Ðǿմ«Ã½

At A Glance

Carthage’s professional social work curriculum equips students with knowledge, values, and skills necessary for generalist practice. Through required field experiences, the department provides students with supervised opportunities to master the requisite competencies in actual practice situations.

Major

  • Social Work

View Degree Requirements

Special Programs

More Resources

Ready To Take the Next Step?

REQUEST INFO

Viewing the profession through a social justice lens, Carthage social work majors learn to work with individuals, families, communities, and organizations. Each senior then completes a community-based, two-semester internship to demonstrate the competencies needed in practice. The Carthage program allows many social work majors to enter graduate school with advanced standing.

The Carthage Social Work Department is accredited by the , an international agency that assures a program meets the standards established for a bachelor’s degree in social work.

  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/295,114,1119,937/42678_26813_171052831004161.rev.1760036587.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/295,114,1119,937/42678_26813_171052831004161.rev.1760036587.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/295,114,1119,937/42678_26813_171052831004161.rev.1760036587.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/295,114,1119,937/42678_26813_171052831004161.rev.1760036587.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/295,114,1119,937/42678_26813_171052831004161.rev.1760036587.jpg" alt="Margarita Reyes-Pena '27" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/295,114,1119,937/42678_26813_171052831004161.rev.1760036587.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/295,114,1119,937/42678_26813_171052831004161.rev.1760036587.jpg 3x" data-max-w="824" data-max-h="823" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The community has made me feel fully welcome and important here at Carthage.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/3318-margarita-reyes-pena">Margarita Reyes-Pena</a> ’27</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,569,2195,2406/43422_Jasmin_Turner_29.rev.1773253126.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,569,2195,2406/43422_Jasmin_Turner_29.rev.1773253126.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,569,2195,2406/43422_Jasmin_Turner_29.rev.1773253126.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,569,2195,2406/43422_Jasmin_Turner_29.rev.1773253126.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,569,2195,2406/43422_Jasmin_Turner_29.rev.1773253126.jpg" alt="Jasmin Turner '29" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,569,2195,2406/43422_Jasmin_Turner_29.rev.1773253126.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/358,569,2195,2406/43422_Jasmin_Turner_29.rev.1773253126.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1837" data-max-h="1837" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Being a Carthage student has shown me how to be independent, while also giving me a chance to explore my interests and future goals.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/3488-jasmin-turner">Jasmin Turner</a> ’29</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/288,300,2195,2208/38785_10815_163701665847155.rev.1699841410.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/288,300,2195,2208/38785_10815_163701665847155.rev.1699841410.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/288,300,2195,2208/38785_10815_163701665847155.rev.1699841410.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/288,300,2195,2208/38785_10815_163701665847155.rev.1699841410.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/288,300,2195,2208/38785_10815_163701665847155.rev.1699841410.jpg" alt="Emily Van Dixhorn" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/288,300,2195,2208/38785_10815_163701665847155.rev.1699841410.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/288,300,2195,2208/38785_10815_163701665847155.rev.1699841410.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1907" data-max-h="1908" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “While I came to Carthage for the programs, I have stayed at Carthage for the faculty. My professors are the best thing about Carthage.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2566-emily-dixhorn">Emily Van Dixhorn</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1241,1242/42571_26108_171052831004161.rev.1758597169.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1241,1242/42571_26108_171052831004161.rev.1758597169.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1241,1242/42571_26108_171052831004161.rev.1758597169.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1241,1242/42571_26108_171052831004161.rev.1758597169.JPG 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1241,1242/42571_26108_171052831004161.rev.1758597169.JPG" alt="Clytise McGee '26" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1241,1242/42571_26108_171052831004161.rev.1758597169.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1241,1242/42571_26108_171052831004161.rev.1758597169.JPG 3x" data-max-w="1241" data-max-h="1242" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The close relationships I’ve built with professors have given me the confidence to ask questions, seek advice, and take risks in my learning.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/3292-clytise-mcgee">Clytise McGee</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,6,452,458/42599_26116_171052831004161.rev.1758933272.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/png" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,6,452,458/42599_26116_171052831004161.rev.1758933272.png 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,6,452,458/42599_26116_171052831004161.rev.1758933272.png" alt="Kendle Smith '27" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/115/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,6,452,458/42599_26116_171052831004161.rev.1758933272.png 2x" data-max-w="452" data-max-h="452" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I didn’t want to feel like just a number. Here, it feels like professors and classmates know and care about me.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/3301-kendle-smith">Kendle Smith</a> ’27</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

Social Work Major

Within the School of Health, social work is an undergraduate major that prepares students to be competent and effective professionals, educated to provide leadership in the development of critical social service delivery systems. Based on a belief in the intrinsic value of all humankind and the advancement of social justice and human rights, we are committed to educating students to become anti-racist, anti-oppressive, generalist critical social work practitioners. Our program is committed to an interdisciplinary approach that integrates the liberal arts with critical social work knowledge and values to serve those most marginalized in the U.S. and the world by advancing social justice through courageous ideas and actions.

The Carthage Social Work Department follows academic standards for professional preparation set forth by the . All aspects of the department are developed within the history, philosophy, and values of the profession.

Department Goals

  • To educate students in applying professional values, ethics, and knowledge grounded in anti-oppressive theories and social work practice.
  • To educate students in the values and knowledge of critical social work and social justice in collaboration with other disciplines.
  • To graduate anti-racist BSW generalist practitioners who will become courageous social change agents in their community.
  • The Social Work Department recognizes the insidiousness of institutional racism and is committed to being a leader at the College toward becoming an anti-racist institution.

Social Work Major Competencies

Ðǿմ«Ã½ abides by the Council of Social Work Education accreditation standards. The education competencies are as follows:

  • Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  • Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  • Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  • Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
  • Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
  • Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

For the complete accreditation standards from the Council of Social Work Education, please see the .

CSWE Accreditation Report on Competency Standard