Program Overview

Social Work Program

The Social Work program at Mercy University is designed for individuals with a strong desire to help and improve people's lives. Social workers provide counseling to individuals, families, and groups, help people obtain needed resources and services, develop programs and work with communities to meet people's needs, and address problems related to child abuse, mental illness, poverty, illness or disability, substance abuse, discrimination, family conflict or violence, job jeopardy, and aging.

Career Opportunities

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Statistics, employment of social workers is expected to increase by 22 percent during the coming decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Graduates with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) are prepared to work in a variety of areas, including:

• Mental health clinics
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Substance abuse programs
• Nursing homes
• Family and children's services
• Criminal justice
• College counseling
• Employee assistance programs
• And many more

Program Details and Curriculum

The BSW program is a 120-credit degree program that can be completed in four years by full-time students. The curriculum includes:

• General Liberal Arts and Sciences: 60 credits
• Major Concentration: 42 credits
• Open Electives: 18 credits The program is accredited by the Council for Social Work Education and is designed to prepare students for generalist social work practice.

Program Outcomes

The program outcomes are based on the Council for Social Work Education (CSWE) competencies, which include:

1. Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
2. Competency 2: Advance Human Rights, and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice
3. Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in Practice
4. Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
5. Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
6. Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
7. Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
8. Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
9. Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Admission Criteria

To be admitted to the social work program, students must:

1. Have completed at least 45 credits
2. Have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.60 (on a 4.0 scale)
3. Have an interest in or demonstrated capacity to provide help to people
4. Demonstrate the aptitude for and/or motivation to enhance skills in clear oral and written expression and the ability to think conceptually and analytically
5. Meet for an individual interview with the social work program director or designate

Licensure Qualifications

Completion of the BSW program alone does not qualify graduates for social work licensure. Graduates who wish to pursue licensure must meet additional state requirements, which may include earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and fulfilling examination and supervised experience criteria as outlined by the licensing board.

Faculty

The social work program is led by a team of experienced faculty, including:

• Carol Bennett-Speight, Professor and Program Director
• Emily Murphy, Assistant Professor
• Valerie Wood, Assistant Professor
• Lekeisha Dawkins, Senior Instructor
• Cecily Mitchell-Harper, Instructor
• Maria Provenzano, Senior Lecturer