Program Overview

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Social Work

Become a hero of social justice and advocacy with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work as you change lives and invest in your community’s future.

Types

• Bachelor
• Minor

Location

• On-Campus
• Online

Credits

• 60*

Cost

• $9,875
• $220/credit hour

Overview

Societies that want to thrive need good social workers. Want to be hands-on and proactive as you help change people’s lives for the better? Good news: you can achieve this and much more by pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at University of the Cumberlands! Through a broad-based immersive curriculum, you will engage in research that addresses social issues at local, national, and global levels. Help diverse groups of people improve their wellbeing. You can make a long-lasting difference, one case at a time. Your community needs you, so ensure you are prepared to give them your best with a bachelor’s degree in social work.

By the Numbers

• $50,390: Average Salary
• 9%: Industry Growth
• #1: in KY, Human Services
• 1 in 5: Students Make Dean’s List

Programs & Requirements

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

If you want a social work program with classes specifically designed to align with the profession’s purpose and values, with a special emphasis on preparing you to be an ethical professional and leader, then University of the Cumberlands has the Bachelor's of Social Work program you need. With a bachelor’s degree in social work from Cumberlands, you will be equipped to advocate for social justice for all people groups at local, national, and global levels.

Trained in generalist, evidence-based social work practices, you will work with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations. Knowledgeable faculty will use the person-in-environment framework in courses to train you to promote human and social wellbeing and enhance quality of life for all persons. Throughout the program, you will be taught to serve diverse populations through a multi-cultural and global perspective. With attention on advocacy, you will have the skillset to prevent conditions that limit human rights and to eliminate poverty.

Completion of the bachelor’s degree in social work fully prepares the student for social work practice. Social work practice and field practice classes are not available to minors.

Course Requirements

• SOWK 131 - Intro to Social Work and Social Justice
• SOWK 132 - Social Welfare
• SOWK 234 - Social Work Practice Skills
• SOWK 237 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment
• SOWK 331 - Individual and Families Assessment
• SOWK 332 - Group and Organizations in Social Work Practice
• SOWK 333 - Human Diversity in Social Work Practice
• SOWK 334 - Introduction to Field Practice
• SOWK 335 - Social Research Methods
• SOWK 338 - Case Management
• SOWK 404 - Understanding Child Maltreatment
• SOWK 432 - Addictions and Recovery
• SOWK 433 - Social Policy and Practice
• SOWK 434 - Professional Ethics
• SOWK 436 - Human Diversity in a Global Society
• SOWK 437 - Mental Health Perspectives in Social Work
• SOWK 445 - Grief and Crisis Intervention
• SOWK 460 - Field Practice I
• SOWK 461 - Field Practice II

Social Work Minor (21 hours)

• SOWK 131 - Intro to Social Work and Social Justice
• SOWK 132 - Social Welfare
• SOWK 237 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment
• SOWK 338 - Case Management
• SOWK 436 - Human Diversity in a Global Society

Students may choose two of the following courses:

• SOWK 404 - Understanding Child Maltreatment
• SOWK 432 - Addictions and Recovery
• SOWK 445 - Grief and Crisis Intervention
• SOWK 437 - Mental Health Perspectives in Social Work
• SOWK 234 - Social Work Practice Skills

Completion of the Bachelor of Social Work degree fully prepares the student for social work practice. Social work practice and field practice classes are not available to minors.

Field Education

Field education teaches future social workers “to think, to perform, and to act ethically and with integrity” (CSWE, 2015, p. 12). The University of the Cumberlands Social Work Program field education courses are set up to be a two (2) semester sequence of courses in which the student applies conceptual knowledge gained in a classroom to practice with clients in a social work agency.

Students are required to complete a professional skills course before field placements begin that will build professional skills and prepare them for future placements. Supervision for students is provided by practitioners with either a BSW or MSW and who have two years of field experience in the area they will be supervising.

Students complete 150 clock hours of work in SOWK 460 and 250 hours in SOWK 461, for a total of 400 clock hours of field instruction. The educational competencies and policies of field instruction conform to the 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standard (2015 EPAS) of CSWE.

Program Mission & Goals

Mission

The mission of the UC Bachelor of Social Work Program is to prepare all social work students to become ethical professionals and leaders through generalist, evidence-based practice grounded in liberal arts education. Bachelor’s degree in social work students will receive evidence-based teaching of social work values, knowledge, and practice skills and will identify with the profession of social work through self-reflection using these components. Students will strengthen critical thinking skills through scientific inquiry of the latest research methods and technologies and be prepared to continue using these skills as lifelong learners.

Through rigorous learning and assessment of knowledge and practice skills, students will serve as ethical leaders and agents of change to advocate for social justice, dignity and worth of the person, and the importance of human relationships. Students will demonstrate the ability to value competence, integrity, and a global perspective that seeks to eliminate poverty and prevent conditions that limit human rights. Students will be prepared to be culturally engaged in practice with diverse individuals, groups, communities, and organizations through a person-in-environment framework that promotes human and social well-being and enhances quality of life for all persons. A multicultural perspective on cultural competence will enable culturally sensitive practice. This includes a range of prevention and intervention methods such as strengths-based perspective, risk and protective factors of human development, and practice skills.

The University of the Cumberlands Bachelor of Social Work Program will guide students to enhance critical thinking skills, professional preparedness, and commitment to human rights and social justice for all at a local, national, and global levels.

Program Goals

1. The Bachelor's of Social Work program will facilitate an appreciation of self-awareness and the diversity of humanity, especially as this relates to the variety of social work careers.
2. The program will provide students with a core knowledge base in human behavior theory, research methods, and social welfare policy in preparation for a career and/or graduate study.
3. The program will promote understanding of the social work perspective related to individuals, groups, and communities.
4. The program will integrate healthy professional boundaries and best ethical practices within the social work capacity.
5. The program will assist students to demonstrate professional helping skills within the classroom and apply the skills within a professional environment.

Social Work Careers & Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Social Worker: $50,390
• Case Manager: $74,000
• Childcare Worker: $27,490
• Community Health Worker: $48,860
• Social Science Research Assistant: $50,470
• Paralegal: $56,230

Common Questions

• What is a social work degree?
• How long does a social work degree take?
• Can I get a social work degree online?
• Is a social work degree worth it?
• What can I do with a social work degree?
• How to get a social work degree?
• What opportunities outside of the classroom do students have in the social work program?
• What degree do you need for social work?

Bachelor of Social Work Accreditation Information

University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it meets or exceeds standards of program quality evaluated through a peer review accreditation process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the BOA has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Accreditation applies to all program options, which includes locations and delivery methods. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program. Review our program’s accredited status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs.

Faculty Experts in Social Work

• Dr. Jennifer Knuckles
• Elissa Price
• Dr. Gina Bowlin