The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has accredited Colorado Mesa University's Bachelor of Social Work program since February 2017. Our program is committed to proving students with exceptional knowledge and skill to enter into the practice of social work as professionals. Our students will complete 120 academic credit hours and 450 practicum hours to ensure a strong social work foundation and generalist perspective.
Social Work is a profession dedicated to social and economic justice. Social workers focus primarily on the needs and empowerment of vulnerable, oppressed, at-risk populations, and those living in poverty.
Make a career out of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Academic Curriculum
Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW)
Our BSW Student Handbook is available here.
Students must apply to be accepted into the Bachelor's program.
Minor in Social Work
The 15 credit-hour minor in social work can be combined with a major in any field. This minor is for students who want to work in the human services field immediately after graduation. A minor in social work also helps students aiming to enter a master's program in social work (MSW). For more information about the minor, see the program sheet.
Field Education
The 2022 Educational Policy 3.3 states that field education is the signature pedagogy for social work. The intent of field education is to integrate the theoretical and conceptual contribution of the classroom with the practical world of the practice setting. BSW students will work side by side with a practitioner in the community for 450 hours during the fall/spring semester of their senior year. This is to develop strong social work skills through practice, and to promote professionalism.
Our BSW Field Practicum Manual is available here. Students ready to start their practicums should click below.
FIELD EDUCATION INFORMATION AND REQUIRED FORMS
Social Work Club
All CMU Students can participate in the Social Work Club! Are you are interested in "rolling up your sleeves" and putting social work into "action”? Social Workers' six core values include: Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of the Individual, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity, and Competence. The primary mission of the social work club is to promote these core values and provide action in our community.
This club has been involved with: creating Easter baskets for children in foster care, building gardens with homeless teens, providing food with the homeless shelters, working with vulnerable populations to create safe spaces, and fundraising for local charities. The Social Work Club also works with Masters Programs to bring information to campus about MSW programs and future education and career opportunities.
If you are interested or would like more information, check out the Social Work Club Facebook page or email us!
2023-2024 Social Work Club officers:
President: Kristi Schmidt
Vice President: Ashling Hallford
CAB Representative: Tatiana Thumim
Phi Alpha Honor Society of Social Work
The Social Work program is home to a chapter of Phi Alpha Honor Society of Social Work. The purpose of Phi Alpha Honor Society is to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideas. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work. For more information, check out their Facebook page.
Phi Alpha Rho Sigma Tau 2023-2024 officers:
President: Aurora O'Conner
Vice President: Abbey LaLone
Secretary: Dannie Knutt
CAB Representative: Derek Hennett
Career Opportunities
The purpose of Phi Alpha Honor Society is to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideas. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.
Professional social workers are found in every facet of community life-in schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centers, elected office, private practices, prisons, military, corporations, and in numerous public and private agencies that serve individuals and families in need. They often specialize in one or more of the following practice areas:
- Mental health (mental health centers and hospitals)
- Child welfare (abuse and neglect; adoption, foster care)
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Medical Social Work (hospitals and health clinics)
- Programs for individuals with disabilities
- School Social Work (public schools K-12)
- Geriatric facilities (nursing homes, home health, Alzheimer's units)
- Military & Veterans services (United States & International)
- Hospice & Palliative Care
- International Social Work
- Criminal Justice (guardian ad litem, parole or probation officers)
- Homeless shelters
- Private practice (Master's level, licensed)
- Domestic violence programs
-National Association of Social Workers, 2008
For more information on careers in social work, click here.
* The Social Work program at CMU does not grant course credit for life experience or previous work experience
CMU Social Work Program Mission
To educate students as generalist social work practitioners who embrace the mission and core values of the social work profession, including issues of diversity, service, the dignity and worth of all people, and social and economic justice.
CMU Social Work Goals
- To educate students as generalist social work practitioners; with knowledge and understanding of the ecological perspective, the strengths perspective, the empowerment approach, and solid problem solving and case management skills.
- To assist students in viewing complex human and social issues from a multi-dimensional, multi-level approach involving micro-, mezzo-, and macro-level interventions.
- To provide opportunities for the application of the social work mission and core values of service, the dignity and worth of all people, the importance of human relationships, integrity, competency, and social and economic justice.
- To maintain high professional standards and knowledge of the NASW Code of Ethics.
- To help students strengthen the relationship between theory and practice by engaging them in various service-learning projects, leadership development, strong field education placements, and involvement in the Social Work Club and Phi Alpha, Social Work National Honor Society
CMU Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate proficiency in utilizing the social work professions 9 core competencies and 31 practice behaviors through a senior-year practicum in a social service agency in our community (specialized knowledge). (CSWE Core Competencies 1-9)
- Demonstrate the ability to use practice experience to inform scientific inquiry and use research evidence to inform practice (quantitative fluency). (CSWE Core Competency 4)
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication in working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and colleagues through professional documentation and oral presentations (communication fluency). (CSWE Core Competency 6-9)
- Demonstrate critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments through distinguishing, appraising, and integrating multiple sources of knowledge; and through analyzing models of assessment, prevention, intervention, and evaluation (critical thinking). (CSWE Core Competencies 1-4)
Program Assessment Outcomes
Our social work program strives to provide diligent, ethical, and professional students.
Please see our Assessment Outcomes for more specific information on our student productivity.
2023 Assessment Outcome Report
2022 Assessment Outcome Report
2021 Assessment Outcome Report
2020 Assessment Outcome Report
2018 Assessment Outcome Report
2017 Assessment Outcome Report
2016 Assessment Outcome Report