Department of Social Work
The Department of Social Work houses an undergraduate major – the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (B.S.W.) and a graduate degrees, a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) and the Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.). The Department also contributes to several minors, certificates and dual-degree programs within the realm of social science. All programs are designed to provide students with the knowledge areas and skill sets to analyze, critically evaluate and understand global and domestic concerns and how to apply that knowledge to ameliorate and prevent social problems. The Department places strong emphasis on social change, human diversity, cross-cultural awareness, social justice and service.
Our Social Work programs are dedicated to excellence in the education of professional social workers at the bachelor’s and master’s level and serve as an exemplar and model for the University’s mission pertaining to servant leadership. The programs are committed to student-centeredness and active community engagement in the pursuit of social and economic justice. Therefore, the mission of the programs is to serve the needs of society by preparing professionals who are competent in social work methodology and practice using an evidence-based framework that is grounded on the values and principles of the profession. Both the B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and our M.S.W. program is ranked as a Best Graduate Program for Social Work by U.S. News & World Report.
The Public Administration program serves students interested in careers in the public and nonprofit sectors. Also ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Graduate Program for Nonprofit Management, the M.P.A. is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). As part of that process, our New Jersey based department goes through a rigorous self-study process where every aspect of the program is critically examined.