Steve Hicks School of Social Work

What Steve Hicks School of Social Work does

Steve Hicks School of Social Work (legal name: The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work, commonly 'UT Social Work') is a 75-year-old academic unit within the University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1950 and currently operating from Walter Webb Hall in Austin, Texas. The school delivers social work education through three degree programs — Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW), and Ph.D. in Social Work — supplemented by postdoctoral training, practicum-based field education, career services (DiNitto Career Center), and continuing professional development. In 2025–2026, the school enrolled 548 students preparing to become social work leaders, with more than one in three being first-generation college students and two out of three receiving direct funding; 84% of MSSW students pursue the clinical concentration with LCSW career intent. Core operations are organized around seven wholly-owned research centers/institutes: Moritz Center for Societal Impact, Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health, Addiction Research Institute, Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Texas Center for Disability Studies, Texas Center for Child and Family Studies, and Heart Galleries of Texas.

The school's revenue mix is diversified across four streams: tuition and academic programs (the degree portfolio described above), external research grants and sponsored programs (federal funding from NIH, NIDA, National Institute of Justice, and Administration for Children and Families — ranking among top UT Austin colleges in external research funding per capita), private donations and endowments (a $3.5 million Revolution Recovery endowed chair, WoodNext Foundation scholarships, Moritz family practicum scholarships, St. David's Foundation Bilingual Social Work Scholars Program), and workforce development programs (the WoodNext-funded LCSW Post-Graduate Clinical Scholarship valued at $9,259 per scholar per year, plus approximately $2 million annually in 10 grant-funded student support programs). Go-to-market combines recruitment-led domestic enrollment with a community-led global engagement model spanning a 30-year UNHCR partnership, UNAM collaboration, and the 2026 From Texas to the Troubles initiative. The school's 89 employees serve approximately 548 students across degree programs plus postdoctoral trainees, with operations distributed across Austin, Texas and select international exchange sites.

The school is not a standalone company but an academic unit within the UT Austin state university system and is not publicly traded. Recent leadership under Dean Allan Cole (appointed 2022) has emphasized physical relocation, renaming, research expansion (MCSI creation in 2023, first-ever NIH T32 training award), and workforce development targeting the Texas mental health workforce shortage documented in the 2024 Texas Social Work Workforce Study.

Name

Steve Hicks School of Social Work

Legal name

The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work

Website

https://socialwork.utexas.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Steve Hicks School of Social Work is the University of Texas at Austin's ranked-No.-8 social work academic unit, educating 548 BSW, MSSW, and PhD students through degree programs, practicum-based field education, and seven research institutes serving Texas and select international partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Social Work

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service (EDALAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

Keywords

• Social work education
• Graduate degree programs
• Behavioral health research
• Clinical social work
• Practicum training

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Programs: The school generates revenue through tuition from BSW, MSSW, and PhD programs. 548 students preparing to become social work leaders, more than one in three are first-generation college students, two out of three receive direct funding.
2. Research Grants and Sponsored Programs: External research funding from federal agencies including NIH, NIDA, National Institute of Justice, Administration for Children and Families. UT Social Work ranks among top UT Austin colleges in external research funding per capita. Dr. Catherine Cubbin secured school's first-ever T32 award funded by NIH.
3. Donations and Endowments: Private foundation funding including WoodNext Foundation ($3.5 million gift from Revolution Recovery for endowed faculty chair), Moritz family support for practicum scholarships, St. David's Foundation Bilingual Social Work Scholars Program. $639,000 annual student funding from 10 grant-funded programs.
4. Workforce Development Programs: Post-Graduate Clinical Scholarship program provides LCSW licensure support. Susan and Anthony Wood Postgraduate Scholarships valued at $9,259 per scholar per year. Addresses supervision costs that are typically $3,600 out-of-pocket for LCSW advancement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Steve Hicks School of Social Work is an academic unit within The University of Texas at Austin that delivers accredited social work education through BSW, MSSW, and Ph.D. degree programs, complemented by practicum field education with hundreds of partner agencies, postdoctoral training, continuing professional development, and applied research across multiple specialized institutes. It also operates workforce development programs supporting LCSW licensure for recent graduates.

Product overview

UT Social Work is an academic institution offering a unified educational portfolio centered on social work degree programs (BSW, MSSW, Ph.D.) and postdoctoral training. The school complements its degree offerings with experiential practicum education, career services (DiNitto Career Center), and continuing professional development. Research is conducted through multiple specialized institutes including the Moritz Center for Societal Impact, Texas Center for Child and Family Studies, Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health, Addiction Research Institute, and Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Workforce development programs support LCSW licensure through scholarships and supervision programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Moritz Center for Societal Impact: An interdisciplinary center facilitating research collaborations, curriculum, and community partnerships to solve critical social problems.
• DiNitto Career Center
• GRACE Program
• Heart Galleries of Texas

Products and services

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Undergraduate degree program preparing students for entry-level social work practice.
• Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) Graduate degree program with clinical and administrative concentrations preparing students for advanced social work practice.
• Ph.D. in Social Work Research-oriented doctoral program preparing scholars for academic careers in social work.
• Practicum Education Field education program partnering with agencies across Texas to provide structured experiential learning for BSW and MSSW students.
• Post-Doctoral Training Research training program for recent Ph.D. graduates in social work or related fields.
• Susan and Anthony Wood Postgraduate Scholarships for LCSW Workforce Development Two-year post-graduate scholarship program supporting LMSWs in becoming LCSWs through supervision, exam preparation, and financial support.
• DiNitto Career Center Career services center providing advising for social work students and alumni.
• Office of Professional Development Provides continuing education opportunities for social work professionals.
• Moritz Center for Societal Impact (MCSI) Interdisciplinary research center focused on solving critical social problems through aligned research, curriculum, and community partnerships.
• Texas Center for Child and Family Studies Research institute focused on child welfare, family studies, and adoption programs including Heart Galleries of Texas.
• Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health Institute focused on mental health research, implementation of evidence-based interventions, and workforce competency enhancement.
• Addiction Research Institute Research institute focused on addiction studies and substance use disorders.
• Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA) Research institute addressing interpersonal violence through research, evaluation, and advocacy services.
• GRACE Program (Gerontology Resources and the Aging Community in Education) Practicum-based learning program funded by St. David's Foundation designed to increase social work students' knowledge and experience with older adults.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,000 children in Texas foster care now have Heart Gallery programs available across all 11 child welfare regions
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• From Texas to the Troubles Initiative PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026From Texas to the Troubles initiative launching summer 2026, immersing students in Austin, Dublin and Belfast to study constructive dialogue and leadership in divided societies. Partnership with institutions in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Arizona State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Dr. Jose Ruben Parra-Cardona serves as Co-Investigator in collaboration with Dr. Gewirtz at Arizona State University on Parenting in the Moment Program evaluation for migrant and forcibly displaced families.
• Heart Galleries of TexascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2024The Heart Galleries of Texas is housed within the Steve Hicks School of Social Work in collaboration with Texas Center for Child and Family Studies. All 11 child welfare regions in Texas now have a Heart Gallery program, opening opportunities for 6,000 children in foster care awaiting adoption. Texas Women's Commission, Office of the Speaker, and Office of the First Lady support the expansion.
• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2023UT Austin served as the first university from the United States to participate as guest of honor at FILUNI book fair in Mexico City. Representatives from SHS met with UNAM leadership to plan academic and research initiatives. René Gaitan presented on youth and risk prevention. Relationship traced back over decades with opportunities for collaborative binational research, international exchange programs, and virtual seminars.
• Safe Alliance / SAFElineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021IDVSA works with SAFE Alliance and UT Medical Branch to evaluate SAFEline and how technology-based services help interpersonal violence survivors. SAFELine provides 24/7 support via phone, chat, and text services.
• Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA) assists TCFV with creation of comprehensive state plan to guide support and resources for family violence survivors across Texas.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas Social Work holds the longest-standing institutional partnership with UNHCR, sending Longhorn interns to headquarters for 30 years to work with staff coordinating refugee efforts in Ukraine, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Sudan and Haiti. Stacey Jordan serves as faculty liaison for UNHCR.
• Texas Center for Child and Family StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoused within Steve Hicks School of Social Work, collaborates on Heart Galleries of Texas and various child welfare initiatives across all 11 Texas regions.
• Dell Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDean Cole serves as Deputy for Health Humanities and Technology at Dell Medical School. Anna Finger served as senior licensed clinical social worker at Dell Medical School's Department of Health Social Work. Multiple collaborative initiatives in health humanities and technology.
• Senior Services of AustinminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChief Program Officer for Senior Services of Austin previously served as practicum site and provided comprehensive care management services for older adults. Partnership includes internship program in relation to SHS practicum students.
• Mobile Loaves and FishesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity First Village practicum site hosting social work students for experiential learning.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boston University School of Social Work: Top-ranked private research-university peer offering BSW, MSW, and PhD programs with comparable urban practicum network and research funding per-capita positioning.
• Columbia University School of Social Work: Top-tier Ivy League social work school offering MSW, PhD, and DSW degrees with comparable research institute structure and urban practicum ecosystem; directly comparable on training the LCSW workforce.
• Washington University in St. Louis Brown School: Elite, highly ranked school offering MSW and PhD programs with strong research funding base and similar interdisciplinary policy/public-health orientation; comparable flagship-graduate-school positioning.
• University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work: Top-10 public-university peer offering BASW, MSW, and PhD programs with comparable research centers and center-sponsored applied research in child welfare, mental health, and aging.
• Case Western Reserve University Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences: Consistently top-ranked social work school offering MSSA and PhD programs with comparable institute structure and applied research orientation; direct peer in USNWR top-10.
• University of Michigan School of Social Work: Top-ranked U.S. school of social work offering BSW, MSW, and PhD programs with comparable research portfolio and clinical training pathways; the most direct comparator on academic scale, prestige, and degree offerings.
• UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare: Premier public-university peer offering BASW, MSW, and PhD programs at another top research institution, with comparable state-funded public-mission orientation and research-institute structure.
• University of Washington School of Social Work: Top-10 public-university peer with highly ranked MSW and PhD programs, robust research portfolio (including Indigenous wellness research), and similar state-funded scale.
• NYU Silver School of Social Work: Highly ranked U.S. social work school offering BSW, MSW, DSW, and PhD with strong research funding base and urban practicum network; comparable scale and clinical/workforce emphasis.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work: Top-ranked public-university social work school offering BSW, MSW, and PhD programs in a comparable state flagship; similar research-institute model and workforce-development pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TexasSteveHicks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzZfHLrNJ-fMgLel0WE7A7Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/TexasSteveHicks
• Instagraminstagram.com/texasstevehicks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/texas-steve-hicks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Steve Hicks School of Social Work