Social Work

1 / 4

Alison Yoder Kelley '06

Alison Yoder Kelley uses her social work and law degrees to advocate for fair housing in New York City.

Learn More

1 / 4

Senior Social Work Practicum

Elizabeth Witmer, second from right, spent a summer in Guatemala City, Guatemala doing research related to immigration and repatriation.

Learn More

Students in Race and Gender class create 'I believe' statements.

1 / 4

Students in Race and Gender class create 'I believe' statements.

Read 'This I Believe' statements from Professor Melody Pannell's fall 2017 Race and Gender class.

Learn More

Isabelle Castillo, Social Work Alumna, honored by Sojourners

1 / 4

Isabelle Castillo, Social Work Alumna, honored by Sojourners

DACA advocate Isabel Castillo ’07, MA ’17, honored for ‘exceptional efforts’ towards equity and peace.

Learn More

Learn to advocate for others as a social work major at EMU. Social Workers promote quality of life in every stage of the life cycle. You will work in the context of families, organizations, and communities through providing counseling services, case management, and social justice advocacy.

Social work emphasizes relationships, service to others, and peacebuilding, locally, nationally and globally. By integrating counseling skill development, human behavior theory, policy advocacy work, interdisciplinary and experiential learning, we prepare you for employment in professional social work practice and social change. The major embodies EMU’s mission to “serve compassionately and walk boldly in the way of nonviolence and peace.”

EMU’s social work program has been accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) continuously since 1976.

Distinctives
- Integrate counseling skills, human behavior and social environment theory, and policy understanding
- Promote social, economic, and environmental justice.
- Benefit from small classrooms and 1:1 mentoring relationships with professors, who are seasoned social work practitioners with broad national & international experiences.
- Engage in professional social work practice, service and peacebuilding as a way of life in a diverse multicultural, local, national and global community.
- Have the opportunity to take classes in EMU’s graduate program in conflict transformation and qualify for advanced standing in social work graduate schools.
- Participate in intercultural study to develop global awareness and appreciation of diverse cultures.
Practical Experiences
- Students work in the field under faculty supervision beginning in their first semester as a Social Work student.
- All students complete a rigorous 430 hour 4th year field experience in the Shenandoah Valley or in Washington DC with EMU's Washington Community Scholar Center.
Careers
- Most graduates practice professionally within four months of graduation.
- Career opportunities in behavioral health, crisis intervention, mental health counseling, patient advocacy, family and children’s services, adoption and foster care, elder care, and criminal justice.
- Our graduates worked for organizations in Harrisonburg, in Washington DC, across the county and around the world, including: The Family Place, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Virginia Organizing, Mennonite Central Committee, Valley Community Services Board, and Harrisonburg City Schools.
- Our graduates have pursued advance degrees from James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Radford University, George Mason University, and EMU's own Center for justice and Peacebuilding.
- 98% of job-seeking students were employee within a year of graduation.
Affordability
- 99% of undergrads receive financial aid
- The average assistance package is over $37,000
- Over $21 million in aid is awarded each year
Financial aid packages often include:
Learn more by contacting EMU's Financial Assistance Office or checking out our net price calculator.

Career Options

Bright Outlook

Community Health Workers

$39,308
Average Salary

Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs.

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

$44,962
Average Salary

Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

Healthcare Social Workers

$53,754
Average Salary

Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

Social and Community Service Managers

$62,896
Average Salary

Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

$45,635
Average Salary

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.

Social and Human Service Assistants

$32,822
Average Salary

Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.

The above data was drawn from ONet and is intended for informational purposes only.

Quick Links

Social Work

Alison Yoder Kelley '06

Senior Social Work Practicum

Students in Race and Gender class create 'I believe' statements.

Isabelle Castillo, Social Work Alumna, honored by Sojourners

Financial aid packages often include:

Community Health Workers

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Healthcare Social Workers

Social and Community Service Managers

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Social and Human Service Assistants

Social Work News