Admissions inquiries
Office of Admissions 423.869.6467
Email: admissions@lmunet.edu



Check out the Tennessee Social Work Snapshot, a special Social Work Reinvestment Initiative publication by NASW-TN that profiles the social work profession in our state.

"When I graduated from the program in 1997, I was confident in my abilities and very proud of my profession. I was following in the footsteps of other great historical leaders who had made a difference in people's lives. The program prepared me for graduate school. Little did I know what effect it would have to come from a University with a CSWE accredited social work program. I was able to enter into the University of Kentucky's Advanced Standing Program. In addition, the knowledge and skills I acquired at LMU gave me quite an advantage. I graduated with my master’s degree as an Outstanding Social Work Student and received an award for Prevention Research. I appreciate all that the LMU Social Work Program has done to help me."
-Jennifer Smith, MSSW, class of 1997

"This morning (November 2, 2006) we were informed that we at K.C.E.O.C. Community Action Partnership, Inc. (KCEOC) have been granted the entire $1,924,300 dollars set aside for HUD Section 202 Capital Advance Grant in rural Kentucky that is used to build one bedroom subsidized rental units with supportive services for the elderly and disabled tenants. This will provide more housing opportunities for senior citizens, low income elderly, and the homeless elderly or disabled in Knox County. Elderly and disabled people in a five county area will benefit from the availability of these new units. I feel that this was a direct result of taking your classroom advice about the need for thoroughness in grant writing."
-George Hoskins, class of 2004

Social Work

To inquire about this program:
Dr. Kay Paris | 423.869.6323 | kay.paris@lmunet.edu

The LMU Social Work Program provides you with the academic preparation and practical experience you will need to start work immediately after graduation as an entry-level generalist social worker or to enter a graduate school. If you would like to be a member of a dynamic and challenging profession that focuses on improving the quality of life for individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities, social work may be the major for you. The Occupational Outlook Handbook (2008-2009) predicts that the demand for social workers will increase by 22%, which is considered to be much faster than average.

Social workers help people talk about and identify the resources they have to deal with their needs and concerns, connect people to services and other resources, set up new programs and services, and advocate on behalf of individuals or groups. Social workers want to contribute to society; they want to alleviate social problems such as poverty, unemployment, discrimination, injustice, homelessness, substance abuse, and all forms of domestic violence and abuse. Social workers promote social and economic justice. They work to help people adjust to their environments. They work to help communities become more responsive to the needs of all people. The LMU Social Work Program will give you opportunities to develop the knowledge, values and ethics, and skills you will need to provide quality services to a variety of clients and in a variety of settings.

The LMU Social Work Program will help you build your resume through volunteer work and 550 hours of practical experience in community agencies, as well as opportunities to participate in workshops, conferences, community projects, and research.

Degree Offered

Bachelor of Science

Special Features

The LMU Social Work Program has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national accrediting organization for all baccalaureate and masters social work programs, since 2001. It is one of 13 accredited baccalaureate social work programs in the state of Tennessee.

The LMU Social Work Program faculty members are credentialed social work practitioners who maintain their involvement with community agencies through paid or volunteer service—as a group they have accumulated almost 100 years of professional social work experience! They have "been there and done that."

The LMU Social Work Program has an advisory council composed of social work practitioners who serve as guest speakers for classes and special events, admission committee members, field supervisors, and adjunct instructors. These social workers tell us about job openings, changes in laws and policies, new agencies and services, and identified community needs.

The LMU Social Work Program is a member of the Tennessee Social Work Education Consortium. The Consortium is in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) to improve the educational level of adoption, foster care, child protection, and juvenile justice workers. LMU Social Work majors may pursue Child Welfare Certification that helps the student obtain a job with DCS after graduation. LMU Social Work majors may apply for competitive scholarships and stipends from DCS in exchange for working for DCS after graduation.

Course Information

Courses in the social work major meet the standards of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). These courses expose you to the knowledge, values and ethics, and skills that you will need to succeed in your job. Courses include:

• Social Work Profession
• Social Welfare History
• Orientation to Practice
• Human Behavior in the Social Environment
• Child and Family Welfare
• Diversity Issues in Social Work
• Practice with Individuals
• Practice with Groups and Families
• Practice with Communities and Organizations
• Social Work Research
• Social Welfare Policy and Issues
• Social Work Capstone Seminar
• Field Experience
• Internship

Admission

The practice courses, field experience, and internship are restricted to social work majors who have completed the two phases of the admissions process. Phase I: Admission to the Program requires nine semester hours in the social work core curriculum with grades of "C" or higher; a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher; an application that includes a statement of philosophy; letters of recommendation from faculty and others; and an interview with the admissions committee. Phase I must be completed before the student can enroll in any of the practice courses. Phase II: Admission to Internship must be completed before the student enrolls in internship and requires the completion of all of the Lincoln Liberal Arts Core (or equivalent); all social work core curriculum with grades of "C" or higher; and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Internship Opportunities

The LMU Social Work Program has developed over 70 placements in community agencies in the Tri-State Cumberland Gap area (southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and east Tennessee) for our senior field experiences and internships. All field supervisors have baccalaureate or masters degrees in social work and many years of practical experience. Placements are available in home health and hospice, nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, community action/service centers, adoption, foster care, child protective services, juvenile justice, senior centers, Boys/Girls Clubs and Head Start.

Career Opportunities

Jobs are available in a variety of agencies including home health and hospice, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools, community action/service centers, adoption, foster care, child protective services, and senior centers. Graduates usually locate jobs within six months of graduation. Over half of the 2008 graduates were employed within two months of graduation. Graduates of the LMU Social Work Program are eligible for licensure in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and other surrounding states.

Research Opportunities

Students in the LMU Social Work Program have received research awards from the Appalachian College Association for original research projects in the areas of retirement planning for teachers, accessibility of health care for children, service availability for senior citizens and the cost impact of medications on senior citizens.

Graduate School Opportunities

Graduates of CSWE accredited baccalaureate social work programs are eligible for admission to accelerated masters programs at regional universities such as East Tennessee State University, Radford University, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and the University of Tennessee.

Honors and Organizations

The LMU Social Work Program recognizes student academic accomplishments through membership in the Eta Nu Chapter of Phi Alpha, the national honor society for social work. The Outstanding Social Work Student is recognized during the Awards Day ceremony each Spring. The Social Work faculty choose the recipient based on the student's performance in the classroom and field; participation and leadership in various roles within and outside the university; and the student's potential as a Social Worker as reflected and demonstrated through attitude and performance, and leadership, cooperation, flexibility, initiative, and self-confidence. The LMU SHARE Club is the recognized social work student organization that provides opportunities for socially concerned students to reach out to the surrounding community with volunteered services.