Social Work

Social Work program at the University of Georgia offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for diverse roles in helping individuals, families, groups, and communities. The program emphasizes developing critical skills in assessment, intervention, advocacy, and leadership to tackle complex social issues. Students will engage in both theoretical learning and practical field experiences to understand social policies, human behavior, and ethical practice thoroughly. The curriculum includes courses in human development, social justice, diversity, research methods, and community organizing, ensuring graduates are well-equipped to address a wide range of social concerns.

Throughout the program, students have opportunities to participate in internships and field placements with local agencies, non-profit organizations, and government entities. These experiences are integral to applying classroom knowledge in real-world settings, fostering professional growth and networking. The program also encourages engagement with current social policy debates, research, and innovative practice models to prepare students for leadership roles and lifelong learning in the social work field.

The faculty at the University of Georgia’s School of Social Work are dedicated professionals with extensive field experience and research expertise. They mentor students in developing ethical and culturally competent practice skills. Graduates of the program will be eligible to pursue licensure as social workers and are prepared for careers in healthcare, education, child and family services, mental health, substance abuse, and community development.

The program aims to instill a strong commitment to social justice and equity, encouraging students to advocate for vulnerable populations and contribute positively to societal change. With a focus on critical thinking, ethical considerations, and community engagement, the Social Work program at the University of Georgia provides a solid foundation for a meaningful and impactful career dedicated to improving individual and societal well-being. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), ensuring high standards of quality and professional integrity. Whether students aspire to enter direct practice, research, policy development, or administration, this program equips them with the tools necessary for success and lifelong contribution to the social good.

MSW Concentration Areas

The two concentration areas--clinical practice and community empowerment & program development--are not mutually exclusive. Leadership in the social work profession is a function of both concentrations. Clinical practice specialists frequently get involved in social advocacy and in administering or supervising programs while attending to the individual and family needs of their clients. Likewise, community and program management practitioners often work with individuals, families, and groups in the course of developing programs and organizing or facilitating empowerment activities. Your first year of study, the foundation year, will prepare you in the areas of practice, theory, and professional identity development that will serve as the basis for your concentration area in your second year.

Clinical Practice

Clinical Practice addresses individuals within a relational context that includes family, culture, and community. This concentration area prepares students for advanced assessment and intervention practice. People are viewed holistically in order to identify and enhance the strengths they bring to the process of change. Couples, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and extended family relationships may be the focus of clinical practice. Social work roles include counseling and therapy, resource development and facilitation, education, advocacy, group work, and case management, among others.

Core courses for the Clinical Practice concentration include:

• SOWK 7203: Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals
• SOWK 7232: Advanced Social Work Practice with Families
• SOWK 7222: Assessment & Pschopathology
• SOWK 7206: Evaluation of Clinical Social Work Interventions
• SOWK 7223: Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups

Community Empowerment and Program Development

The Community Empowerment and Program Development concentration area entails a dual focus on empowering community groups and designing and developing programs. Often called macro-practice, the idea is to address social problems by initiating action within the community or through legislation. Social workers with this concentration assist people in communities to identify and document social problems, design services, develop resources, advocate, broker, and negotiate for resources and policies, recruit participants and personnel, and administer the delivery of services.

Core courses for the Community Empowerment and Program Development concentration include:

• SOWK 7153: Community Assessment and Empowerment Practices
• SOWK 7411: Advanced Policy Analysis
• SOWK 7106: Evaluation of Community and Institutional Practice
• SOWK 7123: Program Design and Development

Required Foundation Courses

• SOWK 6011 - Social Welfare Policy and the Social Work Profession
• SOWK 6022 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Theoretical Perspectives
• SOWK 6033 - Direct Practice Methods
• SOWK 6044 - Theory and Practice with Families
• SOWK 6055 - Foundation Practicum and Seminar
• SOWK 6066 - Foundation Research Methods
• SOWK 6074 - Theory and Practice in Organizations
• SOWK 6082 - Cultural Diversity

Required Concentration Courses

Clinical Practice

• SOWK 7203 - Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals
• SOWK 7206 - Evaluation of Clinical Social Work Interventions
• SOWK 7222 - Assessment and Psychopathology
• SOWK 7223 - Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups
• SOWK 7232 - Advanced Social Work Practice with Families
• SOWK 7055 - Concentration Practicum

Community Empowerment & Program Development

• SOWK 7106 - Evaluation of Community and Institutional Practices
• SOWK 7123 - Program Design and Development
• SOWK 7153 - Community Assessment and Empowerment Practices
• SOWK 7055 - Concentration Practicum
• SOWK 7411 - Advanced Policy Analysis

Electives

The School of Social Work offers a variety of electives focused both on clinical and CEPD topics. In addition, advanced courses outside of Social Work sometimes fit students' educational goals. In order to have an out-of-department course counted as an elective, a form (see FORMS below) must be completed and approved by the student's academic advisor, and filed in the MSW Program office. No more than two electives may be taken outside of the SSW. Please note that elective offerings vary from year to year.

• SOWK 7010 - Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy
• SOWK 7127 - Social Work with Women
• SOWK 7152 - Immigration and Social Work
• SOWK 7122 - Grief and Loss: Social Work Perspectives
• SOWK 7132 - Social Work with Abusing and Neglecting Families
• SOWK 7143 - Organizing Community Groups
• SOWK 7233 - Cognitive Behavioral Methods in Social Work Practice
• SOWK 7253 - Crisis Intervention
• SOWK 7263 - Social Work in Health Care Settings
• SOWK 7273 - Clinical Practice with Addictive Disorders
• SOWK 7327 - Topics in Aging
• SOWK 7337 - Topics in Community Practice
• SOWK 7347 - Topics in Family and Child Welfare
• SOWK 7377 - Topics in Program Development
• SOWK 7387 - Topics in Social Problem Intervention
• SOWK 7397 - Topics in Social Justice
• SOWK 6908/7908 - Independent Social Work Research
• SOWK 7353 - Study Abroad in Social Work

• MSW Application Form
• Narrative Statement—directions are found on page 4 of the application form found in the Application for Admissions booklet
• Your resume—including details of your work experience in human service and other settings
• Three letters of recommendation
• Certification of finances forms (international applicants)
• Minimum TOEFL score requirement: overall score of 80 with at least 20 on speaking and writing
• Minimum IELTS score requirement: overall band-width of 6.5, with no single band (score) below 6.0.

Scholarships

• Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students 
• UGA School of Social Work scholarships
• Assistantships

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at the University of Georgia is designed to prepare students for professional practice in the field of social work. The program emphasizes the development of foundational knowledge, skills, and values essential for effective intervention with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students enrolled in the program engage in coursework that covers a broad range of topics, including human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy, research methods, practice methods, and ethical issues in social work. The curriculum is structured to integrate classroom learning with practical experience through field education, allowing students to apply theoretical concepts in real-world settings under supervision.

The program aims to foster critical thinking, cultural competence, and a commitment to social justice. It prepares graduates to work in various settings such as healthcare, mental health clinics, schools, child welfare agencies, and community organizations. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to pursue licensure or certification as required by state regulations for social workers. The University of Georgia also emphasizes ethical practice and professional development, providing students with opportunities for leadership, advocacy, and continued education in the social work field.

The faculty involved in the program are experienced practitioners and researchers dedicated to advancing the profession of social work through both education and community engagement. The university also offers resources and support services to help students succeed academically and professionally. Overall, the social work program at the University of Georgia is committed to producing competent, compassionate, and socially responsible professionals who are prepared to address the complex challenges faced by diverse populations.