Nicknamed the "Gem State" for its significant quantities of gemstones, Idaho is situated in the northwestern region of the United States in the northern Rocky Mountains and is the 14th largest and 7th least densely populated state.
Online Social Work Programs For You
Convenient Online Alternatives
Known for having a larger land area than all of New England combined, Idaho is famous for being home to the Silverwood Theme Park, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, Shoshone Falls, Hells Canyon, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Also home to several top-ranked universities in the West, the following are the undergraduate and graduate social work degree programs accredited by the CSWE in Idaho.
Boise State University
School of Social Work
First founded in 1932, Boise State University is a metropolitan public research institution in the state's capital and population hub that offers its more than 22,000 students the finest undergraduate education in the region. Boasting one of the largest internship programs in the Northwest with 1,300 job placements every year, Forbes magazine has named Boise State as the 98th best college in the West. In addition, the U.S. News and World Report survey currently ranks Boise State as the 65th best college, 21st top public school, and 18th best college for veterans. Maintaining the status as the oldest and largest accredited school devoted to social work in Idaho, the School of Social Work has also been distinguished at the national level for having the 130th best graduate social work program in the United States.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Designed to prepare students for beginning generalist strength-based social work practice, graduate level social work education, and licensure as a social worker, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program strives to develop qualified professionals that are indispensable in contemporary society to help individuals or groups cope with the challenges of daily life. The four-year undergraduate program integrates scholarship and pedagogy with experiential learning in the classroom and the field practicum for a holistic education to the values, knowledge, and skills necessary for professional ethical practice. At this time, the program is only offered on a full-time basis with fall and spring admission.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Focused to reflect the human service needs of Idaho and the northern Rocky Mountain region, the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program aims to prepare graduate students to work with diverse populations through the advanced direct practice of individuals, families, households, groups, and communities. Based on an intensive curriculum that promotes academic excellence through a blend of social work theory and practice in approved community agencies, the program involves 45 credits of academic courses and seminars along with 1,000 clock hours of supervised social work field practicum. In addition to the full-time two-year program for students with bachelor's degrees in other disciplines, there is a one-year advanced standing program for those with a BSW degree from an institution accredited by the CSWE.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact Information
Education Building 7th Floor
1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725
(208) 426-1568
[email protected]
https://sspa.boisestate.edu/socialwork/
Brigham Young University – Idaho
Department of Sociology and Social Work
Guided by an affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to create a wholesome learning environment to strengthen student commitment to their faith, Brigham Young University – Idaho is a comprehensive private four-year institution located in the agriculturally rich Snake River Valley of eastern Idaho in Rexburg. As the largest private university in the state with more than 15,000 students from over 70 countries, BYUI is currently ranked by the U.S. News and World Report as the 13th best college in the West. Concerned with the social causes and consequences of human behavior, the Department of Sociology and Social Work is committed to helping students incorporate Christian service into their careers.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
With the goal of developing student understanding of human diversity, discrimination, oppression, and the mechanisms to advocate for social and economic justice, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is designed to prepare students to apply generalist social work practice in a Christian way with systems of all sizes. Beginning in the junior year after successful completion of all general education requirements, students are admitted into the four-semester BSW program to engage in an intensive curriculum on social work practices, social welfare policies, human behavior, social work ethics, child welfare, mental health, research methods, human diversity, and field practicum. All social work majors are required to complete two 250-hour internships for a total of 500 hours of practice in approved social service placements.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact Information
Thomas E. Ricks Building Room 132
525 South Center Street
Rexburg, ID 83460
(208) 496-9855
[email protected]
http://www.byui.edu/sociology-social-work/social-work
Idaho State University
Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice
Based in the southeastern corner of Idaho in the city of Pocatello just 160 miles north of Salt Lake City in Utah with regional campuses in Twin Falls, Meridian, and Idaho Falls, Idaho State University is a comprehensive public institution of nearly 12,500 students in the northern Rocky Mountain region. Classified as a doctoral research institution with high research activity by the prestigious Carnegie Foundation, Forbes magazine currently ranks ISU as the 101st best college in the West and 243rd top research university in the nation. Known for being the state's leading institution for various health professions, the Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice concentrates on research, theory, and service in the community, with a top priority placed on the academic welfare of its students.
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW)
Intended to prepare undergraduate students to work as professionals in entry-level social work generalist practice, the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program is dedicated to developing professionals who can enhance the quality of people's lives, advance human rights for social justice, and empower individuals, families, groups, and communities. Through the curriculum accredited by the CSWE, students are engaged in topics covering human behavior, social work research, social welfare policies, group dynamics, advanced social work theory, interdisciplinary evaluation teams, elite deviance and crime, child welfare issues, community social change, and grief and loss in the helping profession. All students must complete a minimum of 400 hours of senior field practicum under the supervision of a licensed social worker in a clinical direct service setting.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact Information
Kegel Liberal Arts Building Room 323
921 South 8th Avenue, Stop 8114
Pocatello, ID 83209
(208) 282-3377
[email protected]
http://www.isu.edu/sociology/socialwork/index.shtml
Lewis-Clark State College
Department of Social Work
Situated where the Clearwater and Snake rivers meet between the two cities of Lewiston and Clarkston in the far western region of Idaho just minutes from the Washington border, Lewis-Clark State College is a public state institution offering instruction rooted in the liberal arts and sciences. With over 4,500 highly diverse students, LCSC is currently ranked as the 20th best college and 4th top public school in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. Well-known for providing quality learning experiences to each student with small classes and superb faculty, the Department of Social Work offers the only fully accredited BSW degree program in northern Idaho.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Designed to prepare entry-level generalist practice social workers with the knowledge, values, skills, and ethics necessary to help communities solve social problems through promoting social justice, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program qualifies graduates to sit for the State Social Work License Examination in Idaho. Based on training students in assessment, intake, interviewing, service planning, community outreach, case management, advocacy, and decision making, the program requires that students complete a total of 128 credits, including 32 resident credits and 36 upper division credits. Through a partnership with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the department also offers a Child Welfare Scholars program for additional field experience in a public or private child welfare agency to increase social work skills with youth.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact Information
500 8th Avenue
Lewiston, ID 83501
(208) 792-5272
[email protected]
https://www.lcsc.edu/socialwork/
Northwest Nazarene University
Department of Social Work
Centered in the intellectual traditions of the Church of the Nazarene with a focus on transforming the whole person to become God's redemptive agent in the world, the Northwest Nazarene University is a private coeducational institution located on a 90-acre campus in the urban setting of Nampa. With just 1,500 students enrolled annually in an intimate atmosphere, Northwest Nazarene is currently ranked as the 39th best college in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. Even more importantly, the Department of Social Work is nationally recognized for being home to the 187th best graduate social work program in the entire United States.
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW)
Giving students the opportunity to gain experience outside the classroom by logging more than 500 internship hours under the supervision of skilled and licensed social work professionals, the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program aims to prepare undergraduate students with the strategies necessary to begin removing obstacles to social functioning and making a difference in the lives of others. Fully accredited by the CSWE, the program requires students to complete 63 semester credits covering topics in human behavior, substance abuse prevention, child welfare services, gerontology, social work methods, social welfare policies, abnormal psychology, sociology, ethnic diversity, politics, statistics, and field practicum.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
With the central mission of preparing graduates for advanced micro and macro practice, professional leadership, and lifelong learning through a knowledge-based education with an emphasis on rural populations, the Master of Social Work (MSW) program stresses alleviating injustice, discrimination, and poverty through creating social policies for human rights. Through the program, students can choose to focus their studies in the concentration areas of Community Mental Health Practice, Medical Social Work Practice with Adults, Addiction Studies Social Work Practice, or Management, Program Development, and Community Planning. Students at the foundation level can complete the degree in seven semesters full-time, but those eligible for advanced standing admissions can achieve the degree in just four semesters.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact Information
ESWC Building 1st Floor
623 South University Blvd.
Nampa, ID 83686
(208) 467-8687
[email protected]
http://www.nnu.edu/academics/academic-departments/social-work-degree/