Atmosphere of Empathy. Path to Healing.

Through the department’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, students engage in a generalist practice approach, which prepares them for an array of careers working at the individual, family, small group, organizational and community levels.

BSW courses are taught by faculty who have real-life research and practice experience. Students cap their degree with a field instruction experience of at least 440 hours in a social work agency that serves a population of their choice.

Libby Fry, who oversees the BSW program, explained that when many people hear the term “social worker,” they think of child welfare, but there’s much more to it.

“Although child welfare is a critical piece of social work, it is only a small piece,” she said. “Alums from our program work in various settings with a variety of populations, including addictions treatment facilities, schools, hospitals and clinics, and mental health centers. A BSW is a very marketable degree.”

Because the Department of Social Work is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, students who graduate with their BSW from UNI are eligible to complete their Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in just one calendar year.

Rebecca Dickinson, who oversees UNI’s MSW program, explained that it’s one of the first programs in the Midwest to offer a specialization in trauma-informed care and continues to be the only one in the state of Iowa.
 

One of the biggest misconceptions about our program is that it is only for people who want to become therapists, when in reality, we need trauma-informed social workers at all levels of social work practice.

At its core, trauma-informed care recognizes the effects trauma has across all areas of a person’s life, from the emotional to the physical and relational.

“Ultimately, we want to create an atmosphere of empathy and support to promote resiliency and healing that is free of judgment or shame,” Dickinson said.

UNI’s MSW program offers a track for students who have an undergraduate degree in social work and one for students who don’t, the latter of which is only available online. Students with a BSW can elect to take courses in-person or online.

“Students in our program learn from faculty with real practice experience; in fact, many of our faculty continue to work within their fields of interest,” Dickinson said. “They have a wide range of practice interests that inform their teaching and add to the learning opportunities our students have available. We pride ourselves in creating a community amongst our cohorts and within our department.”

Because the class sizes are kept relatively small (20 to 25 students), students have opportunities to get to know and feel connected to faculty as well.

This students-first mentality remains an important distinction for both the MSW and BSW programs.

“We care deeply about our students,” explained Fry.

Offering one example, “Each semester there are numerous opportunities for students to share feedback and suggestions about the program that is then used for continuous improvement,” she said. “Recently, feedback indicated that students didn’t find our department space very welcoming. So, faculty worked to create a student lounge space in the faculty office suite.”

The space now provides a spot for students to rest, collaborate, renew, fuel, as well as lean on faculty for support.

The Department of Social Work’s alignment in the School of Health and Human Sciences allows for additional opportunities for social work students to collaborate with faculty and students in other programs within the school.

“This may include the development of new interdisciplinary certificates, cross-listed courses or collaboratively sponsored student events,” said Fry.

The department’s inclusion in the school also illustrates how UNI is conceiving of the term “health” more broadly — meaning it encompasses peoples’ entire well-being, both mind and body.

“Our social work programs at UNI are really geared toward addressing issues of mental health and overall wellness, both at the individual and family level, and also thinking about how communities impact mental health and wellness,” said Adam Butler, interim department head.

“We’re very excited to have the social work programs align with the new school and look forward to the future opportunities it offers our students.”