Social Work
Bachelor of Science
Social Work provides so many potential career paths and options that it can be challenging to answer the question: what can I do with a degree in social work?
Social workers can be found in schools, hospitals, police departments, public libraries, government offices, courtrooms — in short, anywhere people are in need of help. Social workers work with individuals and families facing challenges including poverty, physical and mental health issues, addiction, and family problems, providing clinical and case management services. Others go on in careers as lobbyists, policy analysts, community activists, or international relief groups.
Our curriculum is built around concepts of empowerment and experiential learning, with a focus on discovering individual strengths to ultimately prepare students to work as beginning generalist social workers in a range of settings, with a broad range of clients. Students will take a mix of courses in history, psychology, sociology, and social work, as well as independent studies, internships, practicum experience and the chance to do research with faculty. Minors can be added in relevant academic areas such as psychology, sociology, or Vincentian poverty studies.
Students have opportunities to complete service hours for the Levesque Institute for Civic
Engagement on campus, and work with the Homeless Outreach Project to combat homelessness in our area, and within the Rose Bente Lee Ostapenko Center for Race, Equality and Mission.
Graduates of NU’s social work program will be prepared and empowered to be successful
whether going on to complete master’s level degrees, or as they begin working in the field right away.
Students get an average of 500 hours of hands-on learning and field experience, including a year-long field placement in a social work agency, and hours completed through two on-campus civic engagement centers.
Students are prepared upon graduation for the career path they choose, or may go on to complete master’s degrees at high-level graduate schools such as the University of Pennsylvania, Boston University, or Columbia University.
Social work faculty members hold master’s degrees and Ph.D.’s in social work, have extensive clinical experience working in major cities like Chicago, Boston, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls, and present regularly at national conferences.
Child/Family Service
Clinical Social Worker
Education
Government/Community Activist
Medical Social Worker
The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation.
