Social Work

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Department Head: Jessica Lucero, Ph.D., MSW
Location: Main 239D
Phone: (435) 797-9122
FAX: (435) 797-1240
E-mail: socialwork@usu.edu
Website: socialwork.usu.edu

Master of Social Work (MSW) Program Director (Logan):
J.C. Sheen, Ph.D., MSW, 435-797-8113, jeff.sheen@usu.edu

Master of Social Work (MSW) Program Director (Statewide):
Susan Cutler Egbert, Ph.D., MSW, 801-518-1115, susan.egbert@usu.edu

Master of Social Work (MSW) Graduate Program Coordinator (Logan):
Morgan Walton, MSW, morgan.walton@usu.edu

Master of Social Work (MSW) Graduate Program Coordinator (Statewide):
Chelsey Spears, MSW, chelsey.spears@usu.edu

Social Work Undergraduate (BSW) Program Director:
Jen Evers, (435) 797-5104, jenifer.evers@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Social Work ; Master of Social Work (MSW)  

Full details of the learning objectives, assessment plan, student outcomes, and evidence of continuous improvement for these programs of study can be found at socialwork.usu.edu. (For assessment specifically, see socialwork.usu.edu/assessment.)

Bachelor of Social Work Program (BSW) Objectives

The BSW program serves the public by preparing its graduates for employment as generalist social workers who are committed to enhancing human well-being and meeting basic human needs of all people, particularly vulnerable populations. As a community-engaged department, we take pride in serving Utah communities through our research and student learning opportunities ranging from mentored research to field placements. Students learn from seasoned social work practitioners and scholars in the classroom and connect their classroom learning to the field during their culminating field placement. The program trains students to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, groups, and communities. Students have access to highly engaged faculty who are committed to supporting their success and connecting them with individualized opportunities for their professional development. Graduates are in high demand in the human service sector and are eligible for the social service worker (SSW) license in the State of Utah.

Master of Social Work Program (MSW) Objectives

The MSW program prepares its graduates as professionals in advanced generalist practice and equips them with skills necessary for leadership roles within the Social Work profession. The MSW program emphasizes the advanced generalist practice knowledge and skills essential to the tasks of promoting social welfare, especially among vulnerable populations, in a wide range of settings ranging from behavioral health agencies to schools, to criminal justice contexts and more. The program is dedicated to the development of social workers who understand the need to advocate for vulnerable populations, and to work toward the establishment of societies free from poverty, violence, oppression, and discrimination.

The MSW program’s curriculum is grounded in the strength’s perspective, the empowerment approach, and a social justice philosophy. Students have access to highly engaged faculty who are deeply committed their success and unique professional development. Faculty empower students to be part of meaningful community-based change, serving each student nested in their own community and context. Students receive training to engage a multidimensional, multisystem problem-solving process and apply their classroom-based learning in their field internship where they further refine their skills to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with clients and client-systems. Graduates leave our program with excellent preparation to enter clinical career paths (e.g., mental health therapy) and other practice areas such as social administration. Graduates are eligible for the Certified Social Worker (CSW) license which permits them to practice clinical social work under the supervision of another licensed mental health professional. Once required hours and supervision requirements are met, graduates are eligible to sit for the Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) exam.

Programs

• Social Work - BA, BS

• Social Work - MSW

• Social Work - Minor

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