Barton College Social Work Programs
Barton College offers a comprehensive social work education with personalized attention through its 1:11 faculty-to-student ratio. The program holds full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), ensuring students receive quality instruction that meets professional standards and prepares them for successful careers in social work.
Barton College’s social work program ranks #12 in North Carolina, making it a standout choice among social work colleges. The college offers two distinct tracks to match your needs. Traditional students can attend day classes, while working adults can pursue their degree through the online Professional Studies Program. The program builds strong foundations in diversity and social and economic advocacy to prepare students for ground challenges.
This piece answers your questions about Barton College admissions, program options, and career outcomes. The college’s competitive acceptance rate of 13% reflects its commitment to quality education. Senior-year field placement at a social service agency helps students build practical skills that are vital for their future careers.
Various Social Work Degrees Offered at Barton College
Barton College gives students several ways to start their social work career. Each program meets specific educational needs and career goals.
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is the core of Barton’s social work education. This undergraduate degree readies you for entry-level positions in social service settings of all types. Students learn both theory and hands-on applications that build a solid foundation in social work principles.
Students with other commitments can choose between two educational paths at Barton College. The Traditional Program runs on a regular daytime schedule that works best for full-time students. The Professional Studies Program helps working adults by offering flexible online courses.
These programs stand out because they adapt to students’ learning styles and life situations. The Traditional Program focuses on face-to-face interactions and campus learning. The Professional Studies Program lets busy professionals balance their studies with work.
Both paths lead to a BSW degree with similar academic standards. The main difference shows up in how courses are delivered and scheduled. Whatever path you pick, you’ll take the same core courses and complete field education that prepares you for professional practice.
Barton College has created these options so every student can get quality social work education. The programs include field placements, research projects, and complete coursework that meets Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) standards.
Think over your personal situation, priorities, and career goals before picking a program. Barton’s academic advisors will help find your best fit and guide you through your social work education experience.
Degree Specializations
Barton College’s social work curriculum lets students shape their education with specialized electives that line up with their career goals. Students in the Bachelor of Social Work program can choose from several focus areas to prepare for different professional roles after graduation.
You’ll find plenty of ways to customize your degree at Barton based on your career dreams. The program offers specialized courses like Child Welfare, Health and Wellness, Healthcare for the Aging, and Juvenile Justice, plus many more options. These electives work alongside core social work classes to help you become skilled at specific areas of practice.
Barton’s partnership with the North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative (NC-CWEC) stands out as a unique chance for specialization. This special collaboration brings together Barton College, the North Carolina Division of Social Services, and 20 other schools throughout the state. Students get access to specialized courses that meet North Carolina’s pre-service requirements and learn about child welfare practices and theory.
Every specialization builds on core social work principles. Whatever focus area you pick, you’ll study human behavior and development, community resources, family dynamics, social welfare policy, research methods, and professional ethics. This complete approach will give a solid mix of broad professional skills and focused expertise.
The way specializations work at Barton shows social work’s diverse nature. Smart elective choices can set you up for specific careers while keeping the flexibility of your BSW degree. The numbers speak for themselves – Barton graduates earn a median salary of $38,312 per year after finishing their bachelor’s degree, which beats the national average of $37,334 for social work graduates.
The program’s course schedule helps all students, especially those in Professional Studies, take required and elective courses in a predictable order. This well-laid-out system makes it easier to plan your specialization while staying on track for graduation.
Online and Hybrid Options
Barton College Social Work Programs stand out with their range of study options. Students often have many responsibilities to handle, so the college provides several ways to complete their social work education.
North Carolina’s working professionals can choose Barton’s Professional Studies Program as a handy online option. Students can mix live and self-paced classes to fit their studies around other commitments. This well-laid-out flexibility helps students earn their degree while keeping their full-time job.
The quality of Barton’s online education matches its classroom teaching. Online students learn from the same expert teachers who lead campus classes. These teachers stay available throughout a student’s educational trip. They run virtual classes and help with discussions, coursework, and assignments.
Barton’s online system gives students a smooth experience with course materials ready anytime. Students can study at their own pace because everything is available 24/7. They can spend more time on tough topics or move quickly through content they know well.
Virtual learning at Barton creates chances to build networks too. Students connect with classmates from different places through video calls, discussion boards, and team projects. These connections encourage shared learning and bring different points of view to the field.
Students can also choose mixed online and in-person classes at Barton. Evening and weekend classes add more ways to complete the degree. With so many options, students can find a path to their social work degree that fits their lifestyle, whatever their schedule looks like.
Graduation Rates
Graduation rates are vital for students looking into Barton College Social Work Programs. These numbers show how well students finish their degrees and get into their careers.
Students at Barton College complete their programs at a steady rate. The college’s 40% four-year graduation rate and 54% six-year graduation rate paint a clear picture. A typical student needs about 4.19 years to earn their bachelor’s degree.
Barton College keeps track of student success through its six-year National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) total completion rate. This rate counts degrees earned by students whatever school they graduate from. Recent numbers from Fall 2017 show results that are a big deal as it means that the baseline rate of 55.8% by 16.4 percentage points. These numbers prove strong results even with transfer students in the mix.
Graduate-level social work programs at Barton set high standards. Each master’s program wants to hit or go beyond an 80% graduation rate. They measure this at two or three years based on the program plan. The college won’t accept anything below 70% for graduate program completion.
Different student groups show varying success rates. Asian students lead with a perfect 100% graduation rate. International students follow at 75%, and Hispanic students at 70%. White students graduate at 52%, while Black/African-American students complete at 43%.
Full-time students who start fresh usually do better than part-timers. Traditional students make up about 57% of Barton’s population. The college watches these numbers closely to help students succeed.
The 70% retention rate shows that most students stick around after their first year. This matches the national average of 70.57%. Students get the support they need during their tough first year at college.
Career Outcomes
A social work degree from Barton College creates paths to career opportunities in many settings. Graduates can work as generalist practitioners in hospitals, domestic violence programs, criminal justice agencies, and mental health centers. The program gives students detailed preparation to handle ground challenges.
Barton College social work graduates earn a median salary of $38,312 annually, which surpasses the national average of $37,334 for social work bachelor’s degree recipients. Social work professionals in North Carolina earn different salaries based on their specialty. Child, family, and school social workers make approximately $53,630 yearly, while healthcare social workers earn about $64,590 annually. Mental health specialists receive around $52,640 per year.
The job market looks promising across the state with significant growth projections. Healthcare social workers should see a 16.6% job growth rate through 2032 in North Carolina. The state currently offers plenty of positions with 14,350 openings for child and family social workers, 4,210 for healthcare social workers, and 1,820 for mental health and substance abuse specialists.
Many Barton graduates choose to further their education. The BSW program builds a strong foundation that helps students gain advanced standing in graduate programs. Alumni have pursued higher education at prestigious schools like Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Maryland, East Carolina University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and several others.
Barton’s career support services continue to help alumni without any cost after graduation. Students get professional guidance, career planning help, interview preparation, resume critiques, and access to job postings through Handshake—an online career management system. The college also connects students with potential employers through specialized career fairs for social work and human services majors.
What’s Different about the Social Work Programs at Barton College
Barton College Social Work Programs stand out from other social work colleges in North Carolina. Barton values small class sizes with a faculty-to-student ratio of 1:11, which gives students individual attention throughout their educational trip.
Field education serves as the core of Barton’s approach. Students get hands-on experience in actual social service agencies under professional supervision through well-laid-out senior-year placements. This practical component connects theoretical knowledge with real-life application and prepares students to work right after graduation.
The program’s full accreditation by the Council on Social Work Accreditation (CSWE) shows its excellence meets national standards. This credential proves valuable to graduates because it allows smooth transition into advanced standing programs at graduate schools. Students can potentially complete their master’s degree up to one year faster.
Barton’s dual-track approach provides exceptional flexibility among social work programs. The college meets a variety of student needs through Traditional and Professional Studies pathways—perfect for full-time students or working professionals who want career growth.
The college’s partnership with the North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative creates specialization opportunities rarely found elsewhere. Students connect with specialized curricula that meets North Carolina’s pre-service competency requirements.
Students develop skills to work with culturally diverse communities through a curriculum focused on diversity and social and economic advocacy. They learn to address disparities and promote social justice for populations of all types.
Students thinking over Barton college should note these unique program features. Individual attention, practical experience, flexible learning options, and mutually beneficial alliances create an educational experience that meets today’s social work practice requirements.