Students seeking social work degrees in Montana will find plenty of room for personal growth. With nearly 150,000 square miles between its borders, Montana is the fourth largest state in the country. Yet, it is only the 44th most populous state, with just over one million people living there. Montana includes seven Native American reservations and 77 named mountain ranges. Its economy is largely agricultural, although mining, healthcare, and service industries are also important. Tourism is rapidly becoming a major economic factor, with Yellowstone National Park, Little Bighorn National Monument, and Glacier National Park drawing millions of tourists to the state each year.
The following are the 3 accredited social work degree programs in the state of Montana.
Online Social Work Programs For You
Salish Kootenai College
Social Work Department
The first tribal college in the Northwest to be accredited, Salish Kootenai College is situated in Pablo, Montana, on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Offering its students five vocational programs, 18 associates degrees and 14 bachelor's degrees, the school encourages diversity while working to provide educational opportunities for all Native Americans and perpetuate tribal culture. SKC's Social Work Department offers two degree program for students interested in launching a career in social work. Students have the option of studying for two years to earn the Associate of Arts in Chemical Dependency Counseling or completing a four-year program to earn a Bachelor of Social Work.
Bachelor of Social Work
The Bachelor of Social Work program begins with a strong liberal arts education that highlights critical thinking, cultural understanding, citizenship and communication. Other courses provide a sound understanding of social work practice and professional ethics. Supervised field experience plays a vital role in student development. The curriculum is designed to teach students how to apply ethical principle in practice, use critical thinking in professional judgments, participate in policy practice to deliver generalist social work services effectively and better social and economic security. Students will learn to engage, assess, evaluate, and intervene with families, groups and communities. To earn a Bachelor of Social Work degree, students must complete 180 credits, including 88 credits in liberal arts and 92 credits in social work classes. Students earning their bachelor's degree will be prepared for entry level positions in social work. They will also have the option of continuing their education on the graduate level.
Accreditations
• The Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
Contact
PO Box 70
Pablo, MT 59855
Phone: 406-275-4800
Program Website
University of Montana
School of Social Work
The University of Montana draws students, faculty and researchers from around the world to scenic western Montana. Some 15,000 student attend classes on the Missoula, Montana campus, which provides education in professional training and the trades, as well as opportunities for liberal arts, graduate and postdoctoral studies. The goal of UM's School of Social Work is to train aspiring social workers to be innovative, knowledgeable, collaborative, ethical, and culturally competent. Offering both bachelor's and master's degree programs, the school readies students to be community leaders and lifelong learners who are prepared to be effective generalist social workers capable of addressing social issues and pushing for social justice.
Bachelor of Social Work
A generalist model, UM's Bachelor of Social Work requires students to view human development and social issues from diverse perspectives. To that end, students receive a liberal arts education and are taught to synthesize the knowledge they acquire from a wide assortment of theoretical and practical topics. Minors are offered in gerontology, international development studies and human and family development. A program preparing students to be credentialed in addiction counseling is available as well. The ultimate goal is to endow students with the skills and information they need to translate their compassion for society into ethical, effective social work. To receive a Bachelor of Social Work degree, students must complete 120 credits, with a minimum of 40 of those credits in social work courses and 25 credits in extra-departmental courses that provide information beneficial to social workers. In order to graduate from UM, students must earn at least 39 credits at or above the 300 level at the school. After earning their degree, students will be prepared for entry level positions in social work or to continue their studies at the graduate level.
Master of Social Work
UM's Master of Social Work program uses an integrated-practice approach to prepare students to tackle the inseparable challenges of social issues and personal struggles. To prepare students to be leaders in their field, the program teaches critical thinking, social work values and methods for integrating advocacy, research and policy analysis into practice. It develops an understanding of cultural, historical and political contexts and prepares students to interact with individuals as families as well as the larger community. Students also receive the opportunity to participate in special programs in child welfare training and licensed addiction counseling. To earn a Master of Social Work degree, students must complete 60 credits, with 51 of those credits in required courses and the remaining nine credits in electives. They must also complete their practicum. Full-time students finish the program in two years. Part-time students typically take three years. After receiving their degree, students will be ready to assume a variety of positions in the field of social work.
Accreditations
• The Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
Contact
Jeannette Rankin Hall 004
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT 59812-4680
Phone: 406-243-5543
[email protected]
Program Website
Montana is a massive state that offers a wide array of educational opportunities. If you are intrigued by the idea of pursuing a career in the field of social work, make sure that Salish Kootenai College and the University of Montana are on your list of prospective schools. With their accredited degree programs, both schools offer excellent opportunities to earn social work degrees in Montana.