“We are thrilled to announce the transition of the Social Work program to the School of Health Sciences. This move presents exciting opportunities for the growth and development of our BSW program, including the ability and support to create a Master of Social Work (MSW) program By aligning with the School of Health Sciences, we will strengthen our connections to a wider network of healthcare providers, enhancing our students' learning experiences and expanding their professional opportunities. Additionally, this integration will provide invaluable support for our ongoing accreditation services, ensuring the continued excellence of our Social Work program. We look forward to the new possibilities this transition will bring!”
-Jennifer Withrow, Ed. D., MSW
Students have had the honor and privilege of partnering with various community partners during their time in practicum. These community partners serve a wide variety of individuals, communities, and systems. These partners are pivotal to social work education and we are thankful for their ongoing investment in our students and our communities.
As practitioners, social workers are trained to help people address personal and systemic barriers to optimal living. They are employed to effect positive change with individuals, families, groups, and entire communities.
As a profession, social workers frequently use their collective power to pass laws and establish policies that give more people access to community services and benefits, improving the quality of life for everyone.
Social work is the only helping profession that requires social justice advocacy as part of its professional code of ethics and is, therefore, a large workforce mandated to advance the rights of the most vulnerable in society. For more than 120 years, the social work profession in the United States has helped bend the arc of justice, making our nation a more equitable and inclusive place.
There are more than 700,000 professional social workers employed in the United States and more than three million worldwide. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to identify social work as one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States.
Other government sources report there are more clinically trained social workers providing mental health and behavioral health services than any other professional discipline in the nation.
Social workers are on the front lines, helping people overcome crises. In fact, social workers are everywhere people need help navigating tough life challenges. They contribute to interdisciplinary care teams in schools, hospitals, mental health centers, nonprofits, corporations, the military—and in local, state, and federal government. Many social work professionals also own private consultation practices.
Real-World Learning:
Fieldwork provides on-the-job learning experience under close supervision by a faculty member and an agency professional. A variety of agencies in the Greater Cincinnati region serve as fieldwork sites, including mental health facilities, crisis centers for domestic violence, homeless shelters, community service agencies, foster care programs, and nursing homes.
As a part of the BSW experience, students have the unique opportunity of putting what they have learned into action. Field Education sets Social Work from other helping professions, as this is not just an internship but an opportunity to work under the guidance of a Social Worker and demonstrate competency in the areas of focus while in the field. This experience provides the student real social work experience prior to graduation and allows them to explore the populations they may want to work with in the future. This is where you get start making social change even before you graduate.
Phi Alpha
Social work students are encouraged to join Phi Alpha Honor Society, a national social work honor society that connects social work students, faculty, and practitioners. Phi Alpha promotes humanitarian goals and ideas, fosters high educational standards for social workers, and encourages membership from those who pursue excellence in scholarship and achievement within social work.
For more information on Phi Alpha, click here.
Social Work Club
Social Work Club provides a closer bond and connection among Mount students, promotes humanitarian goals and ideals on campus and in the community, and develops the talents of students in service to and for the greater good of the campus and surrounding community.