Situated in the Southern region of the United States, Arkansas is well-known for its beautiful Ozark Mountains, Arkansas Timberlands, diamonds, Razorback football, and many great universities. Since Arkansas has the second highest poverty rate, there is increased demand for social workers to fulfill various needs in its urban and rural regions. The following are the available fully accredited undergraduate and graduate Social Work programs in the state of Arkansas.
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Arkansas State University
College of Nursing and Health Professions
As the only comprehensive public university in Jonesboro and the northeastern region of the state, Arkansas State University is ranked the 61st best college in the South and the 25th best public school. The ASU College of Nursing and Health Professions is clinically affiliated with more than 500 regional health facilities throughout Arkansas, including hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and schools. All of the college's programs have very specific criteria for admission, are nationally accredited by a related association, and encompass a blend of classroom and clinical coursework for a well-rounded education.
Bachelor of Social Work
The ASU Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program is centered on helping students develop the core values of service, social justice, dignity, integrity, and competence. In order to successfully complete the program, students need to obtain 124 credit hours, broken down into liberal arts generation education courses, major courses, and free electives. The social work curriculum is focused on ethics, human behavior, psychology, social work practices, assessment techniques, and research or field experience.
Master of Social Work
In the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at ASU, students further their knowledge of the field and perfect their social work practices for the populations typically served by the profession. The goal of the program is to help students employ a broad range of approaches, examine issues of diversity, prevent social injustice, and empower entire communities with social work values. The MSW program offers one concentration for students who are interested in rural-based clinical social work practices.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation (CSWE)
- Foundation for Higher Education Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
Contact Information
CNHP Room 201B
104 North Caraway Rd.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
870-972-3112
[email protected]
http://www.astate.edu/college/conhp/
Harding University
College of Behavioral Sciences
As the 22nd best college in the South and the 3rd best value school in the nation, Harding University is a Christian liberal arts university located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Harding University also ranks among the leaders in the nation for admission of National Merit Scholars each year. Within the College of Behavioral Sciences, the Department of Social Work is dedicated to preparing students who are generalist social workers focused on improving the well-being others, as well as exhibiting Christian values of compassion and respect.
Bachelor of Social Work Program
The Bachelor of Social Work program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as generalist social work practitioners. The BSW degree program develops all the skills needed at the individual, family, group, and community social work levels. Application into the program is typically made after the successful completion of the Social Work 275 course, usually not until the sophomore year. Seniors spend the entire last semester working in a social service agency site to put their gathered skills to practice.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
Contact Information
915 E. Market Ave.
Searcy, AR 72149
501-279-4425
[email protected]
https://www.harding.edu/socialwork/
Philander Smith College
Division of Social Sciences
Philander Smith College is a private, four-year undergraduate liberal arts college located in the heart of Little Rock and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The Division of Social Sciences at Philander Smith College is focused on engaging students in challenging academic experiences to continue along the path of enlightenment into a career in social sciences. The division has the mission of creating, maintaining, and promoting a strong community of scholars in the persistent search for justice.
Bachelor of Social Work
Within the BSW degree program, all students are academically and professionally mentored by a faculty member in the social work department with significant experience in the field. In order to successfully complete the program, students are required to complete a written and oral comprehensive examination in social work. After graduation, students are well-prepared to maintain entrant level professional positions in social work and take the examination to become a Licensed Social Worker.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
Contact Information
900 Daisy Bates Dr.
Little Rock, AR 72202
501-370-5222
[email protected]
http://www.philander.edu/divisions/social_sciences/
Southern Arkansas University
Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Situated in the center of southern Arkansas, Southern Arkansas University is a unique liberal arts university that retains an intimate atmosphere and a quality 16:1 student to teacher ratio. As one of the school's more than 60 degrees offered in four distinct colleges, the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences offers a baccalaureate in Social Work option. The SAU department endeavors to contribute to the university's mission to promote intellectual growth, skill development, personal enrichment, and career preparation.
Bachelor of Social Work Program
At SAU, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is geared towards helping students from diverse backgrounds realize their potential in careers for generalist practitioners of social work. Graduates from the comprehensive program are more socially responsible citizens who can communicate effectively, think critically, form sound decisions to solve problems, and demonstrate thorough knowledge of social work content.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
Contact Information
Peace Hall 123
100 East University Rd.
Magnolia, AR 71753
870-235-4324
[email protected]
http://web.saumag.edu/lpa/departments/bss/
University of Arkansas
School of Social Work
Currently ranked as the 128th best college and the 63rd best public college in the nation, the University of Arkansas dates all the way back forhas more than 140 years of history in Fayetteville. As one of the divisions of the largest and most diverse academic units on campus at the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Social Work offers both baccalaureate and master degree programs for developing leaders in the field.
Bachelor of Social Work
Offered since 1940, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program is one of the oldest undergraduate social work programs in the nation. The curriculum is organized around the essential foundations for success in entry-level social work positions, including human behavior, social welfare, ethics, diversity, social justice, and social work research and field internships.
Master of Social Work
Students pursuing the MSW degree can choose from three separate programs, which are the two-year program for 24 months, the advanced standing program for 12 months, and three-year extended program for 36 months. All of the graduate programs share the common goal of educating advanced social work leaders with a firm understanding of beneficial strategies and tactics.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
Contact Information
ASUP Room 106
525 Old Main St.
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479-575-5039
[email protected]
http://socialwork.uark.edu/6294.php
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
School of Social Work
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a large metropolitan university located in the heart of the thriving city of Little Rock. Within the 40 buildings spread across the 150 acres of campus stands the UALR School of Social Work, which is ranked as the 130th best in the nation of its kind. The school is committed to delivering high-quality education to students entering the exciting and rewarding career of social work to help face the problems suffered by vulnerable populations nationwide.
Bachelor of Social Work
Building upon the required core curriculum of UALR, students must begin the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program coursework beginning in their junior year. The curriculum is specifically designed to enhance students' critical thinking, evaluative, interviewing, problem solving, and compassion skills to work on all levels of social work.
Master of Social Work
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program builds a strong generalist foundation to prepare graduates for leadership and management positions in clinical social work practice. The curriculum contains 60 total hours of graduate coursework, along with 1,200 practicum hours for the greatest expertise in social welfare. Students can also choose to pursue two distinct Graduate Certificates to align with their goals–Marriage and Family Therapy or Gerontology.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
Contact Information
2801 South University Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72204
501-569-3240
[email protected]
http://ualr.edu/socialwork/
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Ranked the 60th best college in the South, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is the second oldest public university in the state with a long legacy since 1890. As the division of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences has provided students with a strong foundation in liberal arts education, along with rigorous training in the programs of study.
Bachelor of Social Work
Students in the UAPB Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program are prepared to engage in entrant social work practices with client systems of various sizes and shapes. The program requires a minimum of 124 semester hours with courses in research methods, human behavior, social environment, drug abuse, rural social work, and child welfare services. Seniors can then choose a field experience placement at the micro, mezzo, or macro level.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
Contact Information
1200 North University Dr.
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
870-575-8000
[email protected]
http://www.uapb.edu/academics/school_of_arts_sciences/social_behavioral_sciences/social_work.aspx