New 100% Online Bachelor of Social Work Degree Launches in Jan. 2026

Applications are now being accepted for a new, 100% online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program that addresses the increasing need for mental health professionals in North Texas and provides crucial services to the community. The inaugural classes (three) will start in January to coincide with the beginning of the Spring 2026 semester.

“Organizations are seeking trained professionals to help their people navigate complicated issues,” said Dr. Alex Colvin, Associate Professor and Chair of Undergraduate Programs within the School of Behavioral Health and Human Services. “97% of Texas counties have a shortage of mental health professionals.”

There are multiple reasons for the growing need: changing demographics of the U.S. population (aging Baby Boomers), expanding societal needs (post-COVID-19 pandemic), and emerging trends.

Accessible & Affordable

The fully online aspect of the BSW program means it will be accessible to a wide population – urban, suburban and rural, even students in other states. The courses will feature innovative instructional methods. Tuition is affordable when compared to other colleges and universities. “This program fulfills a unique niche: accessibility without barriers,” said Dr. Constance Lacy, Dean of the School of Behavioral Health and Human Services. “It meets students’ needs in a different way.”

Read the Course Catalog Page for BSW Degree

The convenience and flexibility will appeal to adult learners and students of any age and population who cannot easily travel to a physical campus for classes. Instead, their campus will be virtual, with the same benefits and takeaways, just in a different format.

Many Potential Students

This new BSW degree is aimed at several groups of potential students:

• High school juniors and seniors and community college transfer students exploring social justice and advocacy careers, many of whom already have jobs
• Individuals in the workforce, possibly employed in a related role, who attended college but haven’t completed their degree and want to advance their careers in a competitive job market
• Justice system and other professionals who want to build on their experience with a career pivot into social work-related positions

“This is a great next step for paraprofessionals with a certificate and law enforcement officers close to retirement. It could be a worthwhile shift for them,” Dr. Lacy said.

Social Workers Do A Lot

The demand for social workers is strong and the definition of what they do is broad. It includes many roles in many kinds of institutions, from clinics and hospitals to businesses and corporations, from charities and nonprofits to police departments, courts and jails.

“This is one of the fastest-growing fields in Dallas-Fort Worth,” Dr. Colvin said. “It is more vast than people realize.”

Graduates with a Bachelor in Social Work degree may be employed as counselors, advisors and advocates in public and private organizations. They can be part of counseling and wellness programs at schools, companies and healthcare groups. They are trained to assess children in the family court system, assist people transition back into the community after rehabilitation or incarceration, and evaluate patients in hospitals and clinics.

From law firms with counselors on staff to law enforcement officers responding to dangerous situations, the need is clear and constant. “Many arrests are mental health-related,” said Dr. Lacy. Military and faith-based organizations also utilize social workers.

Career and Life Skills

Professionals who have earned a social work degree learn skills and gain knowledge that is not only valuable on the job, but is also useful in their lives, such as:

• Case Management, Care Coordination
• Leadership, Communication
• Critical Thinking, Applying Theoretical Perspectives
• Treatment and Service Planning
• Ethical Decision-Making, Cultural Competence
• Advocacy, Crisis Intervention
• Program Evaluation and Community Assessment
• Social Welfare Policy
• Research, Evidence-Based Practice

Acquiring these skills by earning a BSW degree at UNT Dallas will enable graduates to connect with a variety of populations and equip them to engage, assess and intervene in an assortment of situations. “People see the value in what social workers offer. It’s changing the landscape of what we do as educators,” Dr. Colvin said. 

The program is designed to meet Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) standards.

Hands-On Experience

Internships, known as experiential education, are an important and integral part of all academic programs at UNT Dallas. For BSW students, that will mean a 400-hour practicum offering a hands-on learning experience. Practicum locations and settings include schools, clinics, domestic violence shelters, community groups and nonprofits. They may also include government agencies and entities of the justice system, such as CPS, CASA, family courts, and public safety and emergency services departments.

Being located in southern Dallas, UNT Dallas is well-positioned to serve and strengthen the surrounding community. For decades, the region has been known as a “food desert” lacking in grocery stores and nutritional offerings beyond fast food restaurants and corner stores.

The health and medical needs – physical, mental, emotional – of certain southern Dallas zip codes have been well-documented. There will be many opportunities for BSW students to immerse themselves and become caregivers and service providers. “Social work provides support for the most vulnerable,” said Dr. Lacy. “It can address some of the most serious health disparities, especially among children and the elderly.”

Students enrolled in the program who live outside the immediate southern Dallas area can choose a practicum near where they live.

Apply Now for Spring 2026 Classes

Enrollment is well underway for this 100% online BSW degree program; the very first classes will be offered starting January 12, 2026, which is the start of the Spring semester. The deadline to apply is Friday, January 2, 2026.

Whether a first-time-in-college student, a current student who wants to change your major, transferring from another college or university, or a former student returning to continue your higher education, all the admissions information is available on our website. Additional information, such as program requirements and recommended course sequences, is online, too.

In true UNT Dallas Trailblazer fashion, the inaugural cohort will make history as the pioneers of this brand-new, from-the-ground-up program. “We are looking for people with a passion for advocacy and social justice, stronger, healthier communities, and a pathway to invest in the future,” Dr. Colvin said.