Social Work

Major Minor College of Arts & Sciences

Your calling

Is helping people your calling? If you are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of individuals and to making your community a better place, then you belong in a University of St. Francis Social Work program.

USF’s Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs are designed for those who wish to make a career out of helping people improve their lives and reach their highest potential. Our programs help students develop skills that will give them the competency they need to be marketable and to make a difference in today’s multicultural world.

Many students report one of the most interesting aspects of our program is interacting and learning from a diverse student body and faculty.

Social Work students are trained in assessment, interviewing, intake/referral, service planning, case management, crisis intervention, service provision, problem solving, program evaluation, community outreach, advocacy, research and networking.

Social work knowledge and practice skills are taught in the classroom and through real-world experiences. As a student in the Social Work program, you might be required to keep a journal of your course of study at USF. These journals teach students the skills needed for documentation as well as encourage self-reflection and self-awareness.

In addition, social workers learn strong interviewing skills that allow them to communicate with a client, understanding their needs and personal strengths and the resources they bring to address current issues. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to develop your skills through videotaped sessions of mock scenarios drawn from real life social work situations and through observations and internships.

The BSW Program prepares students to become generalist social workers who commit to improve socio-economic justice and the quality of well-being of at-risk individuals, families, groups and communities through education, service and leadership. BSW Program graduates are prepared to enhance the quality of life of those they serve through alleviating poverty, oppression and discrimination and improving social, economic and political justice in the multicultural communities in which we live.

USF courses such as Social Policy, Social Work Research, Social Work Practice and Human Behavior and the Social Environment tackle current issues in today’s social work field.

A bachelor’s degree is usually the minimum requirement for entry-level social work jobs.

Real-world experience

The best way to get a feel for the day-to-day life of a professional social worker is through experience. With your own eyes, you can experience social work in action through observations and internships.

USF partners with more than 50 social service organizations, including:

  • Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
  • Aunt Martha’s Youth Center
  • Family Shelter Service
  • Cook County Juvenile Court
  • Spanish Center
  • Catholic Charities
  • Hospitals
  • Health care programs
  • Schools

Don’t forget – internships provide prime opportunities for career networking.

USF students annually attend Joliet ‘s “Take Back the Night” community event to increase awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence and consequences for victims. Students also travel to Springfield each year for Social Work Advocacy Day where they meet social work students around the state, meet with legislators and seek social service reforms through the legislative process.

Ten students had the once-in-a-life-time opportunity to attend the 25th Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations, March 31, 2008 in New York City, celebrating social workers and their empowerment of individuals and community, as well as their life-saving work around the world. Students got a chance to learn more about the U.N. and the critical role social workers play in addressing issues of social and economic justice throughout the international community.

On any given day, you will find social workers in a variety of settings working to “help people help themselves.” Take a moment to learn more about social work by visiting
http://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/events/anyGivenDay1007/default.asp

Accolades

The University of St. Francis is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. This accreditation means that USF is committed to excellence in education and student success. You can learn more about the social work profession by visiting Council on Social Work Education website

Scholarships

The Social Work program was founded in 1974 by Dr. James McCabe and Dr. Christine Ponquinette, who shepherded it to accreditation by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). Both were well-respected in the Social Work field. The scholarships were created to honor these two beloved faculty members, after their untimely deaths in the early 1990s. Their memories live on through the numerous students who have received Christine Poole Ponquinette and James P. McCabe scholarships.

Christine Poole Ponquinette Scholarship – Awarded annually to a junior or senior majoring in social work or psychology based upon academic excellence, financial need and ability to present oneself in an interview with the Ponquinette and McCabe Scholarship Committee. An application must be submitted.
2008 Ponquinette Scholarship Description, Instructions, and Application

Dr. James P. McCabe Scholarship - Awarded annually to a junior or senior pursuing a degree in Social Work based upon demonstrated financial need and ability to present oneself in an interview with the Ponquinette and McCabe Scholarship Committee. An application must be submitted.
2008 McCabe Scholarship Description, Instructions, and Application

Both scholarships are supported by an annual fundraiser by the Social Work Department.