Do you want to help others and make a difference? Are you good at listening? Do friends and family come to you for support or guidance? Are you interested in a career where you can help make the world a better place? Then consider a major or minor in social work!
The Social Work major at Saint Anselm College is rooted in the Catholic commitment to social justice and the innate worth and potential of all human beings. Social Work is a helping profession aimed to improve society's overall well-being, especially for vulnerable populations. Grounded in the liberal arts, the Social Work curriculum focuses on the "person-in-environment," social justice, and practice that is strength-based. The Social Work curriculum will enable its majors to (1) develop knowledge of society, its institutions, and its structures of inequality; (2) explore the requirements of ethical behavior and social justice; and (3) develop the fundamental skills of Social Work practice in the classroom and through direct community engagement. The Social Work majors prepares students for social work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, non-profit organizations, mental health centers, schools, advocacy agencies, and government offices. Specific examples include child protective services, school-based social work, faith-based services, domestic violence services, crisis intervention, health and wellness services, and housing services.
Major requirements include:
- SO 150 - Introduction to Social Work: Human Behavior and the Social Environment
- SO 211 - Research Methods
- SO 212 - Social Statistics
- SO 255 - Social Welfare: Poverty and Public Policy
- SO 256 - Social Services
- SO 357 - Social Work: Therapeutic Interviewing
- SO 359 - Group Work
- SO 450 - Social Work Practicum I
- SO 451 - Social Work Practicum II
And Three Electives, one from each of the following categories:
Social/Clinical Issues Courses:
- SO 204 - Sociology of Aging, Dying, and Death
- SO 205 - The Family
- SO 206 - Social Problems
- SO 221 - Deviance and Social Control
- SO 228 - Sociology of Health and Illness
- SO 330 - Race and Ethnic Relations
- SO 332 - Peace, Conflict, and War
- SO 333 - Sociology of Genocide
- SO 351 - Special Topics in Sociology
- SO 352 - Selected Topics in Social Work
- PJ 302 - Conflict Resolution
- PY 205 - Psychology of Addiction and Dependency
- PY 206 - Health Psychology
- PY 307 - Abnormal Psychology
- CJ 328 - Crisis Intervention
- CJ 350 - Victimology
by approval of Social Work Director
(by approval of Social Work Director)
prerequisite PY101
(prerequisite PY101)
Social Framework Courses:
- ED 255 - Multicultural Perspectives on Public Schooling in the United States
- SO 101 - Introduction to Sociology
- SO 215 - Criminology
- SO 230 - Social Movements: People, Power and Change
- SO 309 - Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
- SO 325 - Sociological Theory
- SO 334 - Global Society
- SO 335 - Law and Society
- SO 342 - Social Inequality
- SO 343 - Economy and Society
- SO 344 - Political Sociology
- SO 351 - Special Topics in Sociology
- SO 352 - Selected Topics in Social Work
- SO 358 - Social Work: Support Network Interventions
- PJ 301 - Theories of Peace and Justice
- PY 211 - Cross Cultural Psychology
- PO 248 - Public Policy Process
- PO 275 - Human Rights
- PO 353 - Politics of Diversity
- CJ 361 - Women and Crime
by approval of Social Work Director
(by approval of Social Work Director)
Social Work Population Courses:
- SO 204 - Sociology of Aging, Dying, and Death
- SO 205 - The Family
- SO 216 - Juvenile Delinquency
- SO 228 - Sociology of Health and Illness
- SO 336 - Sociology of Family Law
- SO 351 - Special Topics in Sociology
- SO 352 - Selected Topics in Social Work
- PY 202 - Child Psychology
- PY 203 - Adolescent Psychology
- PY 204 - Psychology of Adulthood and Aging
- PY 210 - Special Topics in Psychology
- PY 314 - Childhood Psychopathology
- CJ 220 - Corrections and the Community
- CJ 231 - Juvenile Justice System
- CJ 328 - Crisis Intervention
- CJ 361 - Women and Crime
by approval of Social Work Director
(by approval of the Social Work Director)
by approval of the sw director
(by approval of the Social Work Director)
Major Course Sequence:
Social Work students typically begin with SO150 in the first year, followed by SO211, SO212, SO255 and SO256 in the sophomore and junior years. SO357 and 359 in the junior year, are typically taken along with area electives in the junior year. SO450 and 451 are taken in their senior year.
Sample Course Sequence for Social Work Majors:
| Freshman Year | |
| Fall | Spring |
| HU 103 - Conversatio I | HU 104 - Conversatio II |
| SO 150 - Introduction to Social Work | SO 101 - Intro to Sociology |
| EN 105 - Freshman English | SO 267 - Social Services |
| Language | Language or Core |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Fall | Spring |
| SO 255 - Social Welfare | SO 212 - Social Statistics |
| SO 211 - Research Methods or Core | Core (aesthetic engagement) |
| Scientific Reasoning | SW Elective or Core |
| Language or Core (historical reasoning) | Elective |
| Junior Year | |
| Fall | Spring |
| SO 357 - Therapeutic Interviewing | SO 359 - Group Work |
| SO 211 - Research Methods or Core | SW elective |
| Philosophical/Theological Reasoning | Philosophical/Theological Reasoning |
| Core/Elective | Elective |
| Senior Year | |
| Fall | Spring |
| SO 450 - Practicum I (4 credits, 120 hrs) | SO 451 - Practicum II (8 credits, 240 hrs) |
| SO 211 - Research Methods or Core | Elective |
| Philosophical/Theological Reasoning | Philosophical/Theological Reasoning |
| SW Elective |