Social Work

Be the Difference

The mission of Concordia University's Social Work program is to develop social work professionals who will identify and build on individual, family, and community strengths, while promoting human dignity and positive social change. In order to achieve this goal, the Social Work program strives to provide a curriculum and learning environment that is accessible to a diverse range of students who will make important and unique contributions in their service to clients, communities, and the profession at large.

Social Work is a practice-oriented discipline, and a social work degree qualifies students for a variety of entry-level positions in the human service field including mental health, gerontology, child welfare, adult and juvenile justice, and substance abuse prevention.

Students have two options in pursuing a degree in Social Work.

  • The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work is the more traditional program that permits students to be involved throughout campus during their time at Concordia.
  • Concordia's Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work is designed for non-traditional students, recognizing the value of relevant work experience.

Concordia's Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Concordia’s Social Work Program prepares students:

  • To become leaders who work actively towards a transformed society where everyone can lead lives of human dignity.
  • For competent, ethical and self-reflective generalist social work practice.
  • To draw on their spiritual beliefs to demonstrate a deep respect and honor for others and for themselves.
  • To work in diverse communities.

Those successfully completing Concordia's Social Work Program will be able to:

  • Analyze and influence social policy.
  • Apply strategies of advocacy and social change within communities and organizations.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to promoting social justice and equality for all people with regard to full participation in society.
  • Employ critical thinking skills.
  • Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span, as well as interactions among individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Apply entry level generalist knowledge and skills with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Identify and build on strengths in clients and their environments.
  • Identify their own values as they relate to social work.
  • Identify and thoughtfully address ethical dilemmas in professional settings in the context of the NASW code of ethics and their own values.
  • Use supervision and consultation effectively.
  • Work effectively on their own, as well as part of a team.
  • Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
  • Evaluate their own practice.
  • Evaluate and effectively use empirical studies.
  • Describe their own spiritual development and spiritual beliefs.
  • Help clients identify and utilize their own spiritual beliefs.
  • Recognize the need for self-care and have a strategy for addressing work and personal stress in their own lives.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of how oppression and discrimination impacts people, as well as methods for addressing discrimination at multiple levels.
  • Comfortably work with clients different from themselves without discrimination.

Field experience is an integral part of Concordia's social work major. During two semesters of the senior year, students are placed in a supervised learning experience in a community agency that reflects their interests and needs.

Concordia's social work students are encouraged to participate in a wide variety of campus activities. The Social Work department sponsors the Social Work Club.