Opportunities Available to You
Advising and Professional Development
- Your faculty advisor will help you develop an academic plan and provide academic and professional readiness support.
- Hone your communication skills with the help of a faculty mentor. Present at local, state, and international conferences and write letters to the editors, policy analysis reports, and articles in professional journals.
- Become active in social work and build your resume through events like Social Work Day at the Capital and MSSA conferences.
- Shape the future of the social work program by participating in search committees or BSSW Program Student Advisory Council.
- Join the Social Work Club and work with local community programs and grow your leadership skills.
- Take it a step further with Phi Alpha National Social Work Honor Society which provides academic recognition, leadership opportunities, and service activities.
Scholarships
- Over $8000 in social work scholarships are awarded annually. Scholarship Finder
- Students can apply for $5000/year in funding through the Child Welfare Stipend Program.
Study Away
Take a semester or even just a few weeks away to immerse yourself in a new experience through study away programs. Students and faculty have studied in Thailand, Australia, Finland, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, South Africa, and Belize. Where do you want to go?
Graduate Education
A BSSW opens many doors; our graduates pursue master’s degrees in law, corrections, human services planning and administration, urban planning, counseling psychology, and student personnel.
- About 25% of our BSSW graduates pursue graduate education; at least 50% go on to complete graduate education at some point in their career.
- With your BSSW degree, you can often complete a Master of Social Work degree in just one year.
EMPLOYMENT AFTER GRADUATION
About 15-20% of our graduates accept their first social work job offer before they graduate. BSSW social workers are case managers, counselors, advocates, planners, organizers, educators, and administrators. BSSW social workers work
- with all age groups including infants, children, adolescents, adults, and aging;
- with people at all levels including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
- at state, regional, federal, and international levels;
- in all kinds of social service settings including:
- county human service agencies;
- child welfare, schools, head start, and child care;
- hospitals, mental health, and healthcare settings;
- behavioral health, addictions, and violence treatment agencies;
- centers and homes for the aging;
- nonprofits, community action agencies, and advocacy organizations;
- planning agencies;
- organizations that address homelessness, poverty, and food insecurity; and
- judicial, legal, and legislative entities.
Learn more about what you can do with a degree in social work.
Find out more about social work employment in Minnesota.
