Social work degrees in Oregon are available at five highly ranked universities to prepare students for fulfilling careers in assisting the state's diverse citizens in leading healthy, happy, safe, and productive lives within a more socially just society.
Behind Montana and New York, Oregon has the third highest concentration of social workers in the United States who are earning an average annual salary of $47,300. As employment in social work jobs is poised to grow much faster than average by 19% before 2022, Oregon will be looking to add on to its 1,760 social workers currently employed there and seeking qualified graduates from the following accredited social work degree programs.
Resource: What is the Career Outlook for Social Workers?
Online Social Work Programs For You
Concordia University
College of Health and Human Services
Nestled on a beautiful 13-acre urban campus on the northeastern edge of Portland in the state's largest city, Concordia University is a comprehensive four-year private Christian liberal arts institution affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. As home to over 5,400 students of diverse faiths each year, Concordia is currently ranked as the 80th best regional college and 27th top university for military veterans in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. In the College of Health and Human Services, students can choose from accredited programs focused on contributing to a healthy society and begin preparing for the most in-demand segments of today's challenging job market.
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW)
Intended for undergraduate students aspiring to be agents of change on the frontline to address society's most pressing social issues, the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program is designed to train students to apply the tools of the trade in working with a full spectrum of individuals, families, and communities in need. Using the latest evidence-based techniques, the program is considered to be the first step towards becoming a clinical social worker for building a solid foundation for diagnosing and treating various mental health concerns. In addition to boasting small class sizes for personalized attention and culminating internships at local social service agencies for work experience, the CSWE-accredited program qualifies graduates to continue to graduate school for earning a master's degree in just one year.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
2811 NE Holman Street
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 493-6209
[email protected]
George Fox University
School of Social Work
Initially founded in 1885 by Quakers, George Fox University is a comprehensive private Christian liberal arts and sciences institution of over 3,700 students based on a main 108-acre suburban campus in Newberg with satellite locations in Portland, Salem, and Redmond. Well-known for being ranked among the top four best value Christian colleges in Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, George Fox is currently named the 30th best regional college and 10th top university for military veterans in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. The School of Social Work is accredited by the CSWE for providing a Christian college environment that encourages both academic and spiritual growth for budding social workers.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
In the larger context of a faith-based liberal arts curriculum for a well-rounded undergraduate education, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is structured to prepare students for entering the field as entry-level generalist social workers in a variety of public and private social service agencies. Within the 126-credit curriculum, students can expect to build the essential social work ethics, values, knowledge, skills, and practices needed to address issues of social injustice to meet the basic human needs. BSW students are also given the chance to put their newly acquired skills to the test in real-world supervised internships in local agencies or in international placements within Spain and South Africa. All graduates will be qualified to apply for licensing in Oregon as well as admissions into master's degree programs in social work.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
The Master of Social Work at George Fox University is a 62-credit-hour program that offers small class sizes in a convenient Portland location. Students who already have a CSWE-accredited bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) can apply for admission to the 32-credit-hour Advanced Standing program, which enables full-time students to complete their MSW in nine months. Program themes include the ethical integration of personal beliefs and competent professional practice; working effectively with diverse spiritual and religious beliefs, practices and organizations; and meeting human needs and seeking social justice locally, nationally and globally.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
414 North Meridian Street
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 538-8383
[email protected]
[email protected]
Pacific University
College of Arts and Sciences
Located on a 55-acre suburban campus in the town of Forest Grove within just 25 miles west of downtown Portland, Pacific University is a small comprehensive senior private liberal arts institution of over 3,500 students affiliated with the United Church of Christ. Along with being named one of the Princeton Review's "Best in the Northwest" colleges, Pacific is currently ranked as the 25th best regional college in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. In the College of Arts and Sciences, students can choose from more than 50 undergraduate programs with a multitude of opportunities for hands-on learning, studying abroad, civic engagement, and research alongside professors.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Through a blend of classroom learning and fieldwork, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) offers studies in generalist social work practice with an emphasis on issues of ethnic diversity, social justice, and cultural competence for working to effect change in diverse communities. In a welcoming atmosphere, the program prepares graduates for assuming careers in criminal justice, child welfare, healthcare, school social work, aging, mental health, human rights, nonprofit management, community development, adoption, advocacy, and more. The 122-credit program culminates with a 440-hour senior practicum in an approved agency to allow students to customize field experiences around their specific passions over the last two semesters. Graduates will have the professional competence and the confidence to seek immediate employment in entry-level social work practice or admissions in graduate school.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
2043 College Way
Forest Grove, OR 97116
(503) 352-2713
[email protected]
Program Website
Portland State University
School of Social Work
Featuring the largest overall enrollment of any school in Oregon with over 29,400 students, Portland State University is major comprehensive public co-educational research institution based on a beautiful 50-acre urban campus in the southwest University District of the bustling metropolitan center. Consistently ranked among the top 15 percentile of American universities in the Princeton Review's "Best 376 Colleges," PSU is currently named the 8th top up-and-coming school in the United States by the U.S. News and World Report. Even more importantly, the School of Social Work has been nationally acclaimed for hosting the 33rd best graduate social work degree program.
Bachelors in Social Work (BSW)
Leading to either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, the Bachelors in Social Work (BSW) program has been designed to prepare undergraduate students with the knowledge, values, ethics, and skills to work as professional entry-level generalist social workers in the 21st century. With a strong commitment to social and economic justice, the program aims to develop professionals who can competently provide values-based services with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. As a two-year upper-division program built in a cohort model atop a strong liberal arts foundation, the BSW will require that all students complete at least 500 practicum hours with one year-long social service field placement to integrate academic learning into the workforce.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Renowned for being the only program of its kind accredited by the CSWE in Oregon, the Master of Social Work (MSW) is focused on preparing graduate students to become professional social workers with the advanced knowledge, values, and skills needed to transform communities. In a strong collaborative curriculum led by world-class faculty, the program offers diverse urban and rural learning communities as real-world laboratories. Students can choose to pursue the 78-credit program with a concentration in Clinical Social Work Practice, Practice and Leadership of Community Organizations, Social Work with Children and Families, or Health Across the Lifespan. The program is also offered in a traditional on-campus format in Portland, online from anywhere, or in a distance option at one of four other campus locations.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
1800 SW Sixth Avenue
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 725-4712
[email protected]
Program Website
University of Portland
Dorothy Day Social Work Program
Standing tall on a 124-acre urban campus overlooking the Willamette River in the University Park neighborhood near St. Johns, the University of Portland is a comprehensive four-year private Roman Catholic institution affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross with more than 4,000 students. As the top producer of Fulbright Scholars in the nation among master's-level universities, UP has been ranked as the 8th best regional college and 12th top value school in the West by the U.S. News and World Report. Within the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dorothy Day Social Work Program is committed to integrating a liberal arts foundation with social work values, skills, and knowledge to prepare students for responsible service.
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW)
In a community of service and learning, the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) degree is nationally accredited by the CSWE to exceed the national standards for preparing students to begin engaging in entry-level generalist social work practice. As a two-year program available for junior-level students with at least 60 credit hours, the curriculum closely resembles a hybrid of sociology and psychology with courses in social justice, social research, human behavior, lifespan development, social policy, counseling, assessment, and cultural diversity. All students in the Dorothy Day Social Work Program benefit from high-quality educational experiences, small class sizes, broad curriculum options, internship opportunities, field practicum placements, participation in research projects, and eligibility for advanced standing in MSW programs.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
5000 North Willamette Blvd.
Portland, OR 97203
(503) 943-7104
[email protected]
Program Website
Social work is a rewarding profession that offers a strengths-based method for enhancing human capacity to solve our world's most pressing social issues and create a more just society that embraces all individuals equally. If you would like to turn your passion for volunteer work into a life-long career in improving society's overall well-being, be sure you keep these social work degrees in Oregon in mind when choosing your collegiate path.