We host a series of Welcome Sessions to help you feel confident and prepared as you begin your MSW journey. These sessions allow you to meet members of our advising and practicum teams, hear from current students, review your degree plan, and get answers to questions about financial aid, scholarships, and funding. Some sessions provide a general program overview, while others focus specifically on financial aid. They are optional, but we encourage you to attend both to ensure you have all the information you need. Register for a session here.

Once students have been admitted, their CougarNet accounts are automatically created. Each student will receive a notification with the credential information to the e-mail address on record with the University. If you did not receive this information, please contact UIT Support Center at 713-743-1411 or chat with a support representative.

You can login to AccessUH with your Cougarnet credentials to enroll in classes, access your UH email account, accept financial aid, pay your bill, and more.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open for the 2026-2027 academic year. Click here to apply. The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for student loans, the Graduate School Fund and need-based GCSW scholarships! The UH school code for FAFSA is 003652. Typically, Financial Aid releases award packages to your myUH account in June. If you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA, you might be eligible for the TASFA, click here to learn more.

The GCSW scholarship application is accepting applications through May 15, 2026. To learn more and to access the application, click here. All GCSW scholarship applications are considered after the application closes. Award notifications for GCSW scholarships are emailed in early Summer.

Here is an estimate of the tuition and fees for the program, based on enrollment model and residency status. *Please note that this is an estimate based on the current information provided to us. Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Full program students will complete two separate practicum placements. The student’s first placement (Generalist) placement requires 400 clock hours. The student’s second practicum placement (Concentration) requires 500 clock hours.

Generalist placements at GCSW require 400 clock hours at a single agency/community setting (typically in two consecutive semesters, Fall/Spring, of 200 hours per semester). This placement is required to be completed with generalist coursework, typically in the incoming Fall semester and first year of the MSW program. The focus of this placement is broad social work roles and activities that serve individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. This typically requires 16-18 hours per week during the day, Monday-Friday.

Concentration placements at GCSW require 500 clock hours at a single agency/community setting (typically two consecutive semesters for 250 hours per semester). This placement happens during the student’s last year of the MSW program. This placement aligns with the student’s chosen concentration and advanced coursework, either Macro or Clinical. Macro placements focus on activities serving groups, organizations, and communities. Clinical placements focus on activities serving individuals, families, and groups. This typically requires 16-18 hours per week during the day, Monday-Friday.

*Note: your academic course schedule is based on your enrollment type and can also impact your availability for practicum.

Advanced standing students only complete the final concentration placement that requires 500 total clock hours. (They do not complete a generalist placement, as the BSW placement waives generalist placement requirement).

Concentration placements at GCSW require 500 clock hours at a single agency/community setting (typically two consecutive semesters for 250 hours per semester). This placement happens during the student’s last year of the MSW program. This placement aligns with the student’s chosen concentration and advanced coursework, either Macro or Clinical. Macro placements focus on activities serving groups, organizations, and communities. Clinical placements focus on activities serving individuals, families, and groups. This typically requires 16-18 hours per week during the day, Monday-Friday.

*Note: your academic course schedule is based on your enrollment type and can also impact your availability for practicum.

 

Students will engage in activities at the practicum site to complete required hours and activities that demonstrate growth. Additionally, students meet weekly with their practicum instructor for supervision- called practicum instruction- and processing to connect what they are doing with what is learned in class. Practicum instruction is provided by a person who has a master’s degree in social work (license is not required but the degree cannot be in anything else) and two years, post-graduate, full-time, social work experience.

Yes, students may receive approval to complete practicum at a place where the student is already employed if the placement is eligible and meets specific criteria. More information about criteria and how to request approval will come through orientation. 

The GCSW considers any practicum completed in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston and/or Harris County as INSIDE the Greater Houston area. The practicum team has structured processes for connecting students with affiliated agencies. More information about these processes will be provided through orientation.

The GCSW considers any practicum completed outside Brazoria, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston and/or Harris County as a distance placement. Students completing practicum at a distance will be responsible for finding and securing a placement in their local area that meets specific practicum requirements. The practicum team has resources to support students seeking distance placements. More information about this process and available supports will be provided through orientation. Full program, distance students can start exploring now for a placement that meets criteria in their area. This Practicum Guidelines sheet has logistics you can share with prospective agencies to answer basic questions.

• Review your degree plan and identify when practicum is scheduled.
• Plan a possible schedule: Determine what days/times your coursework is scheduled to understand your availability for practicum (16 hours a week). Many practicum settings require students to engage during business (Mon-Fri), daytime hours.
• Review information sent via email from practeam@uh.edu during the summer to participate in connection processes and information specific to your enrollment model.
• For more information, participate in a Practicum Information Session via zoom over the summer and/or review the practicum guidelines sheet.

 

Visit the UH Parking and Transportation website to learn more about parking permits and alternative transportation options.

Face-to-Face students are recommended to purchase either a Garage or Zoned parking permit. Here is a map showing all of the parking options on the main campus. The closest parking options to the GCSW are Zones A, B, and C and the Stadium and Elgin Street Garages; however, there is also a shuttle service that runs throughout campus if you are unable to secure one of these options.

Hybrid students are recommended to purchase an Evening-Weekend permit which can be used at the Sugar Land campus.

Parking registration usually begins in the spring and is first-come first-served, so we recommend looking into your options as soon as possible!

Schedules vary based on enrollment model, semester, and other factors, but here is a general idea of what to expect the first semester based on enrollment model.

Face-to-Face Full Program (or Foundation) students will be in class from about 8:30 am to 4:00pm two days a week, Monday-Thursday, with a lunch break between classes. This leaves three days a week available for practicum and part-time work (16-20 hours/week of practicum are required during daytime hours primarily). NOTE: Full-Time work commitments are strongly discouraged for full-time MSW students.

Face to Face Advanced Standing (students with a BSW) students are scheduled for classes two days a week, Monday-Thursday, with the possibility of evening courses. This leaves 3 days a week available for practicum and part-time work (16-24 hours/week of practicum are required during daytime weekday hours primarily). NOTE: Full-Time work commitments are strongly discouraged for full-time MSW students.

Hybrid students take courses that are delivered both online and face-to-face and are in class 1-2 Saturdays each month at the Sugar Land campus. Saturday classes are scheduled in advance and will last the entire day, 9:00am-4:00pm. Lunch is typically provided on Saturdays. Some of the online classes may require synchronous online meetings scheduled M-F in the evening. Practicum hours (16 hours/week minimum) and coursework will be completed at times when students are not in class. Students must have flexibility in their schedule during business hours. NOTE: There is no guarantee of a practicum placement with only evening/weekend hours.

Online students take courses that are delivered online in 8-week sessions during the fall/spring semesters (10- or 5- week sessions in the summer). Classes are asynchronous with virtual meeting options throughout the session. For planning purposes, each 3-hour course requires about 6-8 hours/week of time spent reading or completing learning activities or assignments. Students must have flexibility in their schedule during business hours to complete practicum (16 hours/week minimum). NOTE: There is no guarantee of a practicum placement with only evening/weekend hours.

Q: Can I work as an international student?

A: Student employment is possible, but with restrictions for F-1 visa holders. Please see the employment section of the ISSSO website for more information.

Q: What financial support is available for me?

A: F-1 visa holders are not eligible for funding through FAFSA or TASFA, but ISSSO has compiled some other resources that are available here.

Q: Can I do a part-time program (Hybrid or Online) as an international student?

A: F-1 students are limited to full-time enrollment, which means they are only eligible for our Face-to-Face full-time enrollment model.