Breadcrumb
Department of Social Work
Learning with Purpose. Leading with Heart.
The Department of Social Work maintains an emphasis on working with Indigenous and rural communities across California. Coursework is designed to decolonize mainstream social work practice by building reciprocal and dynamic relationships and to support people who are rooted in their communities.
Our rigorous programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and have options to meet your needs in advancing your current career, making a transition, or adding a degree to amplify your voice to better serve the community you call home.
Social Work, B.A.
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program is to prepare students for beginning generalist social work practice responsive to the challenges and resources present in rural and Indigenous areas in particular, and in more populated areas in general.
Online learning is available through our Distributed Learning program.
Social Work, M.S.W
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program is an advanced generalist with an emphasis on working in rural and Indigenous communities. The program teaches students how to achieve a disciplined, compassionate presence to a caring, and ethical practice.
Online learning is available through our Distributed Learning program.
Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work
The PPSC-SSW online certificate program builds upon the Master of Social Work curriculum by providing specialized instruction to develop the knowledge, skills, and values required to effectively provide social work services within public school systems.
Community Placement & Practicum Education
Through required experiential coursework, BASW and MSW students have the opportunity to connect and apply theoretical concepts in the community with the benefit of reflective seminar curriculum led by knowledgeable faculty. Students are able to gain perspective and understanding of the challenges and strengths of organizations serving rural and Indigenous communities.
Decolonizing Social Work
In consultation with local tribal communities, our program curriculum maintains an emphasis on working with Indigenous and other rural peoples and is designed to assist our students to engage in decolonizing social work.
Our Core Values
Our 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 of becoming the social worker they want to be.
Place-Based Learning Community: Creando Raíces
As a Social Work freshman, you’ll participate in hands-on activities with your peers before classes even start and in some cases, have the opportunity to live in the same residence halls with your peers. Social Work students will join three other departments for Creando Raíces, which focuses on community organizing and ethnic studies, deepening an appreciation and awareness of justice and liberation.
Career Options
A diverse range of careers are available to our BASW and MSW graduates, who are well-prepared to deal with the complex social issues that individuals, groups, families, and organizations are facing today.
- Addictions
- Child Welfare
- Clinical Settings
- Domestic Violence
- Family Planning
- Foster Care
- Mental Health
- Public Health
- Public Policy
- Rehabilitation
Feature Alumni
Achievements
Find out what our students, faculty, and staff are being recognized for.
Debbie Gonzalez, Amanda Dinscore
Social Work
Amanda Dinscore, a College of Professional Studies Librarian, and Dr. Debbie Gonzalez, Social Work, published an article entitled Addressing Barriers to Research-Informed Practice: A Library and Social Work Collaboration to Empower Future Practitioners, which describes the challenges social workers face, once they graduate, to utilize research to inform their practice. The article describes an approach to addressing these challenges through an open pedagogy assignment, the creation of the Humboldt Social Work Knowledge Commons.
Jamie Jensen
Social Work
Congratulations Jamie Jensen!
Jamie was appointed to the California Commission on Aging by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The California Commission on Aging has 25 commissioners appointed by different public office officials, it serves as "the principal advocate in the state on behalf of older individuals, including, but not limited to, advisory participation in the consideration of all legislation and regulations made by state and federal departments and agencies relating to programs and services that affect older individuals." Read more at https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2024/06/newsom-appoints-cph-associate-professor.html.
Debbie Gonzalez
Social Work
Debbie Gonzalez, Assistant Professor in the Social Work Department at Cal Poly Humboldt, recently had an article published on SocialWorker.com. Congratulations Debbie!
Excerpt:
"It is normal to have some stress or anxiety about transitioning from the classroom to the workplace...This article connects social work knowledge with skills for building workplace relationships that support an environment where safety, trustworthiness, collaboration, voice, and cultural responsiveness are commonplace."
Read the full article by clicking the link below.