Baylor’s School of Social Work to Expand Access to Master’s Program in Houston

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Contact: Eric Eckert, 254-710-1964

WACO, Texas (Oct. 16, 2014) – Baylor University's School of Social Work is expanding the reach of its Master of Social Work program by offering the program at a location in the Houston metropolitan area, beginning in August 2015.

With Houston's diverse and growing regional population of more than 6.5 million people, there is a need for well-trained professionals who are proactive in their approach to complex social issues, such as poverty, education, substance abuse, violence and preventable diseases, said Diana Garland, Ph.D., dean of the School of Social Work.

"We are continuing to expand the reach of our work to the real people in the real places who confront these social challenges," Garland said. "By strategically positioning ourselves in a community like Houston that is both receptive to trying new ideas and one which also has a dynamic economy, we will use this position to become active in the local community."

Overall employment of social workers in the U.S. is projected to grow 19 percent by 2022. And currently, hundreds of social worker positions remain unfilled in and around the city of Houston. Garland plans to recruit Houston-area residents who will go on to fill jobs in the city and surrounding areas.

Baylor's two-year MSW program is highly structured and offers students the opportunity to focus on one of three areas: children and families, physical and mental health, or community practice.

During the first year of the program, classes will be held in a traditional classroom setting so students and faculty can engage with one another in a face-to-face learning environment. In the second year, when students are required to hold internships, the majority of the courses will be accessible online via virtual classrooms.

Garland said Houston provides a wealth of hands-on internship opportunities for Baylor students.

"Houston is an ideal setting for an educational social work program due to its booming economy, growing populations and cultural diversity," Garland said. "Shadowing these opportunities are the realities of social challenges that such a growing economy and population create. Houston will benefit from Baylor's purposeful engagement as a catalyst for transformational change."

Details regarding the location of the new campus are forthcoming.
For more information, visit the School of Social Work's website: www.baylor.edu/social_work/houstonmsw. -->

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

ABOUT THE BAYLOR SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

The Baylor University School of Social Work is home to one of the leading graduate social work programs in the nation with a research agenda focused on the integration of faith and practice. Upholding its mission of preparing social workers in a Christian context for worldwide service and leadership, the School offers a baccalaureate degree (BSW), a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and three joint-degree options (MSW/Master of Business Administration, MSW/Master of Divinity and MSW/Master of Theological Studies) through a partnership with Baylor's Hankamer School of Business and George W. Truett Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. program. Visit www.baylor.edu/social_work to learn more.