Financial Aid
Being able to pay for attending college is no easy task. Located in the Seay Building, the Office of Financial Aid offers assistance to you and your parents to ensure that you have the financial resources to focus on your education.
If you are inspired by the idea of helping people overcome life’s most difficult challenges, read on.
Centenary University’s Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Program will prepare you for a meaningful career in generalist social work or graduate study in this ever-growing field. The purpose of the social work profession is to promote and enhance human and community wellbeing, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of those who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty. The BSW Program at Centenary has earned national accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Our curriculum provides engaging learning opportunities in the classroom and in the field to help students develop the knowledge, values and skills needed for professional practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
BSW Program Mission
The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program at Centenary University is to prepare students for generalist social work practice and/or entry to graduate school at the advanced standing level. The BSW program is guided by the purpose of the social work profession; that is, to promote and enhance human and community well-being, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of those who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty. The BSW Program curriculum is grounded by the core social work values of service, the dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, social justice, human rights, scientific inquiry, integrity and competence, and is framed by the strengths perspective. The BSW Program is committed to fostering relationships with the regional social service community and to the ongoing process of creating and sustaining learning environments in which respect for all persons and understanding of diversity and difference are practiced, and providing educational experiences that encourage a commitment to self-care, community service, and lifelong learning and development.
A Direct Path to Your Career
Social Work is among the faster growing careers in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Social workers are needed in many settings, such as schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, family counseling programs, substance abuse programs, senior centers and the military.
Centenary’s Social Work program, one of only a handful of B.S.W. programs in New Jersey, offers several advantages, including:
- A structured two-semester internship for seniors, coordinated by the B.S.W., under the supervision of an agency-based Field Instructor who holds a master’s degree in social work and certification as a Field Instructor. This internship allows students to practice the skills they learned in the classroom.
- A CSWE-accredited degree, which makes you eligible for status as a Certified Social Worker (CSW) in the state of New Jersey. You may also apply for Advanced Standing in Master of Social Work (MSW) programs throughout the country, and transfer up to 18 credits toward your M.S.W. degree.
In recent years, our graduates have been accepted as Advanced Standing students at a wide range of graduate programs, including Columbia, Fordham, Kean, Kutztown, Marywood, Monmouth, NYU, Rutgers, Temple, Texas State and the University of South Florida.
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Small Classes, Experienced Teachers
Because of our small class sizes, our students have the opportunity to work closely with our faculty members, all of whom are experienced social workers who continue to be involved in the community. The B.S.W. Program’s cohort model, which allows B.S.W. students to take many of their classes together, also provides strong peer support throughout the program.
The B.S.W. is a professional degree that provides graduates with the opportunity to begin their job search with some well-established contacts in the social service community, and a significant amount of practical experience.
Courses
Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)
Featured Profile
Centenary Faculty Member is Named New Jersey Social Worker of the Year
Centenary University's Faculty Member is Featured on NJ.com
“The purpose of social work is to protect and advance human rights, and social, economic and environmental justice. What’s unique about this profession is that it has social justice at the core of its mission,” claims professor and social worker Terri Klemm. “We start from a strengths perspective, and that defines and influences the way we approach working with clients, families and communities.”