Social Work
About the Social Work Program
With a BSW from Barton College, graduates will be prepared for entry-level practice in a variety of social work settings, as well as the pursuit of an MSW or other graduate degree. Our comprehensive approach provides you with a rigorous professional foundation and in-depth exploration of each area of social work—values and ethics, diversity, social justice, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare and policy, social work practice, research, and field education.
As part of your professional education, you’ll engage in activities outside the classroom and a 400-hour field placement in the spring semester of your senior year.
In addition, Barton’s Social Work program is offered through two tracks:
- Traditional Program – Day classes for traditionally enrolled students
- Professional Studies Program – Online option for working adult students, with some classes delivered synchronously and others asynchronously
Why Study Social Work at Barton?
- Fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- Multiple entry points per year: Spring, Summer, and Fall
- Faculty-to-student ratio of 1:11
- A focus on diversity and social and economic advocacy
- Evening, hybrid, and online options for working adult students
Mission Statement
The mission of the Barton College Social Work Program is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to excel in culturally competent, evidence-based practice with clients from various backgrounds, fostering inclusivity, cultural humility and anti-racism. We instill a commitment to advocacy, empowering students to address systemic injustices and promote equity in all aspects of society through policy change. We are committed to fostering their abilities to serve clients across practice areas at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels, advocate for vulnerable populations, engage in ethical practice, and contribute positively to the well-being of individuals and communities. Our graduates are generalist social workers prepared to enter practice or graduate education.
Program Goals
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Instill a commitment to the NASW Code of Ethics and professional conduct, ensuring students understand and adhere to ethical standards in their practice.
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Promote awareness, understanding, and respect for diverse populations, cultures, and social identities, and prepare students to advocate for policies and programs that are inclusive, equitable and anti-racist.
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Equip students with foundational skills in assessment, intervention, case management, and evaluation, emphasizing evidence-based practice and client-centered approaches.
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Cultivate partnerships with community organizations, agencies, and stakeholders to facilitate experiential learning opportunities and promote community-based interventions.
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Encourage reflection and self-awareness among students to recognize personal biases, strengths, areas for growth, routine habits of personal and professional self-care, and support lifelong learning.
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Empower students to become effective advocates for social change and leaders within the social work profession, equipped to address systemic injustices and promote the well-being of individuals and communities.
Requirements
Students may declare Social Work as their major at any time. Matriculation into the Social Work Program must occur prior to taking the Practice Sequence: SWK 328, SWK 428, and SWK 429. Criteria for matriculation into the program include:
- GPA of 2.5 or greater
- Completion of 6 hours of 200-level (or higher) Social Work courses with C- or better
- Two letters of recommendation (one must be from a Social Work professor)
- Completion of personal essay
- Submission of resume
- Submission of writing sample (if requested by program director)
- Interview with student (if requested by program director)
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
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Course Information
Traditional and Professional Students Follow the Same Curriculum
You’ll begin the social work curriculum in your first semester. Class sizes are small, which allows you to get to know your classmates and professors, resulting in a beneficial group dynamic and a positive learning environment.
Coursework covers social welfare and policy, direct practice, human behavior, research, diversity, and senior seminar. You have a wide choice of electives, such as:
- Child Welfare
- Health and Wellness
- Healthcare for the Aging
- Juvenile Justice
- And many more!
Field Placements
Your field placement in your senior year allows you to gain in-depth experience in a social service agency. Some of the agencies where students have been placed are:
- Departments of Social Services
- North Carolina Public Schools
- Domestic Violence Shelters
- North Carolina Department of Corrections
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Hospice
- North Carolina Public Health Department
- Hospital settings
- Services for seniors
- Children’s programs
Child Welfare Education Collaborative
The North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative (NC-CWEC) is a unique partnership between the North Carolina Division of Social Services and 21 universities and colleges. The social work programs in each of these institutions offer curricula that not only meet North Carolina’s pre-service competency requirements but include specialized, in-depth training in child welfare best practices and theory. When a participating student receives his or her B.S.W. or M.S.W., the student also receives his or her North Carolina Child Welfare Pre-Service Training Certificate. The NC-CWEC focuses on strengthening child welfare services in North Carolina by increasing the number and diversity of highly trained and committed B.S.W. and M.S.W. graduates in county social services departments. To learn more about the Child Welfare Education Collaborative, please visit their official website.
Career Opportunities
A bachelor of social work degree from Barton gives you everything you need to work as a generalist practitioner in a variety of settings, including hospitals, domestic violence programs, criminal justice agencies, and mental health centers.
You may also apply for advanced standing in graduate programs that offer a master’s degree in social work. Students have gone on for advanced degrees at:
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- University of Maryland
- East Carolina University
- University of South Carolina
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- North Carolina A&T State University
Clubs and Organizations
The Social Work Club provides social work majors and others on campus with the opportunity to explore and address social problems on campus and in the community at large.
Phi Alpha, the honor society for social work majors, recognizes those students who demonstrate academic excellence.
Scholarships
Complete your FAFSA at https://www.fafsa.ed.gov and discuss your scholarship and aid options with our Office of Financial Aid at financialaid@barton.edu.
The Roy Branch and Alma Abernathy Barham Scholarship is awarded annually to an upper-class social work major.
The Eunice Lewis Colclough Scholarship is awarded annually to one or more Barton College students who plan to major in Social Work or Education and are from North Carolina.
The above scholarships are for students in the traditional undergraduate program. Students in the Professional Studies cohort should discuss their aid options with the Office of Financial Aid.