ºÚÁÏÍø

Find Unity in Purpose

Join an online community that honors your heritage, accepts you unconditionally and values what you bring to the table. Your classmates will become friends and colleagues, and your professors will amplify your passion for service and social justice. You’ll emerge with confidence, a clear sense of purpose and a lifelong professional network.

“I loved how small the program was, and how we all got to know each other so well,” says Kyra Brown, a school social worker in Beaverton, Oregon. “My professors were very relatable and friendly – it felt like they truly cared about what we were learning and wanted us to succeed. I also built many friendships in the program that will last a lifetime.”

Turn Love into Action

Don’t just fight for the vulnerable; walk with them and help them find their way. Hear their heart. Help them discover their intrinsic value. Be their voice when no one else is listening. And advance the cause of justice for all.

“It’s so rewarding to watch people work through their challenges or struggles and thrive,” says Tina Deleon Guerrero, an MSW student who interned at Shangri-La, a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities and disadvantages. “It's a beautiful thing to see someone transform before your eyes and find their worth.”

Internship Opportunities

Be Understanding

Discover how diverse belief systems and social identities intersect with social work practice. The more you understand about the richness of our collective humanity, the more understanding you can be – and the better you can care for the spiritual, emotional and social needs of the clients you serve.

“When I speak to my clients about spirituality, it just feels normal because of the training I received at ºÚÁÏÍø,” says Chris McMullan, a school social worker in Woodburn, Oregon. “Whether they believe or don’t believe in something, spirituality has an influence on a person's life. Understanding that facet of the clients I work with adds to my understanding of them as a whole, as well as the services and opportunities that I can offer them.”

How We Approach Spirituality

Make an Impact That Lasts

Dive into the daily lives of vulnerable populations, develop culturally informed intervention strategies, and apply your knowledge in practicum experiences that speak directly to your interests and goals. Whether working with clients at a local nonprofit, serving students at a nearby school, providing clinical mental health services, or mobilizing resources for crucial community programs, you’ll lead people to sustainable change.

“ºÚÁÏÍø provided experiences that taught me more than a textbook or assignment ever could,” says Chascity-Mae Sarmiento, a licensed social worker who serves as an integrated behavioral health associate clinician in Bellingham, Wash. "This inspired me to trust my knowledge, trust my instincts, and be authentic in creating lasting change for my clients and our world."

Watch Chascity share what a day in the life of a social worker is really like

Program Details

We’ll prepare you to provide the highest level of care and service as a social worker. In addition to learning about generalist social work, you'll explore advanced generalist practice in depth. You’ll learn how to apply and integrate research and evaluation at all levels of social work practice and develop an advanced skill set across varied social work roles, with a particular emphasis on serving disadvantaged communities.

And thanks to a $240,000 grant, you'll have the opportunity to mentor minority social work students as part of the BECOME project, an initiative led by ºÚÁÏÍø social work faculty Erin Johnson and Yong Qiang Zheng. "This grant aims for the academic advancement and professional growth of students who have historically lacked resources and support," says Zheng. "We hope one day they graduate, go back to their communitiies and make a huge impact there as mental health providers."