Social Work

Social Work
society

Social Work

Social workers are everywhere—yet are probably the most unrecognized and least understood profession—in spite of its 100+ year existence. Social workers help people cope with everyday to unusual life events—from finding basic shelter, food, or clothing to coping with personal, familial, or social crises.  Today, social workers are among the top 10 fastest growing professions and have the greatest diversity in employment opportunities. 

The ULM Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) degree program equips students to prepare for the wide range of opportunities available in the profession.  Knowledge, values, and skills learned help BSW students at ULM become critical thinkers about human behavior and about social justice.  These skills prepare our students to not only excel in the social work profession—but are also desirable by almost every industry imaginable!

Cost of Attendance & More

Making sure your program is the right financial investment is an important part of the search process.

COST & FINANCING

Social Work in Photos

community social services
reading session with kids
students faculty and staff

What sets us apart?

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 1977

CSWE accredited social work degrees are required to become a licensed social worker in the U.S. and most other countries around the world.  Also, a 3.0 or better GPA in social work courses can help students advance to other institutions offering completion of a 2-year CSWE accredited MSW degree in only one year.

Flexible scheduling – classes and field placements

Many degree requirements can be completed in 100% online courses.  ULM Social Work majors are often placed in social service agencies convenient for and desired by students—whether living on campus or commuting from their hometowns!

Service learning opportunities

Before becoming a profession 100+ years ago, social work had its roots in centuries of volunteerism.  Today, service learning opportunities engage students (and sometimes those from other majors) in volunteer activities in social service agencies of all sorts.  Service learning as a central part of the ULM social work curriculum helps students see the benefits of serving others first hand.  And, let’s not forget—volunteerism counts on an employable resume!

Professional and caring faculty advising

As a CSWE accredited undergraduate social work program, students in the major must receive close academic advising throughout their degree pursuance.  At ULM, faculty advisors are seasoned social work educators and hold the Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential.  The purpose of CSWE requiring close advising is to assure accreditation standards are met to prepare students for professional licensed practice.

 

ULM Social Work Program faculty, however, are also interested in getting students through their degree programs as quickly as feasibly possible.  We seek to prevent potential delays in graduation and to assist students in “staying on track” to graduate on time.

Academic social work honors program & other extracurricular opportunities

The Honor Society for the Social Work Major is the internationally recognized Phi Alpha. It has been at ULM since 1993. Students who complete 9 semester hours of required social work courses and rank in the top 35% of their class are eligible.  Phi Alpha members qualify for preferred hiring in many state and some federal jobs.

 

The Student Social Work Association (SSWA) is student-driven organization that engages in various volunteer activities on campus and in the community surrounding ULM.  But they’re not all work—they have fun events and socials too! 

 

Child Welfare Training Program

Students who know they want to work in a public agency to protect and serve children and families can apply for a stipend to do their field placement in one of the Louisiana Department of Child and Family Services (La.DCFS) offices in the state. This program has been at ULM since 1992 and today provides a stipend that covers tuition, books and other university fees, as well as living expenses for the final semester before graduation. In return, La.DCFS requires one year of employment.

 

Of note—work at La.DCFS, a public agency, is qualified employment for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program!

Social work is one of the top ranked occupations for projected growth in job opportunities. U.S. Department of Labor projects social work employment to grow by 11% by 2028, faster than the average for all other occupations.

Here are a few of the top careers in this field:

 

  • Hospital/Home Health Discharge Planner
  • Hospital Social Worker
  • School Social Worker
  • Mental Health Assistant
  • Social Service Agency Manager/Director
  • Life Coach
  • Personal Manager
  • Probation Officer (Adult or Juvenile)
  • Military Social Worker (Dept. of Defense or Service Enlisted)
  • Child and Family Service Worker
  • Medical/Public Health Social Worker
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Social Worker
  • Gerontology Social Worker
  • Community Developer
  • Non-Profit Volunteer Coordinator
  • Family Home Visitor
FRESHMAN YEAR
Hours
English 1001, 1002
6
Mathematics 1009 or 1011 and 1012, 1016 or 1018
6
Biology 1001
3
Sociology 1001
3
COMM 1001 or 2001
3
Social Work 1001, 1002
6
Fine Arts Elective
3
University 1001 Seminar
(1)
TOTAL HOURS
30

 

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Hours
English 2003, 2004; or 2005, 2006
6
Psychology 2001
3
History 1011 and 1012; or 2001 and 2002
6
Biology 1010
3
Foreign Language
6
Social Work 2005, 3001
6
Core Physical Science  (non-biological) 3
TOTAL HOURS
33

 

JUNIOR YEAR
Hours
English 3023
3
Political Science 2001, 2002
6
Sociology  4070, 4071
6
Social Work 3003, 3005, Elective
9
Computer Science Elective
3
Psychology 4001
3
TOTAL HOURS
30
 
 

 

SENIOR YEAR
Hours
Electives
12
Social Work 3015,  4016, 4021,       
12
Social Work 4022
3
TOTAL HOURS
27
   
TOTAL HOURS FOR DEGREE
120

 

Phi Alpha – The Honor Society for Social Work Majors – provides opportunities for community service projects; membership also qualifies students for preferential hiring in state and federal agencies.

Student Social Work Association (SSWA) – A social work student-led organization that engages in various community service projects at least twice a year—and knows how to make participation fun as well as rewarding.  Projects have included:  Working in the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, the Desiard Street Homeless Shelter, the Boys & Girls Club, the Sickle Cell Anemia Association in Monroe, conducting “Mix It Up” events at the ULM campus Schulze Cafeteria, awareness events on campus during Child Abuse Prevention month—and many more!

Learn more about financial aid options: https://www.ulm.edu/financialaid/

Learn more about scholarship opportunities: https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/

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