Social Work

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Program Overview

Many colleges or universities offer a psychology major. Fewer offer a bachelor’s degree in social work. Transform yourself. by earning a degree in social work at USF. 

Through your degree program and on-campus ministries, you’ll learn to become a servant leader. Whether you want to go to work right after graduation or earn a master’s degree in social work next, USF offers a social work degree that prepares you for both. 

Reasons to Earn Your Social Work Degree from USF

People of all ages and walks of life need help. More and more people find themselves at risk. Helping them with leadership and resources just may be your life’s calling.

When you earn your social work degree on our campus in Sioux Falls, you’ll have direct access to USF’s social work faculty who are great examples of servant leaders in a variety of social work fields. Choose USF for all the benefits of a private, Christian university while gaining knowledge and skills valued in a variety of social work careers.

  • Prepare for a career in social work with the knowledge, skills and values required for entry-level work in multicultural settings
  • Practice spiritual inquiry and service, rooted in your Christian faith and meeting the values expressed by the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics
  • Analyze history, theory, methods and research to advance social and economic justice for all populations

Outcomes

A social science/work degree opens doors to diverse careers. Graduates can work as market research analysts, understanding consumer behavior and market trends, or as social science researchers in academic or governmental roles. In social services, they can become social workers, supporting individuals and families, or counselors, providing guidance in various settings. 

Additionally, many pursue careers in education, teaching social sciences at different levels, or working in educational administration. The degree also prepares graduates for roles in public policy, human resources, and non-profit organizations, leveraging their understanding of societal dynamics to drive positive change.

Career Outlook

  • Average Salary: $65,668
  • Job Postings: 4,406

Average salary is based on a social worker (BSW) position from Salary.com. Job posting data is for social worker positions and is provided by Lightcast. This number represents unique job postings from companies looking to hire in the last 30 days as of May 2024.

Social Work Degree Options

B.A.

Social Work

A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Social Work is an academic program designed to prepare students for professional practice in the field of social work.

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Field Instruction

The USF social work program uses a block field placement system where you will complete a minimum of 400 hours of field work in one semester as your capstone course. This block placement allows students to do distance field placements, and, in the past, our students have been placed in Cameroon; South Africa; Mexico; Denver, Colo.; and Minneapolis and Rochester, Minn. A few of the many local industries that our students have been placed with are as follows:

  • Mental health facilities
  • Hospitals
  • Clinics
  • Domestic violence shelters
  • Foster care and adoptions
  • Hospices
  • Federal and state probation offices
  • Homeless shelters
  • State and federal social services programs
  • Non-profit community agencies

Learning Outcomes

Social Work is rooted in Christian service principles and guided by the National Association of Social Worker's professional ethics. Students develop competency in nine areas mandated by the Council of Social Work Accreditation:

  1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  3. Advance Human Rights and Economic Justice
  4. Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
  5. Engage in Policy Practice
  6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
  7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
  8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
  9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
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Program Assessment and Resources

Education

History & Political Science

Psychology

Social Science