Social Work
Humanities & Social Sciences
Degree awarded: Associate in Arts
Program Narrative
If you are looking for a career with meaning, one that allows you to have a direct and positive impact on the lives of others, social work is an excellent choice. Most positions in the field of social work require a bachelor's degree. Northampton's Social Work program is an affordable beginning to your baccalaureate degree in social work.
Social work requires excellent skills in communication, problem solving, observation, and critical thinking. It is a demanding and rewarding profession. Students in our program are expected to take part in hands-on service learning opportunities and are also encouraged to get involved in Social Work Club activities. If you are interested in learning more about the field, we suggest you consider taking the Introduction to Social Work course.
After graduation from a Bachelor in Social Work degree program (BSW), you may seek professional employment in one of the many social and community agencies locally and beyond or choose to enter a graduate program in social work (MSW). You may then become a licensed social worker.
Program Features
Northampton's core liberal arts curriculum gives you the solid background you will need to transfer successfully. Courses in sociology, psychology, history, and biology compliment the knowledge, values and skills of social work practice in the United States and globally.
Our program transfers to many schools of social work in the region, including Cedar Crest College, Alvernia College, Kutztown University, Marywood University, and Misericordia University. If you have a transfer program in mind, you are encouraged to check with that institution to see what its transfer requirements may be. You can then consult with your Northampton advisor and/or social work faculty for elective recommendations and guidance. The Social Work program is offered at both the Bethlehem and Monroe campuses, and online.
Students in the Social Work program may also use it to work toward a BS in Health Service Administration by starting at Northampton and transferring to East Stroudsburg University. Northampton and ESU have developed a course-for-course agreement so that students may start taking classes for their major while at Northampton, and then seamlessly transfer to ESU to complete the degree.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the program will:
- Be prepared for transfer to a four-year college/university offering the B.S.W. degree.
- Relate in writing the history and nature of social work in the U.S.
- Explore and articulate cultural values and contributions of diverse cultural groups.
- Learn to think critically in several liberal arts disciplines and to articulate problems and solutions in writing and speech.
Associate in Arts Degree
| Course Code | Course Title |
Credits
|
| First Semester | ||
| BIOS 105 | Contemporary Biology |
4
|
| CMTH 102 | Speech Communication |
3
|
| ENGL 101C | English I |
3
|
| SOCA 103 | Principles of Sociology (SSHB) |
3
|
| ARTA 101 or | Art History Survey (AH) or | |
| MUSC 101 or | Introduction to Music (AH) or | |
| CMTH 110 or | Introduction to the Theatre (AH) |
3
|
|
16
|
||
| Second Semester | ||
| BIOS 160 | Human Biology |
4
|
| ENGL 151C | English II |
3
|
| PSYC 103 | Introduction to Psychology |
3
|
| SCWK 101 | Introduction to Social Work |
3
|
| SOCA 125 | Sociology of Families |
3
|
|
16
|
||
| Third Semester | ||
| MATH 150 | Introductory Statistics |
3
|
| POLS 110 | American National Government (SIT) |
3
|
| SOCA 102G | Cultural Anthropology (D) |
3
|
| PSYC 258 | Developmental Psychology |
3
|
| -------------- | Elective + |
3
|
|
15
|
||
| Fourth Semester | ||
| HIST 163 | American History II |
3
|
| PHIL 202G | Ethics and Moral Problems |
3
|
| SOCA 105 | American Ethnicity |
3
|
| SOCA 204 | Social Problems |
3
|
| -------------- | Elective + |
3
|
|
15
|
||
| Total Credits |
62
|
+ Recommended Electives: Completion of two of the following three elective courses will satisfy the Writing Intensive (WI) requirement; SOCA 102G, SOCA 103G, or PHIL 202G. Completion of SOCA 102 G will satisfy the Diversity (d) requirement as well.
- Completion of both ENGL101C and ENGL151C satisfy the computer literacy requirement.
- Completion of two of the following elective courses: SOCA 102G, SOCA 125G, PHIL 202G satisfy the Writing Intensive (WI) requirement and SOCA 102G satisfies the Diversity (D) requirement.
Career Potential: You will find Social Workers in: Administration and Management, Advocacy and Community Organization, Aging and Gerontology, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs, Child Welfare and Family, Developmental Disabilities, Health Care Social Work, Justice and Corrections, International Social Work, Mental Health and Clinical Social Work, Occupational and EAP Social Work, Policy and Planning, Politics, Public Welfare, Research, School Social Work
NCC students have transferred to BSW PROGRAMS AT: Cedar Crest College, Kutztown University, Alvernia College, Millersville University,