Elizabeth City State University Social Work Programs

Ready to create real change in underserved communities? Elizabeth City State University Social Work Programs will prepare you to become a skilled professional who serves people from all backgrounds. The program stands out with its focus on first-generation African American students and other underserved groups in rural Northeastern North Carolina’s counties.

Students learning about social work colleges in North Carolina will notice ECSU’s distinction among the 25 schools that offer social work degree programs statewide. Your education includes minimum of 440 hours of supervised field experience at selected human service agencies. These hands-on experiences are a great way to get skills that employers seek. The program also takes a global point of view with emphasis on rural and developing communities, which prepares you to work in different professional settings. ECSU holds its position as the #17 ranked social work program in North Carolina, even with a 13% decrease in social services-related degree completions near Elizabeth City since 2019.

In this piece, you’ll find all the essential information about starting your journey toward licensed practice through ECSU’s detailed social work education.

Types of Social Work Degrees Offered at Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City State University creates clear paths to a career in social work. Students can earn a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree that builds a strong foundation for their professional growth. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which means students receive education that meets national professional standards.

Students need 120 credit hours to complete the BSW program. The social work major takes up 48 of these hours. A minimum 2.5 GPA must be maintained throughout the program. These high academic standards help students prepare for their future careers effectively.

The program stands out because of its strong emphasis on ground experience. Students complete at least 440 hours of supervised fieldwork in selected human service agencies. This hands-on training lets them apply classroom knowledge to real situations. Employers value these practical skills greatly.

ECSU doesn’t offer a Master of Social Work (MSW) program right now. However, the BSW program gives students excellent preparation for advanced degrees at other institutions. The university has agreements with several MSW programs in North Carolina that make graduate school transitions easier.

Job prospects look promising for graduates. ECSU’s social work alumni work in child welfare agencies, hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, and community organizations. The program excels at preparing students to help rural communities in northeastern North Carolina. This focus helps address the workforce needs in these underserved areas.

The program combines theory and practice effectively. Students learn about human behavior, social welfare policy, research methods, and ethical practice. These components are vital for becoming a licensed social worker in North Carolina.

Degree Specializations

ECSU’s Bachelor of Social Work program helps you become a generalist practitioner who can help vulnerable populations. The program takes a unique approach by offering certificates and minors alongside your core social work classes instead of multiple degree tracks.

The Substance Use and Addiction Certificate stands out as a great online option. This training will give you the knowledge you need to earn the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential in North Carolina. Your job prospects in clinical and community settings will improve by a lot with this certification, especially given today’s substance abuse crisis.

The Gerontology Minor at ECSU teaches you how to work with aging populations effectively. This specialty becomes more valuable as population changes create a greater need for social workers who understand elder care.

Field Education is the core of specialization at ECSU. The Council on Social Work Education made field education their “integrative curricular area” in 2008 where students connect theory with real practice. You’ll get hands-on experience through carefully chosen internships that match your interests while learning professional practices.

The program’s rural and developing community focus creates a unique specialization path. You’ll learn to tackle challenges specific to these underserved areas, including gaps in social, economic, environmental, political, cultural, and educational areas.

ECSU’s program offers an amazing benefit – many graduates can qualify for advanced standing in MSW programs and complete their master’s degree in just one academic year. This faster route makes specialized graduate-level practice areas more available and budget-friendly.

The curriculum prepares you to work with people from all backgrounds while promoting social, economic, and environmental justice—skills that matter in any social work specialty.

Online and Hybrid Options

ECSU does not currently offer an online option for its Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program. The program focuses on intensive, hands-on learning experiences and close faculty mentorship that work best through traditional in-person instruction.

Students interested in boosting their social work credentials can take advantage of ECSU’s “Social Work, Substance Use and Addiction Certificate” that runs 100% online. This specialized certificate helps professionals working in addiction services earn valuable credentials while keeping their current jobs.

The core BSW program stays campus-based, but ECSU shows strong dedication to online education in other fields. The university makes sure its distance learning programs deliver the same practical, rigorous education as on-campus options—with schedules that fit working professionals’ needs. Students can access learning materials and classes anytime through the university’s student portal.

ECSU uses Examity, a complete online proctoring service that gives students flexibility and prevents academic dishonesty. The university also uses Echo360 for screencast capabilities, lecture capture, and live streaming that merge smoothly with Blackboard for better learning experiences.

ECSU’s dedication to quality online education shows through its membership in Quality Matters since January 2015. This faculty-centered peer review process checks online course quality using research-based tools with 8 general standards and 42 specific criteria.

The university’s online programs are priced competitively at $500 per semester for in-state students and $2,500 for out-of-state students. While there’s no online BSW option, ECSU offers affordable ways to boost your social work credentials through specialized certificates that work alongside traditional degree programs.

Graduation Rates

ECSU’s social work program success can be measured by looking at graduation outcomes. The university awarded 21 bachelor’s degrees in social work during the 2021-2022 academic year. This number shows a 16% drop from the previous year’s 25 degrees, which aligns with the institution’s broader graduation patterns.

Elizabeth City State University’s six-year graduation rate sits at about 40%, which puts it in the bottom 20% of schools nationwide. This rate matches the average of ECSU’s peer institutions but falls 8 percentage points short of the UNC system average. Students typically finish their bachelor’s degree in 4.65 years.

We have a long way to go, but we can build on this progress. The six-year graduation rate climbed to 47% by 2017, showing a 5.3% increase from earlier groups. Female students achieve higher completion rates at 50.3% compared to male students at 42.8%. African American students showed remarkable growth with their graduation rate jumping 15% to reach 47.1% by 2017.

Students must meet specific requirements to earn a social work degree at ECSU. The checklist includes finishing all general education courses and keeping an overall GPA of at least 2.0. Students also need to meet major-specific requirements, pass required exams, and complete 440 hours of supervised field experience. The graduation application deadline falls on February 6 for spring commencement.

ECSU rewards academic excellence through three Latin honor categories based on GPA: Cum Laude (3.25-3.59), Magna Cum Laude (3.60-3.79), and Summa Cum Laude (3.80-4.00). Students must complete at least 50 semester hours at the university to qualify for these honors.

Everything in ECSU’s graduation rates reflects its core purpose of helping first-generation students from underserved communities. This focus appears in both the Strategic Plan 2020-25 and Degree Completion Plan 2016, which want to improve graduation outcomes in all programs.

Career Outcomes

ECSU social work graduates have excellent job prospects. Data shows 77% of all university graduates find jobs within three quarters after graduation. ECSU ranks at the top among UNC System institutions with an impressive 98% employer satisfaction rating.

Your ECSU social work degree opens doors to many career opportunities. The program equips you with skills needed for roles like:

• Children and Family Social Worker – supporting vulnerable families and children in foster care
• School Social Worker – helping students develop academically and socially
• Healthcare Social Worker – helping patients get through complex healthcare systems
• Case Manager – linking people with services they need
• Research Assistant – studying social issues
• Probation Officer – supporting offender rehabilitation

Educational services attract most ECSU graduates compared to other sectors. This trend matches the growing need for social workers in schools who can address student mental health issues.

The Career Development Center provides great resources to kickstart your career. Students get resume help, interview practice, career fairs, and networking events. The Viking Career Closet stands out by offering free professional clothes to wear at interviews and career events. This removes financial barriers when starting your professional journey.

Internships boost your job prospects significantly. Some students earn while learning through paid internships with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services HBCU program. Others work with the North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative and the Northeastern North Carolina Partnership for Public Health. These internships often turn into full-time jobs.

A BSW from ECSU sets you up perfectly for immediate work or advanced studies. Many graduates move on to prestigious MSW programs where they qualify for advanced standing. This lets them complete their master’s in just one academic year.

What’s Unique about the Social Work Programs at Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City State University’s social work program stands out because of its mission-driven focus on serving historically underrepresented populations. The university prepares social workers who serve predominantly first-generation African American students and other underserved groups in rural northeastern North Carolina.

ECSU’s program shines through its close-knit learning environment. Students receive tailored attention throughout their academic experience with a student-to-faculty ratio of just 13:1. Small classes help build lasting relationships with professors who become dedicated mentors even after graduation.

ECSU’s most notable advantage is its affordability compared to many competitors. The university ranks among North Carolina’s most affordable institutions, with tuition rates substantially lower than similar programs statewide. Students from various economic backgrounds can access quality social work education since in-state tuition stays under $5,000 per academic year.

The program’s steadfast dedication to rural social work practice helps address critical workforce shortages in northeastern North Carolina. Students develop specialized skills to work in communities with limited resources—expertise that employers value across the region.

Faculty members combine extensive practical experience with academic credentials. Their approach balances theoretical knowledge with real-life application. Many professors stay actively involved in local community initiatives and create chances for students to work on meaningful social change projects.

The program excels in these distinctive areas:

• Cultural competence training that helps you work with diverse rural populations
• Strong community partnerships that create unique field placement opportunities
• Leadership development focused on advocacy for marginalized communities
• Integrated trauma-informed practice across the curriculum

Unlike larger institutions, ECSU’s social work program promotes a supportive community where faculty know students by name rather than number. This tailored approach includes career preparation, as faculty connect students to jobs that match their interests and strengths.