Social Work

About the program

The Social Work program at Ferrum College is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Graduates of the program receive the B.S.W. degree which prepares them for the beginning professional practice of social work or possibly advanced standing graduate work leading toward the M.S.W. Instruction in the program emphasizes the theoretical foundations of beginning generalist social work practice in both rural and urban communities. The importance of cultural diversity is blended throughout an academic presentation of values, ethics, and knowledge for practice of the social work profession. Within the curriculum are incorporated both classroom learning and supervised direct practice in the field.

Coursework in Social Work

The curriculum incorporates a variety of topics to prepare students for opportunities in the field of Social Work, and includes courses such as:

Intro to Social Work
Abnormal Psychology
Intro to Community Service
Social Problems
Social Welfare Policy
Human Growth & Development
Sociology of US Cultural Diversity
Human Behavior & Social Environ.
Social Work Practice I, II, & III
Social Sciences Research

Related Clubs

There are over 50 clubs and organizations available to students at Ferrum College. These are specifically related to Social Work:

Social Work Club: Activities such as sponsoring a United Way Bowlathon, attending Rally in the Valley with social work students from all over Virginia, participating in Lobby Day at the Virginia General Assembly, and attending various conferences.
Alpha Delta Mu: Social Work Honor Society

Experiential & hands-on learning opportunities

Ferrum College believes in hands-on learning in tandem with classroom and textbook studies. Here’s how:

Internships: Social Work Majors are required to complete two separate field experiences; one in the sophomore year (75 hrs.) and one in the senior year (400 hrs). The Social Work Field Coordinator assists the student in finding a local field placement with appropriate social worker supervision which meets the student’s interest areas. A seminar with professor and peers is concurrent.

Most Social Work classes include some type of community service learning project. For example, the SWK 330 class coordinates the annual “Take Back the Night” community event to raise awareness about domestic violence. The SWK 410 class works on a community project, currently students are conducting a needs assessment for use in a grant which will help fund an old schoolhouse renovation to create a community center. Students are also encouraged to seek out other service-learning opportunities.

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What can I be with a major in Social Work?

A major in Social Work leads to traditional career paths, as well as less expected fields. For example:

You could be a(n) ...
Foster Care Social Worker
Mental Health Social Worker
Child Protective Service Worker
Hospice Social Worker
Hospital Social Worker
Lobbyist/Grassroots Organizer
Elderly or Child Advocate
Probation & Parole Officer

Social Work Faculty

Jennie West
Assistant Professor of Social Work
Program Coordinator of Social Work and Sociology
M.S.W., University of Georgia
(540) 365-4406
jwest@ferrum.edu

Martha Haley-Bowling
Assistant Professor of Social Work
M.S.W., Virginia Commonwealth University
(540) 365-4481
mhbowling@ferrum.edu

Susan Mead
Assistant Professor of Sociology
(540) 365-4611
smead@ferrum.edu

Peg Wimmer
Instructor of Sociology
(540) 365-4315
pwimmer@ferrum.edu | View Profile

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Faculty & Staff: Click here to submit your profile.

Find out more

Contact Jennie West at jwest@ferrum.edu
Contact Martha Haley-Bowling at mhbowling@ferrum.edu
Contact Susan Mead at smead@ferrum.edu

Experiential Term »
Honors Program »
International Programs »
Service Learning »

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Forms and downloads for current students

All forms are in .pdf format.