Undergraduate social work program named top in Tennessee
Lipscomb is leading the way in preparing students for success now and in the future.
Kim Chaudoin |
Lipscomb University's social work program offers students a pathway to a variety of career options.
Lipscomb University’s Bachelor of Social Work degree program has been ranked No. 1 in Tennessee by socialworkdegree.org in its 2019 rankings recently released.
Lipscomb is one of 12 programs across Tennessee included in the state ranking. The socialworkdegree.org list ranks universities in Tennessee that offer a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW), ordering them according to the reported salaries of students who graduate with this degree. All ranked universities in Tennessee have been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
“This recognition highlights the dedication of the faculty in this department, and speaks well to the employ-ability and potential earnings of our graduates. It is an honor to be part of this outstanding program,” said Rebecca Clark, department chair and social work program director of Lipscomb’s Department of Social Work and Sociology, housed in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. “I look forward to continuing the legacy, and moving the program into new and exciting areas.”
Lipscomb University’s Department of Social Work and Sociology offers a Bachelor of Social Work degree. In addition to CSWE accreditation, Lipscomb is a member of the North American Association of Christian Social Workers.
“Our graduates work with individuals, families, and groups across the life-span, and are employed in a variety of settings - mental health, health care, schools, foster care and adoption, criminal justice, private and nonprofit agencies working in social justice issues and advocacy programs,” said Clark. “Students complete over 500 hours of professional, supervised field practicum work and graduate as a SALT Scholar. The BSW degree provides students an advantage for the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work programs. Additionally, our smaller class sizes help foster lifelong mentoring relationships. Graduates receive the strong foundation needed to practice social work with compassion, commitment, competence and ethics.”
SocialWorkDegree.org, an online resource focused on social work education and career advancement, released its first ever rankings of BSW and MSW programs across the nation in August. The rankings include best and most affordable lists, categorized by degree level, for both online and campus-based programs. The organization researched a total of 413 social work programs and ranked them based on a combination of CSWE accreditation, tuition rates, and PayScale salary data.
In order to be considered for the ranking lists, each program must be CSWE-accredited. The 2019 Best Social Work Programs methodology employs median mid-career salary data from PayScale that is specific to BSW and MSW programs. Each rankings page also includes a list of the most affordable programs, based on manually researched annual tuition rates by degree level and program type.
SocialWorkDegree.org also released rankings for social work programs in each state, and the District of Columbia, to provide a resource for prospective students who are interested in pursuing a social work degree close to home. Each state page includes detailed information about licensure requirements and continuing education that is specific to the state. The rankings include a total of 377 social work programs, between the overall and by state lists.
“SocialWorkDegree.org is dedicated to being a comprehensive guide for students interested in the social work field. We know the process of becoming a social worker includes many steps and many life-changing decisions. We want to be there to walk people through their journey, whether they are a prospective student or an experienced social worker looking to advance their career,” said Mylinh Pham, Product Manager at SocialWorkDegree.org.
Want to know more about Lipscomb University's Department of Social Work and Sociology? Visit www.lipscomb.edu/academics/programs/social-work.
About SocialWorkDegree.org: SocialWorkDegree.org is a free and comprehensive guide dedicated to enabling prospective students to find the social work program that best suits their budget and career aspirations. By providing resources that are easy to use but hard to find elsewhere, SocialWorkDegree.org hopes to empower more Americans to go to college while lowering the overall cost of earning a degree.