Bachelor of Arts: Social Work
It takes a special person to care for the needs of others, to listen with an open heart, to establish trust and confidence in a helping relationship. If you want to make a positive difference in someone’s life and have a career with meaning, variety and satisfaction, you could be heading for a career in social work. Professional social workers are committed to helping individuals, couples and families function in their unique environments. They identify and build on individual, family and community strengths, while promoting human dignity and positive social change.
Program Overview
Our bachelor of arts degree in Social Work provides a curriculum and learning environment that is accessible to a broad diversity of students, who will make important and unique contributions in their service to clients, communities and the profession-at-large. Graduating social work students are prepared to enter the profession in various positions and employment settings. They are also prepared to continue their education at the graduate level with a master’s degree in social work.
The full-time social work faculty members have doctorates in social work, and many years of clinical practice experience in the field. This enables them to connect theory and practice in the classroom by utilizing real-life examples. Social work courses are small with much individual attention and one-on-one interaction with your professors.
The social work degree and field experience will prepare you to work immediately after graduation. Many graduates find employment with the agency where they complete their field experience, and then go on to graduate school. If you plan a career in social work, we highly recommend that you complete the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Concordia students have attended graduate school at well-regarded institutions such as Washington University (St. Louis); University of Chicago; University of Illinois; Loyola University; University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan.
General Course Information
The first course you will take, Introduction to Social Work, provides you with an overview of the social work profession and all the exciting career opportunities that are available to graduates with a social work degree. Other courses in the curriculum address ethical issues and social work values, methods of social work practice for multiple levels of intervention, as well as knowledge and skills for work with diverse client populations. You will be able to choose from a number of social work electives to fulfill remaining coursework requirements.
All social work majors are required to participate in a 420 clock-hour social work field experience or internship. This culminating experience, together with the concurrent field experience seminar, prepares you for entry into one of the most exciting and rapidly growing professions available today.
For details on required courses and course descriptions, please visit our online catalog pages.
Opportunities
Social workers find careers in public and private agencies, hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, schools and other educational institutions, the court and correctional systems, as well as in private practice as therapists. The social work curriculum and extensive field experience prepares students to work immediately after graduation. Many graduates find employment with the agency where they completed their field experience and then go on to graduate school.
In addition, CUC’s Social Work Club gives students the opportunity to plan special events such as presentations and film screenings, as well as field trips and service learning projects. The Social Work Department also participates with other departments in sponsoring events that are involved with the Global Justice Series. Social work students are also eligible for initiation into Alpha Kappa Delta, the national honors society for social justice, research and service.