Human Service Activity and Volunteer Work

As part of your professional development you are required to complete 50 hours of human service activity, paid or volunteer, by the time you apply for admission to the major. This requirement provides experience that allows you to determine if a career in social work is right for you. In addition, it allows you to gain some insight into and experience with working as a helper. If you have questions about whether or not a volunteer experience will count toward the 50 hours, see the  B.S.W. Program Director who will render a decision and record it in your student file. Pre-approval of your activity is always a good idea to ensure that you meet the requirements.  In order to gain a variety of experiences and to help you eventually make a decision about the type of agency in which you would like to do your field practicum, we encourage you to seek out several opportunities for completing your human service activity.  

Most community telephone directories list social service agencies that may use volunteers. To find out general information on local services and resources in the Morgantown area, you can call The Connecting Link at 304-296-3300. Additionally, you may wish to consult with  the WVU Center for Civic Engagement and the WVU Center for Community Engagement for additional opportunities. The pre-professional requirement for 50 hours of volunteer experience does not need to be completed in Morgantown, and you may split the 50 hours among different agencies or experiences. You may complete the hours in your hometown or as part of a seasonal camp experience.  WVU’s Career Services Center has information about summer employment as camp counselors.