Known as the "Show Me State," Missouri is a fascinating Midwestern state that's considered the "Gateway to the West" and social work degrees in Missouri are very respected.
Missouri is full of friendly people and has some surprising features for an unassuming American state. For example, there are more fountains in Kansas City than any other city in the world except for Rome. The state was named after an Indian tribe of the same name whose name meant, "town of the large canoes." The state also places much importance on education with Saint Louis University receiving the honor of oldest university west of the Mississippi. The state features several programs for students interested in social work and is a terrific state in which to attend college. Below you will find the first half our list (A-P) of accredited social work degree programs in the state of Missouri.
Online Social Work Programs For You
Avila University
College of Liberal Arts & Social Studies
Avila University first opened its doors in 1916 and today offers an education to almost 2,000 students. The university is a private institution sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Several bachelor's and master's degrees are available at the university and students may take part in a variety of sports programs. The original founding of the school occurred right next to an existing school campus and for the first few years the college offered two-year degrees for women only. By the end of the 1930s, one of the leaders of the local Catholic diocese decided to turn the college into a 4-year university.
Bachelor of Social Work
Avila suggests that social work is one of the hottest degree programs on college campuses today and says that the Department of Labor Statistics expects healthy growth in the number of positions available in the coming years. Students of social work at Avila have the opportunity to become a licensed social worker at the conclusion of study or may choose to enroll in a program of graduate study. Most students can complete a master's degree in social work with just one year of further study after getting a Bachelor of Social Work from Avila. The program in social work has been accredited by the CSWE every year since 1974 and features an important program where students complete 500 hours in a social work environment under the tutelage and supervision of an experienced social worker. The school also offers students the opportunity to get a scholarship of $10,000 if they graduate from a Catholic high school and decide to enroll in Avila.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Avila University
11901 Wornall Road
Kansas City, MO 64145
Phone: 816.501.3643
[email protected]
Program Website
Evangel University
Department of Behavioral Sciences
As a private, Christian university, Evangel University is affiliated with the Assemblies of God Christian Church and has offered degrees since 1955. The university sits on a campus that once housed a hospital, but was transformed into a university in the 1950s. The university offers a large number of different degrees for students and has a student population of around 2,500. The school boasts students from every state in the country as well as a variety of countries around the world. Students have access to a variety of clubs and organizations on campus and most students choose to live in one of the six different residence halls.
Bachelor of Social Work
Evangel University boasts that its program is "much more" than a fully accredited degree and provides an immersive schedule of practical experience with social work. Students take part in a variety of classroom settings like seminars and practicums as well as attend leadership trips and take part in community outreach projects. The program's faculty work hard to get to know students and make sure that each degree candidate receives the best experience possible in college. The main purpose of the program in social work is to ensure students graduate with the knowledge required to work in a professional environment as well as gain the skills needed to perform well in a master's program. Through strong mentorship, the college expects its students to become involved in a variety of projects and events during each year of the degree process to become well-rounded and responsible members of the community upon graduation.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Evangel University
1111 N. Glenstone
Springfield, MO
Phone: 417.865.2815
[email protected]
Program Website
Fontbonne University
Department of Social Work
Offering education to around 3,000 students, Fontbonne University was established in 1923 as a women's only college but is today a co-ed liberal arts Catholic university. The college offers a variety of undergraduate and master's degree opportunities and was named after Mother St. John Fontbonne, who was a well-known sister who operated with her fellow sisters during the French Revolution. The university's sports team is known as the Griffins and a program of men's lacrosse was recently added to the school's allotment of sports teams. The university also plans to add a women's field hockey team as a general expansion of athletic opportunities for students.
Bachelor of Social Work
Fontbonne's faculty says that the social work degree at the university is meant to prepare students to practice social work in their local communities. Students are encouraged to come to the program and develop skills that will allow them to exist as a positive source for change. Students are offered study in traditional classroom format as well as several hours required in a real world environment during fieldwork. The university suggests that students have many avenues to explore after graduation including work in case management, as a counselor, or as an advocate for disenfranchised individuals. At the completion of the degree program, students may take the Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker test to become a licensed social worker or continue on with education in a master's degree program. The college works to ensure that students have a strong connection to the community during school and appreciate the impact that their education will have on the world at large.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
6800 Wydown Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63105
Phone: 314.889.1400
[email protected]
Program Website
Lincoln University
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Established in 1866 as the Lincoln Institute, the university traces its roots to founding by a pair of regiments in the United States Army. The purpose of the university was to provide education to African American students in the style of an industrial school. The university expanded in the century after its founding to become a respected school with a variety of bachelor and master's degree programs. Today, the university accepts applicants of any race and provides an education to a student body of over 3,100 students. The university was recently honored by U.S. News and World Report as a campus of impressive ethnic and economic diversity.
B.S. in Social Work
The program in social work at Lincoln University requires at least 42 credits of core classes along with several courses within the social work curriculum. The university strives to provide a helpful and dedicated faculty for students who help degree candidates develop the necessary skills and gain the important information required for work outside the university. Most of the faculty in the department have advanced or terminal degrees in their fields, so students have access to an incredibly valuable set of instructors. Additionally, the program features important classes on various scientific methods and scholarly research. The program helps students to learn how to solve social programs within the confines of ethical considerations and ensures students are able to communicate smartly and efficiently in the real world. Social work is very much about human interaction, which is a natural part of being human, but the program at Lincoln takes this idea and applies it to the world of education.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE) (candidate for accreditation)
- The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
110 Martin Luther King Hall
812. E. Dunklin Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: 573.681.5231
[email protected]
Program Website
Lindenwood University
School of Human Services
As a private, coeducational liberal arts university in St. Charles, Missouri, the college offers students a long history that began almost two centuries ago in 1827. The university boasts of quick growth in the past few decades and has around 14,000 students attending its campus. Most of the students who attend Lindenwood come from Missouri; however, the university also counts students from several states as well as countries around the world. Interestingly, the student body once numbered just 800 in the late 1980s, but the school made major changes to ensure its survival and eventually came back from its small size to a college of several thousand students.
Bachelor of Social Work
An education in social work at Lindenwood is designed to help students become effective leaders in social work practice outside the school after graduation. Students may find a successful future as part of any number of community organizations and companies that help individuals and families. Before graduation from the program, students must demonstrate mastery and competence on a number of standard subjects. Important areas where students must excel include understanding various situations from the client's point of view, the ability to devise solutions for common client problems, and the ability to help clients figure out what type of problem they have. In addition, students learn how to offer effective solutions for common problems and help clients find valuable resources in the community to help with issues. As a fully accredited program, Lindenwood's bachelor degree program offers a demanding curriculum in the form of small classes and a valuable mentoring system, as well as practical experience between classes.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
Lindenwood University
209 S. Kingshighway
St. Charles, MO 63301
Phone: 636.949.4783
[email protected]
Program Website
Missouri State University
School of Social Work
Established over a century ago in 1905, Missouri State University has a student body of over 21,000 and counts enrollees from all fifty states, as well as 83 different countries. The university started its life as a teacher's college but was transformed into its modern status after World War II. By the time the 1980s rolled around, MSU was the second-largest university in the state. The main campus has more than 40 buildings and offers students a beautiful campus set on about 225 acres of land. The campus has several beautiful, historic buildings and has several buildings built in the 1920s that are still in use today.
Bachelor of Social Work
As a profession very much in demand in today's environment, a social work bachelor's degree from MSU offers students the skills they need to work successfully in a variety of careers. Students who are interested in improving the health and welfare of families will learn how to become an effective leader within companies and the organizations that deal in social work. Students will also learn to become influential leaders and members of their communities who are able to rely upon knowledge and ethics to be a valuable part of their neighborhood. Most of the faculty serving students at Missouri State University are licensed and have experience working in the real world. Faculty works to provide students with a strong classroom experience alongside valuable fieldwork experiences. The work done in the field during the degree program also offers students the opportunity to network with future employers, associates, and peers.
Master of Social Work
The program at Missouri State University provides a focus for students on family health and works to prepare students for work in all facets of society. Students are well prepared to work with local social work organizations as well as companies and societies in any area that requires the help and knowledge of a social worker. The program features a small student-to-faculty ratio, which helps students receive focused support during classroom study. The roles students may enter after graduation include those in administrative positions, social work practice, and management of social work programs in the community. Students may take classes at the Springfield or Joplin campus, and each location features an identical program so students can choose the location that's most convenient. Additionally, students may participate in a variety of online classes, which helps make the program convenient for anyone who is already in the workforce and must maintain employment during college study.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
School of Social Work
901 S. National Ave.
Springfield, MO 65897
Phone: 417.836.6953
[email protected]
Program Website
Missouri Western State University
Department of Criminal Justice, Legal Studies & Social Work
Initially founded as a two-year college named St. Joseph Junior College, Missouri Western State University has grown into a college of over 6,000 students on a beautiful campus on more than 744 acres in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The college became a four-year university in the 1960s due in great part to a local politician who promised that he would make the school into a bachelor's degree-granting university if he was elected. The politician ended up winning and after the school was indeed expanded into a university, a library was eventually built and named after him.
Bachelor of Social Work
The Western Missouri program in social work prepares students for entry-level work as social workers. The program's accreditation with CSWE ensures high academic standards, and the college suggests that students can work in several different areas helping people in their communities. Social workers commonly work for companies like drug treatment centers, hospices, mental health facilities, and victim services organizations. Students may also choose to open their own private practice upon graduation as a licensed social worker. The program at Missouri Western helps students to hone several skills valuable to social work like advocacy, political action, counseling, activism, and case management. Students must establish competency in a variety of benchmarks before graduation such as the ability to apply ethical principles, showcase critical thinking skills, and the understanding of human behavior. These benchmarks are designed to ensure the program abides by the educational standards set forth by the Council on Social Work Education.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
4525 Downs Drive
Wilson Hall Room 204
Saint Joseph, MO 64507
Phone: 816.271.4293
[email protected]
Program Website
Park University
Department of Social Work
With a main campus located in Parkville, Missouri, Park University has a total of 40 different small campus locations in over 20 states around the country. Established in 1875, the school offers several opportunities for online study and boasts overall enrollment of over 25,000 students. The university was once a small, religiously-affiliated college, but expanded significantly in the century since its founding. The university caters to students from the United States military and was also ranked very highly on a list of schools offering online education. The university also garnered positive attention from its efforts at diversity and was ranked in the top 100 colleges by Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine.
Bachelor of Social Work
The bachelor's degree program at Park University prepares students to enter the profession at the starting level in many different social service settings and organizations. Students are offered a general education that will help provide expertise in many different settings with any number of different types of clients. Students must complete 122 credit hours and will learn about concepts like eco-systems theory and strengths perspective. These concepts provide the framework necessary to create a comprehensive and valuable curriculum. The program at Park University was re-accredited by CSWE in 2010 and was one of the first such programs reconfirmed under the new rules required for programs offering bachelor's degrees in social work. These updated guidelines ensure that students are able to build the skills needed for interpersonal relationships in the workplace, as well as the ability to assess individuals, patients, or clients so as to ensure efficient and effective treatment.
Master of Social Work
As with all accredited graduate programs, Park University ensures that each graduate is able to demonstrate the ten core competencies required of graduates including ethical practice, appreciation of diversity, and the ability to apply critical thinking skills. Students who have completed a Bachelor of Social Work will benefit from further instruction and the career advancement an advanced degree will offer. Although graduates with a bachelor's degree are fully equipped to enter the workforce, additional study and education is a great benefit in today's social work environment. The faculty of Park University works diligently to ensure that students learn the skills necessary to make a positive impact on society and to shape a better world. Students are taught the value of research and how that knowledge may be used in efforts for helping society and collaborating with others to find solutions to problems now and in the future.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
8700 NW River Park Drive
Parkville, MO 64152
Phone: 816.584.6518
[email protected]
Program Website
Choosing to study social work in school is a terrific decision for anyone interested in improving society and helping individuals who aren't able to help themselves. Today's society has many needy individuals, and it's essential for those in need to have a resource for mental assistance or get help navigating the difficulties of today's urban society. Social work degrees in Missouri come from several celebrated and respected universities, and students will find their opportunities for growth and advancement much improved after receiving a bachelor's or master's degree in social work.