South Carolina State’s Social Work Program was recently granted an eight-year reaccreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The program received its initial accreditation from the CSWE in 1991, and has remained fully accredited since then. SC State’s Social Work Program prepares students for practicing social work in vulnerable populations.
“This accreditation strengthens our confidence that SC State’s Social Work Program, its instruction, training and student outcomes have been found to be at a high level of attainment,” exclaimed Dr. W. Franklin Evans, vice president of Academic Affairs. “It gives a clear signal to prospective employers that our social work program is in compliance with highly accepted standards of excellence and for our students entering graduate school. It sends the message that our social work graduates have already received the prerequisite preparation by meeting a set of expectations focused on quality,” he continued.
Marie Artis, assistant professor of SC State’s Social Work Program shared the same sentiment. “My initial feeling upon receipt of the results of the report was one of celebration and verification for all the hard work of the faculty, administration and the support of the students,” she said. The program seeks to improve the level of self-sufficiency and bring attention to the social problems faced by the vulnerable populations it serves.
Upon graduation, graduates can pursue a myriad of career opportunities, including, clinical social workers, forensic social workers, community planners and developers, case managers, researchers, school and industrial social workers, child protective services workers and many others. There are 145 students currently enrolled in the program. “SC State’s Social Work Program has one of the highest retention rates on the university’s campus and we attribute this outcome to our committed faculty and our effective academic advisement process,” said Artis.
The mission of the undergraduate program at SC State is designed to prepare competent, ethical and effective generalist professional practitioners for entry level practice with individuals, families, small groups, organizations and communities. The next site visit is scheduled for 2021.
