan County near William Cameron Park. Linked to 77,386 LinkedIn alumni, Baylor University has produced Angela Kinsey, Robert Griffin III, Willie Nelson, Mark Hurd, Joanna Gaines, and more.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked Baylor the 75th best national university, 38th most military-friendly school, and 68th top social work college. On Niche, Baylor University is America's 63rd best religious institution, 121st top private school, and 140th hardest college. The Princeton Review recognized Baylor the 10th most conservative students and 12th most stone-cold sober learning. Kiplinger's positioned Baylor as the 64th best private value. Granted the 2015 Pro Bono Publico Award, Baylor University was crowned the country's 105th top research institution and 221st best-loved school. The CWUR noticed Baylor for the 235th best faculty and 324th most citations. Times Higher Education featured Baylor in the world's top 800 universities too.
Baylor University Accreditation Details
In 2018, Baylor University is undergoing review by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to renew its Level VI accreditation for another 10 years under president Dr. Linda Livingstone after a 2016 "warning." This regional agency in Decatur is authorized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to assure quality for all of Baylor's 109 baccalaureate, 52 master's, 26 doctoral, and 26 professional programs. The Christian university has specialized accreditation from the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE) and Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Baylor's Diana R. Garland School is also approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through 2021 too.
Baylor University Application Requirements
The Fall 2016 acceptance rate of 38 percent caused Peterson's to classify admission to Baylor University as "moderately difficult." Only second-term sophomores with 45+ credits are considered for the Bachelor of Social Work. Finishing the prerequisite SWO 2321 introduction course with a C or better is vital. Before signing the Code of Conduct, undergrads must meet the 2.7 GPA benchmark. International students from over 90 nations are welcome with a minimum TOEFL score of 540 or PTE score of 51. Standard MSW students need an accredited bachelor's with one Biology and Statistics course. Earning Advanced Standing mandates a major GPA above 3.0 with satisfactory BSW fieldwork evaluations. Baylor has the fifth-highest average GRE score of 658 among Christian colleges.
Baylor University enforces an Early Action deadline of November 1st, Priority Review deadline of December 15th, and Regular Admission deadline of February 1st for BSW majors. Master of Social Work candidates are evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis with a February 1st priority date. Create an online account to submit the ApplyTexas and GoGarland Application. If needed, extra materials are mailed to 811 Washington Avenue in Waco, TX 76798 or [email protected]. Altruistic practitioners need to attach the following:
- Official high school and college transcripts
- Self-reported college entrance exam scores
- Two letters of professional recommendation
- Résumés, curriculum vitae, or ZeeMee profiles
- Typed, 500-word ethical reflection essay
- Payments for the $45 one-time application fee
Tuition and Financial Aid
Pursuing Baylor's BSW major full-time will cost $41,194 for annual tuition. Part-time social work study costs $1,650 per credit. Flat-rate fees add $2,090 each semester. Living at the Waco campus' dorms like Penland Hall costs students $13,038 for room and board yearly. The annual cost of attendance equals $58,830 for resident and $48,406 for commuter undergrads. Graduate tuition currently stands at $1,650 per credit or $19,805 per term full-time. Baylor suggests a nine-month MSW budget of $58,862 that includes $720 for books and $3,982 for fees.
According to the NCES College Navigator, 90 percent of full-time Baylor Bears share $253.6 million in yearly financial aid packages that average $19,793 each. Social work students could earn institutional awards, including the Carr P. Collins Scholarship, Baptist Church Matching Scholarship, Helen L. McCullough Scholarship, Wise Family Scholarship, Russ & Dawn Nelson Scholarship, and Gene Thompson Scholarship. Filing the FAFSA with code 003545 helps financially needy undergrads secure Pell Grant and FSEOG funding. Texans often secure the Tuition Equalization Grant and TExES Scholarships. The Graduate School offers assistantships where MSW students can work 20 hours weekly for $20,000 stipends. Money magazine reports that Baylor University graduates also have median debt of $20,500 from Stafford, Perkins, and PLUS loans.
Learn more about Baylor University at the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work website.