Social Work (B.A.)

Program Overview

Program's Goal: The social work program prepares students for competency at an entry-level of professional practice in social work. Graduates promote the well-being and quality of life for diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities, both locally and globally, with particular appreciation for the distinct strengths and differences of each client system.

To this end, our program is committed to facilitating a generalist education focused on experiential learning, grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation. The curriculum is integrated with the knowledge, evidence-based methods, skills, values and ethics of the social work profession based on a holistic, hands-on perspective and committed to universal human rights and social justice.

Program Structure: The social work program is a part of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, which is located in the Ruth Whitaker Holmes School of Behavioral Sciences. All academic departments at Hood College report to the Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost. The College's organizational chart can be found here.

Emphasis on Competency with Older Adults: The social work field experience prepares students for practice with diverse client groups across the lifespan. Because of the growing number of older adults who will need social services in the 21st century, Hood College social work students graduate with basic competencies needed to practice with populations of all ages, regardless of the social work field of practice in which they plan to work.

Accreditation: Hood College is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).

• Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it meets or exceeds standards of program quality evaluated through a peer review accreditation process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the BOA has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).  Accreditation applies to all program options, which includes locations and delivery methods.
• Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program. Review our program’s accredited status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. 

2024 Assessment of Learning Outcomes (Based on 2022 EPAS)

Social Work Major Courses

Student Handbook and Field Manual (2024-2025)