As a social worker, there are many ways you could care for the wellbeing of others. The National Association of Social Workers defines social work as “the professional activity of helping individuals, families, groups or communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning or creating societal conditions favorable to that goal.”
With a national job growth projection of 12% over the next decade, social workers can choose to work in settings such as schools, mental health clinics, child welfare and human service agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, substance abuse centers and others. The state of Alabama has identified social work as an area of critical need.
To get the educational foundation you need for this profession, AUM provides a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program as the concluding phase of a two-phase curriculum. In the first phase, you’ll be enrolled in the Pre-Social Work concentration of the Sociology bachelor’s degree program. Upon completion, you’ll be able to apply for admission into the BSW program, which is designed to take another two years to complete, depending on class loads and other factors.
In the first phase, you’ll be enrolled in the Pre-Social Work concentration of the Sociology bachelor’s degree program. Upon completion, you’ll be able to apply for admission into the BSW program, which is designed to take another two years to complete, depending on class loads and other factors.As a whole, the Social Work program at AUM educates social workers to be ethical and competent practitioners who intervene and advocate for social, economic and environmental justice across all system levels—individuals, families, groups, community, and society—while utilizing a generalist perspective.
AUM’s BSW program, grounded in a liberal arts perspective, educates social workers to be ethical and competent practitioners who intervene and advocate for social, environmental and economic justice across all system levels (individuals, families, groups, community, and society) while utilizing a generalist perspective within a person-in-environment context. The program promotes a commitment to professional ethics and values, critical thinking, professionalism, lifelong learning, evidence-based practice, strengths-based perspective, justice, and service. The program is committed to culturally responsive practice, social change, and the betterment of individuals, families, groups, community, and society in order to create a more equitable society locally, nationally, and globally.
Ethical and culturally responsive generalist-level social workers who work with vulnerable and diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Advocates for social environmental, and economic justice to advance well-being in an ever-evolving global and technological environment.
Lifelong learners who utilize critical thinking, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, and research to inform practice and policy.
Social workers who support the mission and purpose of social work.
If you seek admission to the program beginning in the Fall semester, apply between February 14-28. For the Spring semester, apply between September 15-30. For More information contact.
AUM’s BSW program does not grant course credit for life experience or previous work experience.
Submitting the following to the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Auburn University at Montgomery, Liberal Arts Room 331, Montgomery, AL 36124:
At least one letter of recommendation from someone you believe knows you well. This may include professors, social workers, work supervisors, or social service agency personnel. Note: AUM social work faculty (full-time or adjunct) cannot write your recommendation letter for admission into the program.
Current transcript (unofficial)
Resume
Written professional essay (see directions below)
Social Work Standards Form
Essay Instructions
Write an original 3 to 4-page typed essay in which you:
Discuss the reasons you believe Social Work is an appropriate career choice for you given your personal values, life experiences, and ability to contribute to the profession.
Discuss your history of helping others, or personal events which have contributed to your growth in awareness, sensitivity and understanding of diversity with regard to race, age, gender, lifestyle, class, culture, political ideology, immigration status, sexual orientation and gender identity, spirituality, or physical or intellectual ability.
Discuss your personal values as they relate to the profession of social work values. Please review NASW Code of Ethics thoroughly. If there is a conflict with the profession’s values, how will you resolve those conflicts
Discuss your strengths and areas of growth as it relates to becoming a social work professional.
This essay should not be a paper from a previous class.
Get Your Degree
The Know How
What you will know with a Social Work degree from AUM
We Encourage You To Think
The courses in this program help you become a critical thinker, with skills such as collecting and assessing information, drawing conclusions and evaluating those conclusions.
We Prepare You To Be Well-Rounded
Surveys with employers tell us that writing, researching, presenting, and critical reading are important career skills for serious job candidates. You’ll start developing those and other skills as you launch a lifetime of learning.
We Give You A Positive Framework For Advancement
This program will help you prepare for graduate studies—should you choose to pursue them—to advance in your career and have the best shot at advancement or leadership roles.
We Prepare You For The Job Market
Through case studies using real world examples, hands-on assignments, internship opportunities, and professional networking opportunities, you’ll be ready to jump into the job market.
Download Your Warhawk GPS!
Game Plan for Success
Your GPS is an academic tracker that provides a step-by-step guide to graduating on time.
Classes are small, so faculty will know you well and work closely with you.
Our department’s students regularly participate in annual meetings of the Alabama-Mississippi Social Work Conference, Alabama Conference of Social Work, and other conferences of regional professional organizations.
Students in this program have the opportunity to perform research and present it to professional organizations.
The department’s professors regularly publish highly regarded research reflecting the expertise in their fields, including environmental justice, reproductive rights, intimate partner violence, rural mobility, foster parents, and obesity perceptions.
Soaring Warhawks
For more information about the Marriage and Family concentration, please contact the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work at (334) 244-3378 or soc.anth.sw@aum.edu.
Apply to the University Honors Program, a diverse community of students who take classes together, work on community service projects, and travel the U.S. and abroad.
With a sociology degree with a concentration in Social Work, you will be ready to undertake a variety of career choices. AUM’s Career Development Center helps you jumpstart your job search and use your network to expand your career options.
Submitting the following to the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Auburn University at Montgomery, Liberal Arts Room 331, Montgomery, AL 36124:
At least one letter of recommendation from someone you believe knows you well. This may include professors, social workers, work supervisors, or social service agency personnel. Note: AUM social work faculty (full-time or adjunct) cannot write your recommendation letter for admission into the program.
Write an original 3 to 4-page typed essay in which you: This essay should not be a paper from a previous class.
Discuss the reasons you believe Social Work is an appropriate career choice for you given your personal values, life experiences, and ability to contribute to the profession.
Discuss your history of helping others, or personal events which have contributed to your growth in awareness, sensitivity and understanding of diversity with regard to race, age, gender, lifestyle, class, culture, political ideology, immigration status, sexual orientation and gender identity, spirituality, or physical or intellectual ability.
Discuss your personal values as they relate to the profession of social work values. Please review NASW Code of Ethics thoroughly. If there is a conflict with the profession’s values, how will you resolve those conflicts
Discuss your strengths and areas of growth as it relates to becoming a social work professional.
Social Work program admission applications are accepted twice per year.
Fall Semester | Applications are accepted February 14 – 28.
Spring Semester | Applications are accepted September 15 – 30.
Degree Options
Bachelor of Social Work
With this bachelor’s degree as your educational foundation, you have many career possibilities.
Career/Job Title
Entry-level Education
Job Growth 2020-2030
Annual Median Salary
Social and Community Service Manager
Bachelor’s degree
15% (Faster than average)
$74,000
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, Mental Health Counselor
Bachelor’s degree
23% (Much faster than average)
$47,660
Social Worker
Bachelor’s degree (master’s degree for clinical social worker)
12% (Faster than average)
$50,390
Note: Salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education, training, demographics, and industry. Here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This degree requires students to meet on campus. Students in these courses enroll in a program to connect in a campus setting and to collaborate using a variety of technological and educational tools. Professors play an inspirational role in building relationships among teams and individuals in this setting. The criteria for many programs can only be met with In-Class coursework. Be sure to check with your advisor to understand the best route to take.
In-Class
Social Work
Courses Include
To complete this degree concentration, you will need to complete courses in the university core, fine arts, and electives. Contact us for a current listing of courses required to complete this program.
The course listings below are only a few of the classes this concentration offers. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalogAND consult with an academic advisor.
Course #
Course Name
Course Description
SOWK 1000
Introduction to Social Work
Examine the community social service agencies and programs offered including career opportunities in numerous fields of social work.
SOWK 2000
Professional Development for Social Workers
Learn professional behavior, self-care, basic knowledge and skills relevant to professional social work practice. Course examines personal values, as well as societal values, and analyzes their interaction and interrelationship with the social work professional values.
SOWK 2220
History of Social Welfare
Understand the philosophical and historical perspectives of social welfare services and social work practices.
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