About
The Department of Social Work incorporates a multicultural, diversity, and social justice focus into classes and field experience to prepare students to engage and work in the community. We are a joint program between North Carolina A&T State University, an HBCU, and UNC Greensboro (a historically white/women’s college and now a minority-serving institution) so students get experiences at and access to faculty and resources on both campuses. Students develop close relationships with both university faculty and feel a sense of belonging to the program.
Social Work faculty are leaders in the field and working to address major societal issues, such as discrimination, poverty, substance use, homelessness, and mental illness.
We are passionately committed to encouraging students’ personal and professional growth. Students receive a grounding in human rights and social justice through direct, community-based practice.
Upon completion of their bachelor’s degree, undergraduate students will have engaged in more than 500 hours of community-based service, including a two-semester internship with agencies like
- The Interactive Resource Center (serving people experiencing homelessness)
- The Guilford County Solution to the Opioid Problem intervention program
- The Moss Street Partnership School
Students may also pursue licensure as school social workers, a certificate in substance use, and receive focused mentoring in these areas. We engage with a diverse community in both clinical and non-clinical settings.
Department highlights
- We live in a diverse community, more so than any other county in NC, and our students will get to work with clients from diverse backgrounds in both clinical and non-clinical settings
- Many of our students get hired by their internship/field placements when they graduate
- Student leadership opportunities are available by participating in organizations for Social Work students such as the National Association of Social Workers Student Organization (NASW-SO) and the Phi Alpha Honor Society
- Social Work seniors at UNCG have the opportunity to study abroad in Denmark, Belgium, or Spain through The Global Work with Immigrant Kids Project. This project is designed to educate new social work practitioners for work with immigrant and refugee children and families
- Following graduation, undergraduates have been admitted to advanced standing programs at a number of nationally recognized schools of social work including Columbia University, Case Western University, the University of South Carolina, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Students in the Social Work program work closely with other programs through minors, such as Human Development and Family Studies, Peace & Conflict Studies, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, etc
- Students can work towards a simultaneous degree in Peace & Conflict Studies
Degrees Offered
At the master’s (MSW) level, we concentrate on multicultural clinical practice, focus on justice, equity, inclusion and diversity. The doctoral (Ph.D.) curriculum encourages students to explore several aspects of research including quantitative, qualitative, and community-engaged approaches. Using the teacher/scholar model, the doctoral program encourages students to prepare for careers in academia and as leaders in the community. Eighty percent of all graduates gain employment in the social work field within one year of graduation.
| Degree Name | Degree Type | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | B.S.W. | In-Person |
| Licensure in School Social Work | B.S.W | In-Person |
| Social Work | M.S.W. | In-Person (Joint with NC A&T) |
| Social Work | Ph.D | In-Person (Joint with NC A&T) |
| Social Work | Undergraduate Minor |
Bachelor of Social Work Program (B.S.W.)
The Department of Social Work provides an undergraduate program in social work which prepares students for beginning generalist social work practice. The undergraduate social work program is
- a 41-hour major
- with two community-based volunteer placements
- and a 440-hour internship during which students apply theoretical knowledge and skills to social work practice.
We have a joint B.S.W. field education program with North Carolina A&T State through which students are placed in a wide variety of practice settings to complete their internships. Our B.S.W. Program has been continuously accredited since 1973.
Joint Master of Social Work Program (M.S.W.)
The Department of Social Work implemented a collaborative graduate program in social work with North Carolina A&T State University in fall 1997. This Joint Master of Social Work Program requires completion of 60 credit hours and is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
There are two program concentrations:
- Advanced generalist practice with families and youth at risk
- Advanced generalist practice with people affected by health and mental health issues.
Each M.S.W. student completes 1008 hours of internships in community agencies. A 36 credit hour Advanced Standing option is available for highly qualified students who have graduated from a CSWE-accredited B.S.W. Program; these students complete a 672 hour advanced internship.
JOINT Doctorate IN SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM (Ph.D.)
The Department of Social Work added a collaborative doctoral program in social work with North Carolina A&T State University in fall 2019. This Joint Ph.D. in Social Work Program requires completion of 48 credit hours.
International Education Opportunities
International study opportunities are available through our relationship with:
- A 3-week long summer cultural immersion program in Costa Rica
- Study abroad opportunities through the Global Work with Immigrant Kids (GWIK) Program
Research and Scholarship
Our research is applied and aimed at understanding and solving problems in social welfare. Our work is developed in partnership with community agencies, provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate student participation, and is published in high quality refereed journals. During 2010-2011, social work faculty received almost $400,000 in external funds. See the faculty pages for information about their areas of research.