Careers
Social work is a growing profession that offers a broad range of employment opportunities and settings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of social workers is expected to grow by 25 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.”
Licensing
To become a professional social worker in most states social work licensure is required. To receive licensure, an individual must hold a social work degree from an accredited program. Both the BSSW and MSSW programs at ACU are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This accreditation enables students to test for licensure upon graduation.
Student Associations
The Student Social Work Association (SSWA) is open to all interested undergraduate and graduate social work students and other ACU students as well. The students meet regularly to plan events, such as the Second Chance Dance or the Chickasaw Nation Spring Break Trip, learn from local social work professionals, and engage with each other and the community.
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
NASW is a social work professional membership organization that “works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies”.
There are several ways to get involved with NASW in Abilene, including attending the West Central Texas branch meetings and professional development sessions, and joining other social work professionals and students in Texas for Advocacy Day or Social Work Student Day at the Legislature in Austin.
National Association of Christian Social Workers (NACSW)
NACSW “equips its members to integrate Christian faith and professional social work practice” through providing social work professionals and students opportunities to engage in continued learning from a Christian perspective.
Each year NACSW holds a convention at a different location in the United States. In the past several years, social work students accompanied faculty to these conferences to present original research and attend conference sessions in their areas of interest.