Get Your Social Work Degree
Social work addresses societal problems such as racism, injustice, and individual and family problems. Courses on ethics, human behavior, social policy, social work practice (assessment, interviewing, intervention), and research will give you the knowledge, values, and skills for generalist practice. Many students go on to work in mental health, child welfare, substance abuse, healthcare, and more. Fulfill your passion for helping others with a Social Work degree.
Social Work Program Highlights
- Pursue field experience tailored to their interests.
- Take advantage of an informal peer mentoring system between upperclassmen and new students in the major.
- Develop and deliver community outreach programs, such as a Back to School Bash/school supply drive for neighborhood children.
- Participate in campus awareness/support programs such as the Clothesline Project for domestic and other types of abuse.
Columbia College Social Work Mission
Our mission is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and values of the profession that will prepare graduates for professional practice, guided by the principles and behaviors of anti-racism, anti-oppression, diversity, equity and inclusion to promote human and community wellbeing, social justice, for direct practice as well as the preparation for advanced social work education.
- To provide the frameworks of understanding regarding human experiences through our knowledge base which is built on scientific inquiry and theoretical underpinnings of person in environment, the role of privilege, oppression, and the intersectionalities found in the vast variety of human experiences.
- To provide the knowledge and skill base to work towards promoting human and community rights and well-being at all levels of human experience, including elimination of entrenched human problems such as poverty and systemic racism.
- To instill the ethics and values of the profession, including service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, the respect and value of human diversity, the importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, and human rights
Modality & Benefits
Get a traditional college experience with lively in-person classroom discussions and close proximity to your professors, mentors, and best friends.
Start Dates:
January & August
- Semester-Based Timeline
- Face-to-Face Instruction (some Online options)
- In-Person Office Hours & Support
- Relationships & Networking
- Extracurriculars & Immersive Campus Experience
Get a degree that fits your busy lifestyle while benefiting from in-person instruction, social interactions with classmates, and networking on campus and throughout the capital city.
Start Dates:
January & August
- Semester-Based Timeline
- Evening Classes (M-Th, 5-9pm)
- Face-to-Face Instruction
- Transfer Up to 90 Credits
- 10-Hour Weekly Commitment (varies)
Social Work Curriculum
Major & Certificate Requirements
- Social Work, B.A. Major
- Child Welfare Certificate
In order to qualify for certification, you will be required to take two courses in child welfare and maintain at least a 3.0 in those courses. Although not required to receive the certificate, Social Work students who complete a field placement in a child welfare unit at a South Carolina Department of Social Services office will be recognized on the certificate as having met this field experience.
Popular Social Work Classes
- Introduction to Social Welfare
Explore the historical development of social welfare, social welfare services, and the philosophical base of social welfare. - Social Welfare Policy and Services
Develop a framework for analyzing social policies and services. - Social Work Practice
Address the knowledge, skills, and values needed for generalist social work practice.
The Columbia College Social Work program is accredited through the Council on Social Work Education.
Give Care Where it's Needed
Job growth is expected to rise faster than average for social work positions. There are almost 75,000 job openings for social workers each year in the US (BLS).
Pursue a Dynamic Career
- Hospital Social Worker
- Hospice Social Worker
- Home Health Social Worker
- Nursing Home Social Worker
- Behavioral Health Counseling
- Mental Health Counseling
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- Program Coordinator
Job Placements
- Medical Social Work
- Veterans Affairs Social Worker
- Mental Health/Psychiatric Counselor
- Early Childhood Social Worker
- Gerontological Social Worker
- Juvenile Justice/Prison Social Worker
- Advocacy Social Worker
Get a Strong Foundation
After graduation, you are eligible for advanced standing status at many Masters of Social Work (MSW) programs, including the University of South Carolina and Winthrop University. Admission with advanced standing means you will be exempt from the first year of a two-year graduate program.
- USC Advanced Standing Program
- Winthrop Advanced Standing Program
- North Carolina Central University Advanced Standing Program
Next Steps for Your Degree in Social Work
- Industry Outlook
- Career Paths
- Recent Placements
- Graduate School