Faculty

Chairperson: Associate Professor Arnaa Alcon

Graduate Program Coordinator: Professor Mark Brenner

Professors: Beverly Lovett, Anna Martin-Jerald

Associate Professors:  Barbara Bond, Emily Douglas, Karen Fein, David O’Malley

Assistant Professors: Kathleen Bailey, Laura Boutwell, Castagna Lacet, Jonghyun Lee, Hadidja Nyiransekuye, Jing Tan, Judith Willison

Department Telephone Number: 508.531.2773
Location: Burrill Office Complex
Website: www.bridgew.edu/socialwork

Degree Programs

• BS in Social Work
• MSW Social Work

Undergraduate Minor

• Social Welfare

The following program is currently inactive:

• BA in Social Work

Click on Academic Programs  for program information and requirements.

Bachelor of Science

The School of Social Work offers an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. A minor in social welfare is also available. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for beginning generalist professional practice in social work and other human service fields. Students learn social work methods, theories, values and ethics for practice with various populations and, especially, with the region’s diverse and vulnerable populations. The program builds on a liberal arts perspective, providing students with a foundation for critical thinking, effective communication and ethical behavior that will be of daily importance to them in professional practice.

Career opportunities are vast and varied and include positions in child protective services, juvenile justice and mental health; domestic abuse, family court and probation; residential settings in chronic care and elder services. Social work majors also complete the program well prepared for graduate study and may be eligible for consideration for advanced standing at some graduate schools of social work.

The university’s programs within the School of Social Work, both the BS and MSW degrees, are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, allowing graduates to apply for social work licensure in Massachusetts at the licensed social worker (LSW) level after completing their bachelor’s degree and at the LCSW level after completing their MSW degree.

The program integrates theory with field experience through three required courses held in conjunction with a variety of community social service agencies. SCWK 250 - Introduction to Social Welfare  acquaints students with the field as they participate in 30 hours of community service in a social service agency. In SCWK 338 - Introduction to Social Work Practice , students spend a minimum of 90 hours during one semester at an agency learning how it functions and about the professional roles of social workers. This course lays the foundation for the senior year field experience course (SCWK 498 ). The field experience meets from September through May and entails a minimum of 410 hours under the supervision of a professional social worker at the Master of Social Work level. Each of these courses is described in detail in the Course Descriptions  section of this catalog.

Honors Program

The honors program in social work provides highly motivated social work majors with opportunities to enhance their academic program through intensive scholarly study and research designed to be of assistance in postgraduate employment or in the pursuit of an advanced degree in social work. Contact the School of Social Work for further information concerning eligibility and application.

Master in Social Work

Mission

The mission of the MSW program at Bridgewater State University is to prepare advanced practitioners who will enhance the lives of individuals, families and communities of southeastern Massachusetts, address regional needs, and promote social justice. The program prepares culturally sensitive advanced professionals who are grounded in strengths-based, biopsychosocial practice models. Emphasis is placed upon systems across multiple levels in order to identify what can be done to affect change and strengthen relationships among individuals, families and communities to promote optimal functioning. The program educates professionals who, knowledgeable in social work’s history, purposes and philosophy, integrate the values of the profession into an ethical approach to all professional activities at an advanced level of knowledge and skill.