Social Work

Department Chair: Dr. Mark Lynch

Established at Saint Francis University in 1974, the Social Work major provides a general education as well as career preparation.

The primary educational objective of the Social Work Program is to prepare its students with the competency, practice skills, ethics and knowledge base for entry into generalist social work practice at the beginning professional level. Further, the program seeks to assist students in understanding social welfare as a system of social institutions that has been developed to meet human needs. Based on a strong foundation of courses in the arts, social sciences, natural sciences, math, and the humanities, the social work curriculum is conceived as a broad orientation to the human and helping services which will enable the student to: seek employment in the field of social work upon graduation; continue one’s education on the graduate level in social work; the behavioral sciences or one of the numerous areas of human services; and/or support social and economic justice through service and citizenship participation.

There are opportunities for employment in such areas as individual therapy, group therapy, community organization, family counseling, foster care and adoption services, child welfare, public welfare, hospital and home nursing social services, mental health and mental retardation programs, programs for the elderly, school social work, drug and alcohol programs, and community action programs.  Some students choose to go to law school at one of the many JD/MSW programs offered and work as lawyers and advocates.  In addition, some students are involved in community organization and advocacy work.  Many graduates have become administrators. 

The Saint Francis University Social Work major is accredited for the baccalaureate degree in social work by the Council on Social Work Education. The program has been accredited since 1974. Upon graduation, majors are eligible for regular membership in the National Association of Social Workers. Students graduating from the social work program are also able to receive advanced standing in MSW programs throughout the country.

Students and other interested individuals should consult the Social Work handbook for detailed information on program policies and standards, located on the program’s website.

The Field Instruction sequence provides the practice experience to prepare students to work with individuals, families, small groups, organizations and communities served by both governmental and voluntary programs. It constitutes an integral component of the total curriculum, reinforcing and integrating the entire curriculum. Students have an opportunity to experience field in a number of settings, and may also seek to find experiences in their local community.  Some current cooperating senior Field Instruction agencies are as follows:

Allegheny Valley Hospital

ACRP- Saint Michaels School

AseraCare - Altoona

Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8

Beginnings, Inc.

Blair Family Solutions

Cambria County Children and Youth

Cambria County Office on Aging

Catholic Charities-Altoona

Communities at Indian Haven

Conemaugh-Nason Hospital

Conemaugh-Medical Center

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)-Johnstown

Dorothy Day Outreach Center - Saint Francis University

Dubois Area Regional Medical Center

Evolution Counseling Services-Altoona

Grane Hospice Care

Hiram G. Andrews Center

Homewood at Martinsburg

Hilliview Nursing Center

Home Nursing Agency

Home Instead Senior Care

Hollidaysburg Veterans Home

Impact Counseling Services, INC

Professional Family Care

Presbyterian Senior Care

The Learning Lamp

The Village at Morrison’s Cove

Three Wires

Torrance State Hospital

UPMC-Altoona

Victim Services

Women’s Help Center-Johnstown

Youth Forestry Camp-3

Social Work Minor

The minor in Social Work is useful to students in any major or career that involves interpersonal interactions including education, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, political science, other social sciences, health science, and business. The courses are designed to provide a base level of the theory, knowledge, and skills required in the many professions. Because practice in social work requires a bachelor degree from an accredited BSW program, the minor does not prepare students for social work practice but can serve as an introduction to the discipline for students who later decide to complete a major or second major in social work.