Social Work Department
Integrate your love for people and your passion for positive change through rigorous academics, practical application and a firm commitment to love like Jesus loves.
Integrate your love for people and your passion for positive change through rigorous academics, practical application, and a firm commitment to love like Jesus loves.
Social Work is primarily the application of theory, knowledge, and skills in working with individuals, families, small groups, organizations, communities, and public policy to enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and creating favorable societal conditions.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work prepares students for careers in areas such as gerontology, child welfare, juvenile delinquency, school social work, social services administration, community development, policy, counseling, and case management, among others. Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. Social work is an exciting, rewarding, and growing profession that is in high demand, as students are equipped with the knowledge, values, and skills with which to work with a variety of issues. With contemporary social issues such as child abuse, homelessness, racism, discrimination, AIDS, poverty, aging, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, violence against women, and juvenile delinquency, there has never been a more important need for social workers. The Social Work curriculum includes two practical experiences in real-world professional settings.
Asbury Social Work students have opportunities to participate in international practicum semester in Uganda or Romania. Additional study abroad opportunities include a Holocaust Studies Tour travel course to Germany and Poland, Paris semester, Spain semester, and others. Students interested in studying abroad should talk with their faculty academic advisor as early as possible in order to fit it into their academic plan.
Social work majors have enhanced their scope of practice by double majoring in Political Science, Intercultural Studies, Business, Recreation, Equine, and other disciplines.
For more information on the BSW program, email SocialWork@asbury.edu.
Hear from Alumni
Katie Wall ’21 is almost finished with her Master of Social Work degree while she works for a Christian mental health clinic in Florida. Katie shares: “What I enjoyed most about studying social work at Asbury was getting to learn under some incredibly intelligent professors who not only cared about how I was doing academically but also how I was doing as a person. What I learned as an undergraduate student helped prepare me for both graduate-level work and my career. I would encourage you to trust in God and follow His calling on your life. Social work is an incredible profession in which you can customize your studies based on your area of interest, and you truly can make a difference.” Accreditation
Asbury University Bachelor of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation. Students earning a B.A. or B.S. in Social Work from Asbury’s Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program have an opportunity to receive advanced standing into one year Master of Social Work programs at many CSWE accredited universities.
Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Commission on Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.
Accreditation applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.
For more information about social work accreditation, you may contact http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation/Information.aspx
Bachelor of Social Work Program Evaluation Results
4.0.4: The program uses Form AS B4 to report its most recent assessment outcomes to constituents and the public on its website and routinely updates (minimally every 2 years) these postings. View the current accreditation evaluation results below:
Asbury University Results – Updated August 2023
| Competency | Competency Benchmark | Percentage of Students Achieving Benchmark | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate of Students from All Program Options n = (48) |
Program Option #1 On-Campus Delivery System n = (27) |
Program Option #1 Online Delivery System n = (21) |
||
| Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior |
80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 or more measures | 93% | 94% | 92% |
| Competency 2: Engage in Diversity & Difference in Practice |
80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 or more measures | 95.5% | 99% | 92% |
| Competency 3: Advance Human Rights & Social, Economic, & Environmental Justice |
80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 or more measures | 93% | 100% | 86% |
| Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research & Research-Informed Practice |
80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 or more measures | 74.5% | 72% | 77% |
| Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice |
80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 or more measures | 78% | 78% | 78% |
| Competency 6: Engage with Individual, Families, Groups, Organizations, & Communities |
80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 or more measures | 90% | 96% | 84% |
| Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, & Communities |
80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 or more measures | 91.5% | 96% | 87% |
| Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, & Communities |
80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 or more measures | 92% | 97% | 87% |
| Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations & Communities |
80% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 or more measures | 93% | 98% | 88% |
The Asbury University BSW Program implemented EPAS 2015 prior to the last Self Study Evaluation by CSWE. This form was uploaded to the Asbury website in 2023.
Asbury Social Work Professor Publishes Article on Mental Health
Nov 7, 2022 — This month, Ethan Engelhardt, assistant professor of social work at Asbury University, co-published an article in the Military Medicine journal about help-seeking behavior for mental health needs among active duty Air Force personnel.
Students Learn About Social Work Policy at the State Level
Mar 30, 2022 — On February 15, Dr. Michelle Asbill led four seniors from the Social Work Department to Frankfort, Ky. to discuss public policies at the state level.
