Carthage College

Becoming a Social Worker at Carthage

Carthage College appears in our ranking of the 20 High-value BSW Degrees in Metro Areas with Top Salaries for Social Workers.

Since 1982, the Division of Professional Studies has conferred the Social Work Major for Carthage College undergrads to follow vocational callings to help people reach life-enhancing goals. Chaired by Prof. Danielle Geary of Kenosha County DCFS, the 33-credit, upper-division major prepares for generalist practice improving social services delivery. Lentz Hall houses actively engaged courses like Child Welfare Policy, Family Violence, Human Behavior, and Applied Statistics at a 12:1 student-professor ratio. Graduation requires two 250-hour BSW practica at fieldwork agencies, such as Arden Shores, Safe Haven of Racine, Oakwood Clinical Services, Zacharias Center, and All Saints Healthcare. Students might also join the Zeta Mu Chapter, engage in Circle K events, study abroad in Ecuador, become Fulbright Fellows, and add the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.

Partnered with Loyola University Chicago, Carthage's Continuing Studies Department launched the Master of Social Work in May 2001 for small cohorts to receive advanced practice APSW certification. Organized by Dr. Goutham Menon, the 60-credit, hands-on degree sharpens case advocacy skills in two years. Advanced Standing students with qualifying bachelor's training finish just the 28-credit specialization content in 10 months. Available MSW tracks are School Social Work, Health Social Work, Mental Health Social Work, Children and Families, or Leadership and Development in Social Services. Graduates spend three days weekly meeting the 500-hour, first-year and 720-hour, second-year fieldwork marks. Other opportunities include adding the MPH, joining the Social Work Advocacy Group, taking Maestría Bilingüe courses, attending the NASW-WI Annual Conference, and continuing for the Loyola Ph.D.

About Carthage College

Carthage College was first chartered in January 1847 by the Illinois General Assembly as the Literary and Theological Institute with 79 Lutheran students. Initially located in the Springfield Metro, Carthage moved to its 80-acre Lake Michigan campus in Kenosha, Wisconsin, by 1962. Enrollment at the private, space-grant ELCA liberal arts school increased fivefold to reach a record-high 2,600 Red Men and Lady Reds in 2016. Organized around The Carthage Plan, the $107 million college strives to "Seek Truth, Inspire Service" in 50+ majors, including Social Work. Linked to 13,511 LinkedIn alumni, Carthage College has trained Laura Kaeppeler, George A. Anderson, David Holliday, Caroline Bartlett Crane, and more.

The U.S. News & World Report labeled Carthage the 163rd best national liberal arts college and 184th top high school counselor pick. On Niche, Carthage College is America's 76th best test-optional school, 159th best Christian university, and 366th top small institution. Forbes ranked Carthage the 333rd best private college with the 314th most satisfied alumni. The Institute on International Education placed Carthage College fifth nationally for studying abroad. According to Washington Monthly, the "College of Distinction" has the country's 123rd most liberal arts research and 125th highest service participation. College Factual recognized the Carthage BSW for the 285th best value and 132nd top-paid grads too.

Carthage College Accreditation Details

In March 2015, Carthage had its Level III accreditation renewed for 10 more years without sanctions by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) under president Dr. John Swallow. This regional agency in Chicago is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to cover all of Carthage's 52 baccalaureate and two master's degrees. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) also reaffirmed its BSW and MSW programmatic approval at Carthage in October 2014 to satisfy Wisconsin licensing.

Carthage College Application Requirements

Entering the BSW at Carthage College is "more competitive" with an average acceptance rate of 70 percent in Fall 2016. First-year Reds with high school diplomas or GED certificates can enter pre-social work courses. On average, admitted freshmen have a 3.24 GPA, 1140 SAT score, and 24 ACT score. Admission to the Social Work Major requires finishing 30+ credits, including SWK 2300 with a grade of "B" or better. An interview is required to judge personal character along with an academic average above 2.5 too. The Master of Social Work needs a four-year bachelor's degree with one statistics course and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Advanced Standing distinction is reserved for CSWE-accredited undergrad majors with satisfactory fieldwork and a cumulative 3.25 mark.

Carthage College has rolling admission, but the preferred deadlines are December 3rd for Early Notification and February 15th for Regular Decision. Hopeful MSW post-grads can apply until four weeks before the August cohort start date. Students should submit the Common Application or Carthage Application online with a criminal background check on CastleBranch. Extra materials could be emailed to [email protected] or sent to 2001 Alford Park Drive in Kenosha, WI 53140. Social work students shouldn't overlook the following:

• One-time, non-refundable $35 fee

• Official high school and college transcripts

• Superscores for ACT and SAT (optional)

• Résumé of employment/volunteer work

• AAn autobiographicalstatement under 500 words

• Two letters of professional recommendation

• Signed NASW Code of Ethics agreement

Tuition and Financial Aid

Earning the Social Work Major (BSW) at Carthage College will cost $43,550 for full-time tuition and fees. Living at the Kenosha campus adds $11,990 for room and board each year. Parking permits range from $80 to $1,250 based on the lot. Budgets should include $1,200 for textbooks and $2,500 for personal expenses too. Total annual undergrad cost of attendance is $57,250 for residents and $45,650 for commuters. MSW majors pay Loyola University Chicago's tuition of $1,007 per credit with a $120 social work lab fee. Whole prices would be $28,196 for Advanced Standing and $60,420 for Traditional graduates.

According to the NCES College Navigator, 94 percent of full-time Reds share $57.7 million in annual financial aid packages that average $21,345 each. Social work students could earn institutional funds, such as the Presidential Scholarship, Multicultural Leadership Scholarship, Carthage Service Fellowship, Kenosha Scholarship, Tarble Family Scholarship, Alumni Grant, and Ministerial Grant. Fifteen percent of MSW students earn assistantships on RamblerLink for $9,500. Undergrads can file the FAFSA via code 003839 for Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants. Badger State natives might snag the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant, Lawton Grant, or Talent Incentive Program Grant. As WalletHub's 86th best value, Carthage College also fulfills unmet need with Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS loans.

Learn more about Carthage College at the Department of Social Work website.