Methodist College will begin offering a Bachelor of Social Work degree beginning in the fall 2017 semester. The college received approval from the Higher Learning Commission on March 6. The new degree in social work will join the college’s existing programs that include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, a Master of Science in Nursing, and certificates in Gerontology, Nursing Assistant and Medical Assistant.
“The Bachelor of Social Work complements our existing programs and positions Methodist College to be a leader in the Midwest in educating individuals to work in healthcare and human services,” said Dr. Kimberly Johnston, Methodist College president.
Starting in fall 2017, students accepted to Methodist College can enroll in the social work program and begin taking general education courses with the first social work courses to be offered in the spring 2018 semester. The Bachelor of Social Work degree will require 120 total credit hours, with 55 in general education and 65 in social work. The expected length of time for students to complete the program is four years, or eight semesters. The last two semesters of the program will require students to participate in the signature pedagogy of social work education, a field practicum experience. This experience will allow them to engage in a real world setting to further develop their knowledge and competencies to be skillful social workers. These field experiences will take place at various Central Illinois non-profit, human service organizations and hospitals with whom Methodist College already has developed strong partnerships.
“The new program at Methodist College aligns well with nursing and health sciences because it is of interest to students who want to help individuals, families, groups, and communities function to the best of their ability,” said Dr. Staci Wolfe, chair of the Methodist College Human Services Department. “In addition, we believe that having social work students will enhance the education of our health science students, creating greater inter-professional communication at the course level, rather than waiting until they all get out into the field and have to navigate that on their own.”
Social workers work with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities, and are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, mental health clinics, child welfare and human service agencies, or even in schools. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the employment of social workers is projected to grow 12 percent through 2024, with increased demand in healthcare and social services.
“As we looked to expand our program offerings, the input we received from community leaders and those in the healthcare industry and human services agencies provided clear indication that a bachelor’s degree in social work was the direction we needed to go,” said Johnston. “A subsequent needs assessment reaffirmed that decision.”
For more information about the Bachelor in Social Work visit www.methodistcol.edu, or contact an admissions advisor at (309) 672-5513.