Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
The Portland State University’s School of Social Work is excited to offer a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Social Work beginning Fall 2008. A cohort of 30-40 students will be selected by spring term 2008. The new degree program is on a timetable to obtain professional accreditation that will accompany the first degrees conferred to the class of June 2010.
Portland State’s Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program will prepare graduates to work in a wide variety of community based, family centered human services organizations in the public and private sectors. Specialization areas of social work practice that will be offered to students admitted to the program will include child welfare, youth and family services, health, and mental health and addictions. The major in social work will prepare entry level professionals for career opportunities such as caseworkers in public human services agencies serving people of all ages, school counselors, case managers and consumer advocates in community mental health, substance abuse treatment programs and patient care coordinators in community hospitals, clinics, hospices, home health and long term care facilities and workers in correctional programs serving youth and adult offenders.
Program Goals:
- To provide a statewide program with the goal of preparing generalist social workers who are informed and effective leaders in challenging injustice and promoting social and economic change
- To prepare social workers to practice with at-risk individuals and families through strengthening the capacities of family and community systems.
- To prepare social workers to assume the role of change agent regarding issues, policies, and community needs that affect individuals and their families and to contribute to the knowledge of the profession.
- To prepare generalist social workers able to work with a diversity of populations, integrating empirically informed practice and consumer voice within an established ethical framework.
- To provide a foundation for advanced graduate study in social work and prepare social workers to be life long learners.
For application information see information for prospective students.
