Social Work

There is perhaps no more selfless act than dedicating your life and career to improving the lives of those around you as a professional specializing in social work.

The Department of Social Work offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in social work, both of which provide a solid liberal arts foundation. The major consists of 37 credit hours of concentrated studies in social work and concludes with an in-depth field placement experience with a community agency. The program is quite diverse with its over 300 students representing a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, ages, genders, religions, physical disabilities, and sexual orientations.

Master of Social Work Degree

In 2018-2019, the Department of Social Work also began offering a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. The MSW program accepts traditional and advanced generalist standing students who want to advance their careers in social work in one of our concentration areas of: addictions with a mental health focus, military, or physical disabilities. Traditional students will be expected to complete 58 graduate credits and advanced generalist standing students are expected to complete 32 graduate credits, including field experience (not including prerequisites). MSW courses are held during daytime, evenings, online and during summers to accommodate the needs of working professionals.

Faculty

Faculty in the department bring to the classroom considerable experience in social work practice, teaching, and research.

Hands-on Learning

Students connect classroom theory with practical application through a required field placement practicum. This one or two-semester hands-on experience places students in community agencies where they are supervised by practicing social workers. Students learn to work with actual clients and fellow professionals, helping them make a smooth transition from college to professional employment.

Student Organizations

By history we have one of the largest and most active student organizations on campus, the Social Work Student Organization (SWSO) which is run by students with full faculty support.  Some school years the group is smaller and the students really get a chance to focus on areas of interest and need.  Students participate in social and educational events and community projects while developing organizational skills. SWSO has been a mainstay on UWW campus for over 42 years. SWSO earned the designation Organization of Excellence in 2017-2018.

The UW-Whitewater Social Work program is proud to have a chapter of  Phi Alpha, the Honor Society for Social Work.  Phi Alpha provides a closer bond among students of social work and promotes humanitarian goals and ideas. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work. The Sigma Tau Chapter of Phi Alpha was established at UWW in 2011, and became an official campus organization in 2016-2017.