Social Work
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Social Work at Humboldt is a professional preparation program rooted in the liberal arts. It prepares its graduates for practice as social work generalists. Students are provided the knowledge, values, and skills to work with people from diverse cultural, ethnic, and personal backgrounds. The social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
The mission of the Department of Social Work is to educate entry (bachelor’s degree) and advanced (master’s degree) practitioners for successful practice in agencies and other community settings. Students are prepared to practice social work with diverse populations from a social justice perspective, with special commitment to the indigenous populations in Northern California.
Social work students have the opportunity to work with local agencies through a highly individualized field experience program. Students find this helpful in building skills and obtaining jobs following graduation. Emphasis is on the utilization of community resources and provision of service intervention in small town and rural areas.
Students are provided knowledge on human behavior in the social environment, methods of practice and research, social policy, and human needs, as well as social work values. They culminate their educational experience with a field placement in social work practice. Emphasis is on understanding and appreciating human diversity using the ecological-systems model which offers a holistic view of the human situation.
The Department’s educational approach emphasizes critical reflection, ethical behavior, and the development of human potential and peaceful resolution of conflicts. The Department supports progressive practice that is based on peace, justice, experimentation, risk taking, inclusiveness, partnership, non-expert paradigms of relationships, and a belief in the uniqueness of each student’s own professional goals and vision.
Degrees Offered
MSW, BA