Students looking for accredited social work degrees in Rhode Island have several options available at some of the state's best colleges and universities. Through Rhode Island is a small state, its programs in social work allow students to enjoy big opportunities for both classroom experiences and hands-on application of social work practices and procedures at some of the state's largest employers. This combination gives students an edge when they graduate and begin looking for an entry-level job in the field. With graduate programs also available, existing social workers can further their skills and enhance their career without ever leaving the state.
Online Social Work Programs For You
Providence College
Department of Social Work
A private institution, Providence College is located just two miles west of Rhode Island's largest city. This allows students to find a large number of promising, exciting internships as they finish their undergraduate degree in social work. Before they begin an internship, however, students will benefit from the doctoral faculty in the school's Department of Social Work. They'll learn a great deal of theory in the classroom and put it into practice using simulated social work environments in on-campus labs. With a top-ranked academic reputation and a location central to Rhode Island's largest city, this program offers many benefits to students during all four years.
Bachelor of Social Work
Most students at Providence College spend their first year at the school completing core education requirements in the liberal arts and sciences. During the sophomore year, students will begin taking introductory courses in social work, including introductory human behavior classes. The program ramps up during the third and fourth years, when students will take courses in social policy, practice with individuals and groups, social work research, research design, professional ethics, several laboratory credits, and a practicum that fulfills the school's internship requirement. Several student-professional groups and honor societies are open to social work students to help them further their professional goals as they complete the program.
Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE), New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
Providence College
Department of Social Work
1 Cunningham Square
Providence, RI 02918
Phone: (401) 865-1000
Email: [email protected]
Program Website
Rhode Island College
School of Social Work
Since 2011, Rhode Island College has earned national recognition and top rankings for its combination of excellent academics and great affordability. The college is a public institution, supported by public funds. This allows students to pay a very low rate of tuition, giving them a financial edge after they complete the program. Rhode Island College's School of Social Work is also one of the only departments in the state that offers both the BSW and MSW degrees. With excellent connections to the social work community in Rhode Island and top marks for academic quality, students will be ready to impress in the workplace after graduation.
Bachelor of Social Work
The BSW program at Rhode Island College is highly competitive in terms of admission. Students will enroll as "undeclared" for their first two years, while completing the school's liberal arts core curriculum. All students wishing to major in social work must take the Introduction to Social Work course and earn at least a "B." If they take any other social work courses, they must maintain a 2.67 GPA in those classes. Upon application and admission, social work majors will take classes focusing on professional ethics, social policy, political science and social work, a practicum internship experience, and several courses in outreach, research, and law.
Master of Social Work
The focus of the school's MSW program is on advancing in a lager practice or transitioning to private practice within the social work profession. For this reason, classes focus a great deal on social work management, client retention, professional ethics and responsibilities, ongoing professional development, and a business-oriented view of the social work profession and the modern social work practice. Students will learn how to manage other social workers, achieve practice objectives, pursue and take in new clients, and much more during their time in the program.
Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE), New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
Rhode Island College
School of Social Work
600 Mount Pleasant Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: (401) 456-8000
Email: [email protected]
Program Website
Salve Regina University
Department of Social Work
Ranked highly for its academic quality at all levels, Salve Regina enjoys one of the highest freshman retention rates of any university in the state of Rhode Island. The university's Department of Social Work offers an undergraduate degree in the field, and has maintained excellent connections within Newport and the rest of the state for students pursuing an internship during their final two years of the program. In fact, Salve Regina University is one of the few schools in the state that requires a minimum of two internships, with the capacity for most students to pursue as many as four internships during their time in the program. Salve Regina offers students an excellent education, exciting internship possibilities, and practical, hands-on experiences that place its program ahead of many competing options.
B.S. in Social Work
Salve Regina University's major in social work requires 18 courses in the subject area, or a total of 57 credits. The required courses are broad, designed to give students an overview of both the profession itself as well as their role in it. All students begin with an introductory social work courses, followed by a course that teaches the history of the profession. Several classes focus on the method of practice within social work, while upper-level classes include research methods, investigative methods, generalist practice, integrative social work methods, and a practicum that will see students work in an internship off-campus. At the conclusion of the program, students will complete at least two of these internships, and they'll have the context necessary to understand how classroom theory and professional practice come together in the workplace.
Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE), New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Contact
Salve Regina University
Department of Social Work
100 Ochre Point Avenue
Newport, RI 02840
Phone: (401) 847-6650
Program Website
Four Great Programs for Aspiring Social Workers in Rhode Island
The key to a great social work education is to find the right school, pursue the best internship, and earn an undergraduate or graduate degree that can make a real difference when working with clients. Each of Rhode Island's programs has a different benefit that can help social workers learn more about the profession and advance into new roles within it. With one of the many social work degrees in Rhode Island, graduates will be ready to seek entry-level employment in the state's largest social work agencies and they'll be equipped with the skills they need to advance into senior roles and management positions over time.