Winston-Salem State University Social Work Programs

Looking for a meaningful career that’s needed right now? The Social Work Programs at Winston-Salem State University can lead you forward in a field that will grow 12% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all U.S. occupations.

Winston-Salem State University’s Department of Social Work holds national accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education. The bachelor’s program features a complete social work curriculum that prepares you for professional success. The results speak for themselves. The university awarded 30 bachelor’s degrees in social work during the 2021-2022 academic year, showing a 15% increase from the previous year. On top of that, 92% of WSSU students who applied to Master of Social Work programs got in, and 80% received advanced standing status.

The BSSW program offers various specializations, online and hybrid learning choices, graduation rates, and career outcomes. You’ll see what makes the Winston Salem State social work program a valuable step in your career path.

Types of Social Work Degrees Offered at Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University provides well-laid-out social work education paths to help you get professional licensure and practice. The core of the department is the Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) program. Students learn fundamental knowledge and skills they need for entry-level social work positions. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has fully accredited this undergraduate program, which ensures your degree meets national professional standards.

The university makes it easy to move into graduate-level education if you have advanced credentials. Winston-Salem State University doesn’t currently offer its own MSW program. However, the BSSW program prepares you thoroughly to get into Master of Social Work programs at other institutions.

The bachelor’s program helps you become skilled at these key areas:

• Human behavior in social environments
• Social welfare policy and services
• Research methodologies for evidence-based practice
• Direct practice with individuals, families, and communities
• Professional ethics and values

The curriculum includes field practicum experiences where you can use theoretical knowledge in ground settings under professional supervision. These practical components blend throughout the program and build your confidence and professional identity before graduation.

The core team works with you closely to spot your interests and career goals. They guide you through graduate school applications effectively. The program’s strong academic foundation shows results – 92% of WSSU social work graduates who apply to MSW programs get accepted. About 80% receive advanced standing status, which can reduce the time needed to complete a master’s degree.

The Department of Social Work keeps its curriculum current with social work practice standards and emerging societal needs. This steadfast dedication to excellence in education prepares you for licensure examinations and helps you practice effectively in various settings where social workers tackle complex human needs.

Degree Specializations

Winston-Salem State University’s bachelor’s in social work program follows a well-laid-out curriculum that builds your expertise as a generalist practitioner. Students must complete 43 semester hours of dedicated social work (SOW) courses and 18 semester hours of support and related coursework, adding up to 61 semester hours. Your program standing depends on earning a grade of “C” or better in all required courses.

You’ll develop professional capabilities across many dimensions through this comprehensive curriculum. Key areas you’ll learn about include:

• Human behavior and development
• Research and evaluation methodologies
• Social welfare policy analysis
• Cultural diversity and inclusion practices
• Problem-solving methods
• Community development and resource management
• Professional advocacy
• Ethical standards and legal frameworks
• Interprofessional collaboration skills

The program builds on social work’s historical context that shapes today’s practice. Your studies will cover current topics in social welfare policy, research methodologies, human behavior, professional ethics, and intervention methods.

Students must take SOC 3356 (Sociology of the Family) and choose either SOC 4364 (Race and Culture) or SOC 3343 (Cultural Diversity) as support courses. Your academic advisor will help you select the remaining 12 semester hours of electives that line up with your specific interests.

This program gives you the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed for direct service positions with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. So you’ll learn how to use integrated assessment strategies when addressing human needs throughout your career.

Graduates demonstrate nine core competencies set by the Council on Social Work Education (2015). These include ethical practice, participation in diversity, human rights advancement, research-informed practice, policy engagement, and knowing how to effectively engage, assess, intervene, and review practice with various client systems.

Online and Hybrid Options

Educational flexibility is a vital part of planning your academic experience. WSSU provides distance learning options in a variety of disciplines. The social work program sticks to a traditional in-person format for most courses.

The bachelor’s in social work program uses a face-to-face teaching model, unlike other WSSU programs that are fully online. This setup lines up with the program’s focus on building interpersonal skills through classroom interaction and supervised field work.

All the same, WSSU has built up its digital learning abilities throughout campus. The university “continually strives to promote and facilitate the development and delivery of credit-bearing online courses, certificates and degree programs”. Social work students benefit from this commitment through hybrid courses and tech-enhanced learning spaces.

Students who want more flexible advanced degrees in social work have several choices in North Carolina. The state has 16 MSW programs, and four of them offer online or hybrid formats. “UNC at Chapel Hill and East Carolina University both offer MSW programs that can be completed remotely, or at least with a great deal of flexibility”.

WSSU’s approach to online education stands out in these ways:

• Creating “accredited, relevant, engaging and timely” distance courses
• Supporting students “who have little or no opportunity to experience higher education in a traditional setting”
• Students must participate actively instead of studying at their own pace
• Academic standards match traditional courses

WSSU’s distance learning structure keeps growing, even though online options are limited for the social work program. The School of Health Sciences, which includes the Department of Social Work, provides “online and hybrid learning opportunities” in related fields.

Therefore, a WSSU social work degree means you’ll mostly learn on campus. Digital learning tools and some hybrid courses will add to your experience, based on instructor priorities and program needs.

Graduation Rates

Winston-Salem State University tracks graduation outcomes to learn about how well their programs work. The university showed remarkable growth in student success metrics that placed it among top performers regionally and nationwide.

WSSU’s success rates jumped by 18.5 percentage points since 2009. This puts the university in the “Top 3” among all UNC System Schools, right behind UNC Charlotte and North Carolina State University. These numbers reflect the university’s dedication to academic excellence.

The university’s social work programs stand out with exceptional graduate outcomes. Their social work students excelled in 2019, when 92% got accepted into MSW programs at prestigious schools like North Carolina State University, UNC Chapel Hill, and others. This is a big deal as it means that 80% of these students received advanced standing status and completed their MSW degree in just 11 months.

WSSU’s overall graduation metrics include:

• 46% overall graduation rate
• 28% four-year graduation rate
• 46% six-year graduation rate
• 76% retention rate

Some measurements show the six-year graduation rate reaches 59%. First-time, full-time students graduate at 48% within six years. The numbers look better for returning full-time students who graduate at 63% within the same timeframe.

WSSU ranks #5 among all HBCUs with a 75.2% success rate in social mobility outcomes. These findings come from UNCF’s report “Transforming Generations: Social Mobility Outcomes for HBCU Alumni” (2021).

The university wants to achieve even more. Despite these impressive rankings, WSSU takes a bold stance—”Until the university retains and graduates 100% of its students over a sustained period of time, we have work to be done with student success”. The university plans to boost retention and completion rates while closing the achievement gaps between male and female students.

Career Outcomes

A bachelor’s in social work from Winston-Salem State University opens doors to excellent employment opportunities. Social work jobs are growing steadily, with positions expected to increase by 12% from 2020 to 2030. This growth rate surpasses most U.S. occupations.

The Winston Salem State social work program prepares you for several entry-level roles such as:

• Caseworker
• Community Outreach Worker
• Human Services Specialist
• Mental Health Assistant
• Residential Case Manager

WSSU social work graduates earn a median salary of $29,617. While this is less than the national average of $37,334, students benefit from lower education costs. The median debt for WSSU graduates is $15,921, which is better than the national average of $18,722.

The program’s strength lies in preparing students for graduate studies. An impressive 92% of WSSU students who applied to MSW programs gained admission. Even better, 80% received advanced standing status, which helps them complete their master’s degree in just 11 months instead of two years.

Your social work degree creates opportunities beyond traditional roles. Graduates can pursue careers in administration, policy advocacy, corporate social responsibility, human resources, research, or training and development. Winston-Salem area salaries range from $35,150 to $105,190, depending on your specialization.

WSSU stands out for creating economic opportunities. The university ranks 7th nationally on CollegeNET’s Social Mobility Index. It’s the only East Coast institution to maintain top-20 status for five consecutive years. This achievement shows WSSU’s success in helping students from low-income backgrounds build promising careers.

Career Development Services supports students throughout their academic years. They provide valuable resources to explore careers, develop professional skills, and prepare for employment.

What’s Special about the Social Work Programs at Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University’s social work programs go beyond simple curriculum requirements. WSSU, a historically Black university, shows a deep commitment to serving diverse populations. Students receive cultural competency training that sets them apart from other institutions.

Students pursuing advanced degrees benefit from an outstanding support system. The results speak for themselves – 92% of WSSU social work graduates who apply to MSW programs get accepted, and 80% receive advanced standing status. These numbers showcase the exceptional preparation students receive.

WSSU has built strong community partnerships throughout the Winston-Salem area. Students connect their classroom learning with ground application through field placements. These opportunities often turn into jobs after graduation because community agencies value WSSU graduates’ preparation.

Faculty quality makes this program special. Professors combine extensive practice experience with terminal degrees. They bring academic excellence and practical knowledge to the classroom. Students receive customized guidance from faculty mentors based on their career goals.

WSSU’s social work program stands out by:

• Helping students prepare for licensure exams with specialized resources
• Creating meaningful connections through small class sizes
• Offering specialized training for work with underserved communities
• Building strong alumni networks that help with job placement
• Weaving social justice principles throughout the curriculum

The department helps first-generation college students and those from historically marginalized communities succeed. This dedication to accessibility and excellence makes WSSU a leader in social mobility outcomes.

The program takes an all-encompassing approach to student growth. It develops not only academic skills but also professional identity, emotional intelligence, and cultural humility—everything in effective social work practice needs in diverse settings.