The field of social work is one of the fastest growing occupations and offers positions in many exciting, challenging, and rewarding areas. You can make a difference in the lives of abused children, victims of disaster, elderly people in nursing homes, victims of domestic violence, terminally ill people and so many others…the opportunities are endless! The social work program will give you many opportunities to experience social work in a variety of settings. Students shadow a social worker during their freshman year and complete three internships during their junior and senior years that provide excellent opportunities for a variety of hands-on social work practice experiences.
Social work is a career that is both emotionally and intellectually rewarding and challenging. The faculty who are involved with the BSW Program at Western New England College have worked hard and continue to work to make sure that we provide you with a high-quality education that will help prepare you to succeed as an entry-level social worker or as a graduate student in an MSW program. We offer many opportunities for learning both in and outside of the classroom, through formal courses, community internships, extracurricular activities, and independent study. Our program offers small classes in an interactive setting. Out students develop close connections with each other and with the program.
The social work program at Western New England College is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This means that the course of study leading to your BSW degree has to meet rigorous standards. CSWE sets curriculum requirements for the BSW program. Accreditation also means that your BSW degree will enable you to apply for Advanced Standing to most graduate social work programs. Advanced Standing enables you to get your MSW degree in as little as one year, depending on the program that you apply to.
We have also begun a Three Day/Week Class Program, where Juniors and Seniors can take their academic courses on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This allows students to work in their internships, often in their home community, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This program is helpful to commuting students who want to reduce trips to our School and to spend more quality time with family and/or friends.
The course requirements leading to the BSW degree at Western New England College give you an excellent background in the knowledge, values, and skills of social work practice, combined with a solid liberal arts foundation. All the social work faculty at Western New England College have an abundance of “real world” social work practice experience combined with excellent academic credentials. Are you thinking about a career in social work? Come and visit us in person, talk with other students, see the campus, and meet the faculty!
Click here for a list Frequently Asked Questions about the Social Work Program.
Click here for a comparison of social work and other helping professions.
Click here to watch a social work alumni video.
Click here for other Financial Aid Resources.
Click here for Loan Forgiveness information for BSW and MSW social workers.
For more information on the social work profession, please click below:
http://www.socialworkers.org/.../general/profession.asp
Undergraduate Programs
The department offers the following major program of study. Click on the name below to see the details of and requirements for entrance to the program.
The Faculty
Click here for a list of the department faculty.
|
Social Work Informational Breakfasts for Interested Students To attend the next Informational Breakfast For more information please contact Jeff Schrenzel, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Social Work, at 413 782-1757 or jschrenz@wnec.edu. We look forward to meeting you sharing our program with you. |