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William Paterson University has launched a bachelor’s degree program in social work (BSW) to meet the increasing demand for social workers in the region.
WP’s program will provide students with enhanced training and credentials for careers as case workers, case managers, child welfare specialists, correctional counselors, and substance abuse counselors, among others. The University is currently pursuing national accreditation for the program from the Council on Social Work Education and is currently in pre-candidacy status, the Council’s first accreditation benchmark.
“We are excited to launch this new program, which is designed to meet the growing need for social work professionals in our region,” says Wartyna Davis, dean of the College of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which houses the new program. “Our program offers a rigorous curriculum with high standards for both students and faculty, that prepare our graduates to serve a wide range of populations with evidence-based practices.”
The BSW at William Paterson is an interdisciplinary degree program comprised of 12 required social work courses as well as courses in sociology and psychology. In their senior year, students participate in a seminar course and complete a 400-hour qualified fieldwork experience that integrates social work knowledge, values and skills while engaging with diverse populations and offering culturally sensitive services.
Students who graduate with a degree in social work are eligible to apply for a certified social work (CSW) license in New Jersey. CSWs are qualified to perform social work services, such as assessment, consultation, counseling, planning, community organization, policy, social administration, research, and client-centered advocacy. The program’s graduates are eligible for advanced standing status in master of social work (MSW) programs, which allows them to complete their MSW in one year of post-graduate study.
The Bureau for Labor Statistics forecasts that the social work profession will grow an estimated 13 percent between 2019 and 2029, a rate of growth much faster than the average occupation.
