With its unique location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean as the northernmost island group of Polynesia, Hawaii is an archipelago that is known for being the only state in the United States that consists solely of islands. Due to its diverse natural scenery, warm tropical climate, abundance of pristine sandy beaches, oceanic surroundings, and active volcanoes, Hawaii is a popular destination for vacationers, surfers, biologists, volcanologists, and college students alike.
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Despite being the most recent of the 50 states to join the Union in 1959 and ranked as the 8th smallest state, Hawaii is certainly not lagging behind when it comes to social work degree programs at well-respected universities. For those aspiring to a rewarding career, the following are the social work degrees that have been fully accredited by the CSWE in Hawaii.
Brigham Young University – Hawaii
Department of Social Work
Serving as the preeminent international center of learning in the Pacific with a diverse population of 2,500 students representing more than 70 countries, Brigham Young University – Hawaii is a private undergraduate institution operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Situated on a beautiful 195-acre campus nestled between lush mountains and pristine shoreline in rural Laie just 35 miles north of Honolulu on Oahu, BYUH is currently ranked as the 18th best college in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. The Department of Social Work is not only rooted in intellectual learning and career preparation for competent generalist social workers, but also moral, ethical, and spiritual enrichment.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Intended to prepare undergraduate students for entry-level social work practice helping individuals, groups, organizations, families, and communities enhance or restore their capacity for full social functioning, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is geared towards the professional application of social work knowledge, skills, values, and ethics to promote social justice among disadvantaged populations. As the first undergraduate program in Hawaii to be accredited by the CSWE in 1978, the curriculum requires students to complete a minimum of 120 semester credits for completion of the degree. Through the major coursework, students are actively engaged in studies on social welfare, human behavior, social work practices, social policies, social research methods, applied social statistics, substance abuse, community mental health, populations at risk, and two field practicum experiences.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact Information
BYUH Building #1923
55-220 Kulanui Street
Laie, HI 96762
(808) 675-4968
[email protected]
https://socialwork.byuh.edu/
Hawaii Pacific University
School of Social Work
Based on a main campus in the heart of Honolulu's downtown business and financial district with satellite campuses spread throughout the island of Oahu, Hawaii Pacific University is a comprehensive private non-profit institution that thrives with an international learning community of more than 6,150 students set in the rich cultural context of Hawaii. Since being founded in 1965, Hawaii Pacific has grown to become the state's leading private university boasting strong academic programs. According to the U.S. News and World Report, HPU is currently ranked as the 71st best college and 19th top university for veterans in the nation for 2014. Within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the HPU School of Social Work is committed to inspiring the profession's future leaders and scholars to chance unjust social systems.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Designed to prepare appropriate undergraduate students for entry into effective generalist practice of social work at the beginning level, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program aims to produce qualified practitioners who unashamedly want to make the world a better place through caring, professional practices. Throughout the four year program, students are required to complete at least 45 credits of general education common core, 18 credits of lower-division major courses, 6 credits of upper-division general education, 42 credits of upper-division major courses, and 3 credits of self-directed elective work outside social work. After completing all course requirements and the three social work practicum experiences completely, students must apply their skills to the senior capstone project for graduation.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program aims to prepare qualified graduate students for entry into competent, ethical, and effective practice as an advanced generalist in social work. Students are encouraged to provide leadership in culturally competent services at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels to advocate for social justice. The School of Social Work utilizes an innovative Peer Mentorship Program (PMP) in order to foster leadership for graduate students and provide mentoring for incoming graduate social work students to build a strong sense of community. Students can generally complete the 60-credit program requirements within two years full-time or three years part-time, but those who have already earned a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited institution may be eligible for the accelerated Advanced Standing program to earn the graduate degree in just one year full-time.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact Information
1164 Bishop Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 544-1482
[email protected]
http://www.hpu.edu/CHSS/SocialWork/
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work
First founded in 1907 on a 320-acre campus in the beautiful Manoa Valley just outside downtown Honolulu on the island of Oahu, the University of Hawaii at Manoa is a comprehensive public institution with a Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific orientation. Known for educating President Barack Obama's parents, the U.S. News and World Report survey ranks it as the 158th best college and 85th top public school in the nation. Even more importantly, the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work is nationally recognized as having the 66th best graduate social work program in the United States.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
With the goal of preparing students to be beginning level professionals and generalist practitioners as well as for advanced social work education, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program involves a two-year course of study beginning in the junior year. Organized around a foundation liberal arts curriculum, the program covers content in social work practice, human behavior, social environment, social welfare history and policies, research methods, and practicum in the field. Since graduates are expected to demonstrate a sense of responsibility, cultural sensitivity, excellent interpersonal skills, good judgment, and responsiveness to the supervision of their work, all students are required to strengthen these characteristics through practicum field experience 16 hours each week at a social work agency in the community during the senior year, for a total of 450 hours before earning the BSW degree.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Achieved through a minimum of four consecutive fall-spring semesters on a full-time or part-time basis to fit with the busy schedule of working adult learners, the Master of Social Work (MSW) program has been developed to promote the advances in contemporary advanced social work practice to create qualified practitioners to meet local Asian and Pacific community needs. Depending on students' particular career goals, the program offers four concentration areas to focus on: Child and Family, Gerontology, Health/Wellness, and Mental Health. As one of the most essential components of the program, students must actively engage in clinical practicum experience in approved supervised settings to complete a minimum of 225 clock hours each semester. Within the 57-credit program, students have the option to choose between a thesis or non-thesis plan of study.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation (CSWE)
- Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact Information
Henke Hall Room 224
1800 East West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 956-7182
[email protected]
http://www.hawaii.edu/sswork/programs.html