Social Work

Purpose

The purpose of the social work profession is to promote human and community well-being. Guided by a person-in-environment framework, a global perspective, respect for human diversity, and knowledge based on scientific inquiry, the purpose of social work is actualized through its quest for social and economic justice, the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of the quality of life for all persons, locally and globally.” (pg. 5, CSWE 2015 EPAS)

Values

Service, social justice, the dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, human rights, and scientific inquiry are among the core values of social work. These values underpin the explicit and implicit curriculum and frame the profession’s commitment to respect for all people and the quest for social and economic justice. (EP 1.0, 2015 CSWE EPAS)

About the Major

The VSU Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program is fully accredited through the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), and it is consistent with the university’s mission and institutional goals and the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) of the Council of Social Work Education.

The VSU Bachelor of Social Work Program is built on a generalist model of social work practice and a firm liberal arts foundation that specifically prepare students for beginning generalist professional social work practice with individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities.

Upon graduation, BSW graduates:

• May be immediately considered for employment in social service agencies, health and governmental agencies, schools, hospitals, corrections, private community service agencies and other organizations.
• Work with individuals of all ages from infancy through the end of life in areas such as child welfare, developmental disabilities, health, mental health, policy and planning, domestic violence, and gerontology.
• Have a greater diversity in jobs than any other degree. 

Learn more about the program.

CSWE Accreditation

Virginia State University Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program achieved Candidacy for Accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

• Candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work
  Education’s Commission on Accreditation indicates that it has made progress toward meeting
  criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. A program that has attained Candidacy has demonstrated a commitment to meeting the compliance standards set by the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, but has not yet demonstrated full compliance.
• Students who enter programs that attain Candidacy in or before the academic year in which they begin their program of study will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program once the program attains Initial Accreditation. Candidacy is typically a three-year process and attaining Candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain Initial Accreditation. Candidacy applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the
  program and the competence of students graduating from the program.
• For more information about social work accreditation, you may contact CSWE Accreditation www.cswe.org/Accreditation.

About the Major

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at Virginia State University (VSU) is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This accreditation ensures that our program meets the rigorous standards established for social work education and prepares graduates for professional practice. For more information about social work accreditation, please visit CSWE Accreditation.

The VSU MSW Program is committed to enhancing the well-being of all people, with a special emphasis on traumatized individuals and families living in underserved suburban and rural communities.  WE ARE THE FIRST and only HBCU in the nation with a Master of Social Work Trauma Informed specialization 

The VSU MSW Program is consistent with the purpose of the social work profession through the promotion of human and community well-being.  The Program incorporates a person and environment construct, a global perspective with an emphasis on underserved and remote communities, respect for diversity, and knowledge based on scientific inquiry. 

We prepare our graduates for advanced trauma informed clinical practice, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to directly engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Our course work emphasizes the use of evidence-informed trauma informed interventions.  Students will develop assessing, diagnosis and intervening with diverse populations. 

Upon graduation, students will be prepared to work independently or as a member in interprofessional health care teams.  The trauma informed clinical specialization of this degree will give you the necessary counseling and psychotherapy skills to intervene with clients of all ages, and pursue future licensure as a clinical social workers.  The program content in social work administration will prepare you for leadership positions.

Learn more about the program.

CSWE Accreditation

• For more information about social work accreditation, you may contact Accreditation - www.cswe.org/Accreditation.

The Virginia State Department Homefront Readjustment for the Armed Forces Online Certificate Program is designed to teach students how to interact with active duty service members, veterans, and their families with consideration for the military culture and sensitivities. In this program, participants learn to identify and facilitate access to essential services and resources, social support, case management, care coordination, and advocacy options for the military community.

• WE ARE THE FIRST AND ONLY academically certified program that is created, designed, and taught by professors, who are veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan War, and are practicing licensed social workers and clinical psychotherapist.
• This is the first and only military cultural competency certification in the Commonwealth of Virginia, provided by a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program and approved by the State Council on Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
• The VSU Homefront Readjustment for the Armed Forces Program delivers knowledge, skills, and abilities through a web-based platform, which is accessible anywhere, to anyone, at any time.

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The Social Work Minor is an interdisciplinary program for undergraduate students who are interested in the field of social work or social services and want more in-depth study in this area than other courses provided.  The program is designed to complement undergraduate study programs in the University.  The Social Work Minor is a great complement to majors such as sociology, criminal justice, psychology, education, political science and other allied disciplines.  

The Social Work Minor introduces students to the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to:

• Comprehend the structures and functions of the field of social work;
• Develop a more informed position on social policy issues
• Appreciate the economic, social, political, environmental, and ethical challenges that societies and their citizens face in responding to basic human needs;
• Become actively involved in helping to address social needs; and
• Broaden and further enhance their professional career paths. 

The Social Work Minor is not preparation for professional social work practice and is only intended to enhance a students’ overall knowledge, skills and professional ethical practice in their chosen field of study.

About the Child Welfare Stipend Program

The Child Welfare Stipend Program (CWSP) is a partnership between the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) and five public universities in Virginia (George Mason, Norfolk State, Radford, Virginia Commonwealth, and Virginia State). The CWSP is dependent on availability through Title IV-E and the Commonwealth of Virginia. No funding comes directly from Virginia State University. The CWSP is based on a framework that incorporates state and national standards for child welfare practice with a goal to recruit and prepare competent, caring, and innovative professionals for Virginia’s local department of social service (LDSS) workforce.

CWSP students receive:  

• $10,000 financial stipend per academic year
• Support with the employment search process.
• Training through the Commonwealth of Virginia Learning Center
• Specialized coursework and topical seminars
• Field experience with a LDSS

In return, the student legally commits to work in foster care, adoption or in-home services in a LDSS in Virginia following graduation. A 12-month work commitment is required for each academic year the stipend is received. For example, if a student receives $10,000, their work requirement is 12 consecutive months. If a student receives $20,000, their work requirement is 24 consecutive months.

If you want to make a lasting difference and promote better outcomes in the lives of children and families, then the Child Welfare Stipend Program is for you.

Learn More About the Program