Our social work majors are trained to be professionally responsible, beginning generalist practitioners with the knowledge and skills necessary to intervene on behalf of diverse groups. Graduates may be able to earn a Master's degree in Social Work MSW within one (1) year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the country due to an increasing need for health and aging-related services as well as child, family, and school-based supports.
Social Work Program Highlights
Professional social workers are the nation’s largest providers of mental health services and are often the only mental health care providers serving residents in economically and socially disadvantaged communities. Daemen's social work program’s principal educational objective is to prepare students for careers in the many fields of social work and/or for advanced education at the graduate level.
The curriculum is carefully sequenced around a professional foundation that includes content on the following:
- Social work values and ethics
- Diversity, social, and economic justice
- Populations-at-risk
- Human behavior and the social environment
- Social welfare policy and services
- Social work research and practice
- A field practicum
Program Features
The program of study leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) at the baccalaureate level.
- Student learning emphasizes critical thinking, understanding of human behavior and diversity, use of research, and advocacy for social and economic justice.
- Small class sizes help facilitate enhanced interaction with faculty dedicated to teaching excellence and community engagement.
- Personal attention and one-on-one advisement regarding coursework and career opportunities is a hallmark of the program.
- Graduates may be able to earn a Master's degree in Social Work within one (1) year through Advanced Standing opportunities.
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Did you Know?
- 100% of recent BASW graduates stated they received the support they needed to succeed academically.
- 100% of recent BASW graduates indicated that they felt a sense of belonging and community in the program.
- 100% of recent BASW graduates felt prepared to work with diverse populations and solve complex problems.
- 100% of recent BASW graduates found their field education experiences enabled them to grow as a social work professional.
- 85% of recent BASW graduates were employed or accepted into graduate school before graduation.
- 100% of recent BASW graduates would choose Daemen if they had to start over again.
About Our BASW Program
Students can obtain two undergraduate degrees in four years and their Master of Public Health or Master of Social Work in one additional year. LEARN MORE
Social Work Majors gain real world experience by:
- Participating in a two semester internship (approximately 15 hours per week) in their senior year where they work directly with social work clients and/or in the community under professional supervision.
- Learning through various service learning opportunities including work with refugees and their families, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and children living in communities of poverty.
- Engaging with individuals in the social work field through professional development seminars, networking sessions, and participation in social work conferences and committees.
- Connecting with their classmates through the Social Work Alliance (SWA), a club that combines awareness raising, voluntarism, and leadership development activities.
Over the past several years, students have actively pursued a number of projects in and outside of the Buffalo area including:
- Hosting a dance party dedicated to the students of People,Inc.
- Walking to increase Breast Cancer awareness
- Collecting canned goods for the Food Bank
- Engaging in international service in the Dominican Republic
- Sending letters and supplies to military personnel overseas
Students have also been involved in the planning of the Social Work Department's Annual Humanitarian Fund Dinner to provide financial assistance to Social Work students who experience a crisis during their time in the program.
Career Options
Graduates work in many different positions including court advocate, mental health therapist, probation/parole officer, child welfare worker, service coordinator, school social worker, addictions counselor, community organizer, and much more. Earning a degree in Social Work will also prepare you to work in a variety of settings including schools, health clinics, hospitals, courts, care facilities, government, and non-profit organizations locally, nationally, and internationally.
Recent Graduates’ Jobs
- Assistant Director, West Seneca Developmental Center
- Case Manager, American Red Cross
- Counselor, Homespace
- Director of Social Services, Schofield Nursing Home
- Family Violence Case Manager, Crisis Services
- Permanency Planner, Gateway Longview
- Social Worker, Child & Family Services
- Social Work Director, Erie County Medical Center
- Social Work Director, Hospice
- School Social Worker, Case Worker, Erie County Children's Services Department.
Social Work Alliance
The Social Work Alliance (SWA) is an undergraduate student-run club that combines awareness raising, voluntarism, and leadership development activities. READ MORE
Jade McKnight
Social Work
I chose Social Work because at some point in life, everyone needs help. I have an interest in working with the addiction population because I have witnessed family members, friends, and acquaintances struggle with various addictions. READ MORE
Jade Clark-Rivers
Social Work
Daemen helps you learn how to work with people from different races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and cultures. The campus is small and extremely diverse. You definitely make close-knit friendships at this school. I would not trade my Daemen experience for anything.
For more information, contact the Social Work Department at 716-839-8515.