“Social work allows you to go in so many different directions once you graduate,” said Mercedes Ray, director of the social work program at SAU. “The work that we do is very interdisciplinary.
Peace Hall, home of the social work program
“It opens all kinds of doors,” Ray added.
However, to start living those ideals and begin making a difference in the world, students must first be accepted into the program and then complete a rigorous schedule that includes 480 field hours.
The social work program at SAU has been accredited for 25 years, and accreditation standards require students to do more to graduate from the program.
“Accreditation standards are different from university standards,” said Dr. Krista Nelson, chair of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Department and associate professor of psychology.
Students interested in the social work program must first apply for acceptance. They must also complete 30 hours of general education classes and four social work courses before beginning the program.
To complete the program, students must maintain a 3.2 grade-point average in social work classes and a 2.5 GPA overall.
Once students complete the social work program, they are exposed to a wide range of career opportunities.
“A lot of the students think they want to go into nursing or counseling,” Nelson said. She and other faculty members have found, however, that once students are exposed to new opportunities, they often discover a career that best suits their interests and talents.
Some of those careers include child protective services, human resources, case management for nursing homes and hospitals, public schools, and veterinary social work, which can include training service animals.
“There are lots of things students can do with an undergraduate degree in social work,” Ray said.
Many students go on to work in hospice care, probation and parole, services for adults with disabilities, and the mental health field alongside licensed therapists.
As part of the program, upper-level students must create portfolios, complete a research project, and, in some cases, present that research. They must also complete assessments of individuals and programs at their field placement sites.
Other faculty members in the program include Catiya Welch, field director of social work, and Cortney Sherman, assistant professor of social work.
Welch worked with the Arkansas Department of Children and Family Services and at UAMS as a transplant social worker, assisting patients preparing for organ transplants.
Sherman worked in hospice care and in the field of probation and parole and completed training at the police academy.
Noah Walker presents social work research
“Catiya and Cortney both have interesting backgrounds, and they bring that professional experience into the classroom to share with students,” Ray said.
Ray said accreditation of the social work program gives students an advantage when they graduate and begin their job search or pursue an advanced degree.
Many students who earn a social work degree go on to pursue a master’s degree. Most graduate programs take three years to complete. However, because of SAU’s accreditation, graduates of SAU’s social work program need just one year to complete their master’s programs.
“Our students graduate from an accredited program and can go to graduate school and earn their master’s degree. They can start giving back to their communities in a year,” Ray said.
Nelson said the requirements of SAU’s social work program help prepare students for success in their chosen field.
“Our students do shine,” Nelson said.
To find out more about the social work program at SAU, call 870-235-4234 or visit saumag.edu/socialwork.
