The West Virginia University School of Social Work believes that Black lives
matter and is committed to anti-racism, equity and racial justice.
School of Social Work Mission Statement
Through teaching, research, and service, the mission of the West Virginia University School of Social Work is to educate students to become generalist social workers at the baccalaureate level and advanced integrated practice social workers at the graduate level.
The School of Social Work mission is grounded in the purpose of the social work profession which is to “promote human and community well-being” (Council on Social Work Education [CSWE], 2015 p. 5). We offer baccalaureate and graduate programs that are “guided by a person-in-environment framework, a global perspective, respect for human diversity, and knowledge based on scientific inquiry” (CSWE 2015, p. 5). Our programs promote “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” (CSWE 2015, p. 5).
The BSW and MSW programs are further grounded in the core social work values of service, social justice, the dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, human rights, and scientific inquiry (National Association of Social Workers, 2017). These values underpin curricula and frame our commitment to people and to the advancement of social and economic justice (CSWE, 2015).
Students are educated for holistic social work competence informed by knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes. Situated in West Virginia, a largely rural state located in the Appalachian Mountains, the School of Social Work is committed to preparing students for practice in small towns and rural areas.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
If you are a compassionate individual with an interest in human diversity and a desire
to help others, then a bachelor of social work can help you reach
your goals. Our curriculum prepares students for positions in the social work profession
and can provide you with the opportunity to advance in higher education.
BSW
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The master of social work program trains graduate students in advanced integrated social work practice with individuals, families, groups, communities, and social administration. The MPA and MSW degree programs require
students to complete a public service internship and an advanced field placement.
MSW
MSW / MPA
Field Education
Field Education is an integral part of the professional social work curriculum and requires a close cooperative relationship between the School of Social Work and the selected field sites who accept our students for the internship experience. Field education has been designated by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) as the “signature pedagogy” and as equal to the course work in social work higher education. Experiential learning complements the classroom learning and gives the student the opportunity to build a sense of professional competence and identity that serves as a foundation for ongoing professional growth.
