Social Work
A Powerful Educational Experience
A degree in social work from Niagara University provides so many potential career paths and options that it can be challenging to answer the question: what can I do with a degree in social work? Social workers can be found in schools, hospitals, police departments, public libraries, government offices, courtrooms — in short, anywhere people are in need of help. Social workers work with individuals and families facing challenges including poverty, physical and mental health issues, addiction, and family problems, providing clinical and case management services. Others go on in careers as lobbyists, policy analysts, community activists, or international relief groups.
A Cutting-Edge Curriculum
Our curriculum is built around concepts of empowerment and experiential learning, with a focus on discovering individual strengths to ultimately prepare students to work as beginning generalist social workers in a range of settings, with a broad range of clients. Students will take a mix of courses in history, psychology, sociology, and social work, as well as independent studies, internships, practicum experience and the chance to do research with faculty. Minors can be added in relevant academic areas such as psychology, sociology, or Vincentian poverty studies.
Quality
Social work faculty members hold master’s degrees and Ph.D.’s in social work, have extensive clinical experience working in major cities like Chicago, Boston, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls, and present regularly at national conferences.
Flexibility
Students are prepared upon graduation for the career path they choose, or may go on to complete master’s degrees at high-level graduate schools such as the University of Pennsylvania, Boston University, or Columbia University.
Experiential Learning
Students get an average of 500 hours of hands-on learning and field experience, including a year-long field placement in a social work agency, and hours completed through two on-campus civic engagement centers.
$60,900
Median Pay for Social Workers in 2018 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Accreditation
The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation.