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Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the social work program at UWF will prepare you to enter beginning professional social work practice.

Why Study Social Work at UWF?

Guided by a diverse faculty, the Department of Social Work is committed to promoting human rights, social and economic justice, and respect for diversity to improve the quality of life of those we serve.

The mission of the B.S.W. in Social Work program is to prepare graduates for effective multi-level assessment, engagement, intervention and evaluation of multiple systems in many fields of practice.

What You Will Learn

Do you seek a rewarding career that allows you to help others every day? The social work program at UWF will provide you with the tools needed to work with children and families, mental health clients, substance abusers, in hospitals and hospice services, and much more.

You will gain an understanding of how ethical principles and values provide the framework for professional practice that embraces diversity, advances human rights and social and economic justice. You will demonstrate the importance of culturally diverse practice-informed research and research-informed practice when engaging, assessing, intervening and evaluating individuals, families, groups, organizations communities and the world at large.

Using the social work profession’s knowledge, skills and values foundation students will engage, assess, and intervene and evaluate micro, mezzo and macro levels of practice.

Upon completion, you will become a practitioner who demonstrates and practices the critical thinking skills, values, ethics, and knowledge delineated by the CSWE guidelines and the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

Minors in aging studies, child welfare, social welfare and substance abuse are helpful preparation for any career that improve the well-being of others.

UWF programs offered at the Pensacola campus or UWF Emerald Coast may require online courses. Discuss the program requirements and planning with your academic advisor.

CSWE Accreditation logo

The University of West Florida Bachelor of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation.

Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Board of Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.

Accreditation 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.

Program Performance Assessment Data

Minors

A minor in aging studies provides a broad orientation to the field of gerontology and service to the elderly.

The purpose of a minor in child welfare is to introduce and provide information regarding the social problems of children and families and the availability of services to families in need.

A minor in social welfare includes the two beginning courses designed to orient students to social work philosophy, ethics, and practice areas and two social work electives. This minor is not available to social work majors.

With a minor in substance abuse, you will fulfill some of the requirements for certification from the Certification Board for Addiction Professionals of Florida.