School of Social Work

Welcome to the Salem State University School of Social Work! Salem State social work students develop the knowledge, values and skills required for excellence as social work practitioners. 

Is Social Work Right for You?

Social workers work in an incredible variety of settings to help improve outcomes for individual clients and contribute to meaningful change in systems at the organization, local, regional and national levels.

A great social work student is curious about the world around them and the challenges facing people. They understand that the world is complex and that behaviors are grounded in a myriad of contexts that create opportunities for growth.
Career opportunities in social work are expected to grow 7% by 2032. A social work degree prepared you to enter a workforce in high demand.

Flexible Opportunities for Transfer Students and Adult Learners

  • Our students and faculty bring real world experiences into the classroom, enriching everyone’s learning opportunities.
  • All continuing education social work students are advised by a full-time social work faculty member.
  • Day and evening courses are available every semester
  • CE classes are taught by a combination of full and part-time faculty
  • 34 credits may be accepted through the MassTransfer program

Want to change the world? We got you!

  • Want to help individuals, families, groups create change in their own lives? We got you!
  • Want to help communities create change for their members either in mutual support, organization, or how the community operates? We got you!
  • Want to change/make the rules about how our social policies work? We got you!
Voices from the School of Social Work
  • Martine Geary-Souza stands in front of a canal wearing sunglasses.

    Martine Geary-Souza

    “I’m heading up a research project with Boston Children’s Hospital...The goal is to actually create a hands-on, discussion-based training program for medical professionals to implement trauma-informed care.”

    Read Martine's story
  • Ben Chase smiles wearing glasses.

    Ben Chase

    "I have learned a lot more about social work and really felt connected to it and found a shared passion between myself and the field.”

    Read Ben's story
  • Keyla Romero-Velasquez

    Keyla Romero-Velasquez '22

    "That's what I love about social work: the vulnerability that we all share with each other and how close we feel."

    Read Keyla's story
  • Stephanie Rodriguez

    Stephanie Rodriguez '22

    "I want to make a difference. I want to build trust in relationships. And I want to be able to say that I helped someone.” 

    Read Stephanie's story

Degree Programs

Undergraduate Degrees and Concentrations

  • Social Work

    BSW
    Undergraduate

    The bachelor of social work (BSW) program at Salem State prepares you to be a catalyst for social change, founded in the values of social justice, inclusion, diversity, and cultural humility. You’ll receive a thorough background in the theories of social work, research skills, and learn how social policies impact individuals, families, organizations, and communities. A senior year internship will provide an opportunity to learn to apply these skills in the field, preparing you for a career in social work.

    Learn more about the BSW in Social Work.

    Apply now
    Program Requirements

Minors

  • Social Work

    Minor
    Undergraduate

    Students minoring in social work are not eligible for state licensing upon graduation but may find this preparation helpful in selecting a career direction or in considering graduate school in social work.

    All students may enroll in certain courses offered to non-majors on a space available basis. Non-majors who wish advising regarding clustering courses to reach individual learning goals should consult with the BSW program coordinator.

    Program Requirements

Graduate Degrees

What You Will Learn in the Social Work Program

Through your classwork and your experience in the field, you’ll learn:

  • to see the world through a social work lens – meeting people where they are at and facilitating their growth and development towards their own definition of a life well lived.
  • evidence-based interventions focused on facilitating change, growth and development for all clients/client systems
  • deeper understanding of the systems and factors that impact our communities

A Program Grounded in the Values of Equity and Social Justice

As a community, we don’t just talk about the importance of these values, we have spent time exploring what they mean to us as a community and are vested in actually doing the work to create a more equitable and inclusive society. 

Our faculty have engaged in equity focused trainings to help us understand and address when our policies and practices are not creating equitable opportunities and outcomes. Additionally, faculty members actively engage with the SSU community to move towards belongingness and inclusion by serving as Provost Faculty Fellows for our HSI Roadmap work, chairing the research IRB, and as the Provost Faculty Fellow for Inclusive Excellence.

Careers In Social Work

Example Job Titles Example Work Settings

Case manager

Psychiatric Social Worker

Child Protective Services Social Worker

Oncology Social Worker

Social Services Social Worker

Community Health Worker

Medical Social Worker

School Social Worker

NICU Social Worker

Inpatient Social Worker

Hospitals and Medical Centers

Doctors’ Offices

Public Human Service Agencies

Outpatient Mental Health agencies

Elementary, Secondary, Colleges, and Universities

Substance Use Disorder Centers

Hospices

Public Administration

Social Advocacy/Community Centers

Police Offices

Libraries
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