Bachelor of Science in Social Work

Social Work Program Highlights

Biblical

Our approach to social work is unique. We begin with a biblical, Christian foundation. You will be equipped to meet human needs through the lens of a biblical worldview. Principles from God’s Word guide discussions about public service, meeting human needs, and social justice. Theology is integrated in very practical ways with the social and cultural issues we confront every day. This careful integration is essential to developing Christian social workers who are caring, committed, and competent.

Balanced

Cedarville’s social work program provides the balanced education prized by employers and graduate schools: a strong core of required courses, electives that allow you to specialize and explore further, and two separate field experiences that bring together all elements of your academic achievements.

Accredited

The Social Work program at Cedarville University received initial accreditation from The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in June of 1998. CSWE reaffirmed the program in June 2002, again in 2010, and most recently in June 2017. Graduating from an accredited program positions our students to complete graduate school in one year instead of two.

What Can You Do With a Bachelors in Social Work?

Your degree will prepare you for a variety of social work careers as well as graduate programs.

Our graduates have been accepted to prestigious Master of Social Work programs such as:

• University of Michigan
• Case Western Reserve University
• Georgetown University
• Boston College
• Bryn Mawr College
• University of Pennsylvania

Due to our accreditation, our graduates receive advanced standing, allowing them to complete the M.S.W. program in about one year. Some have gone on to complete a law degree and have become legal advocates for the poor and disenfranchised.

Our graduates are employed in hospitals, domestic violence prevention centers, foster care/adoptive agencies, congregational social work in larger churches, assisted living facilities, rehab facilities, youth minister, pastorate, missionary, mental health facilities, counseling centers, higher education as social work professors, hospice services, inner-city youth programs, and refugee resettlement programs.

Our graduates are prepared for the state Licensed Social Worker (LSW) exam; last year 93 percent of our students passed the exam on the first attempt (state average is 70 percent).

We also have graduates who have served on the state of Ohio task forces dealing with sex trafficking, as well as the Ohio Attorney General’s Task Force on Criminal Justice and Mental Illness.

• Agape for Youth – foster/adoptive services
• Area Agency on Aging
• Buckeye Ranch – providing individual and family behavioral health counseling to children ages 6–17
• Catholic Social Services
• Choices – adoption services
• Church congregational social work and community outreach Rock City Church, Columbus, OH
• Council on Rural Services – Head Start programs
• Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care
• Davita Dialysis Center – medical social work
• Dayton Children's Hospital
• Dayton Veterans Administration
• Family Violence Prevention Center
• Forensic Interviewer, Mental Health Advocate, at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus
• Lebanon Correctional Facility
• Miami Valley Hospital Social Services Department
• Missionaries – Germany, So. Africa, Brazil, Philippines, inner-city Chicago ministry
• Ohio Living – assisted living facility in Wilmington, OH
• Open Door Ministries, Denver
• Salvation Army sex-trafficking initiative
• The Glen at St. Joseph’s, a residential program for low-income single mothers and their children
• World Relief – programs for refugee resettlement and assimilation
• Youth Pastor, Florida

Opportunities to Learn Outside the Classroom

You will complete a two-tiered internship: 150 hours during your junior year and 450 hours during your senior year. Field Experience allows the student to put into practice with real-life clients what they’ve learned in the classroom.

You can choose an international field experience for your internship. Choose from Romania, Uganda, and India.

You’ll experience social work practice courses that provide experiential opportunities:

• Poverty simulation experience
• Team-building exercises
• Serving the needy

You will have the opportunity to attend area conferences for professional social workers.

You can participate in two social work student organizations to enrich your academic and professional experience.