Social Work

🧭 Compass Roadmap

ACU’s School of Social Work has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

School of Social Work
Home/ ACU Compass/ Compass Roadmaps/ Social Work Roadmap

ACU’s School of Social Work has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

School of Social Work

Main Content

Compass Roadmap | Social Work


Begin Your Journey		First Year
Pursue Community		Second Year
Pursue Hospitality		Third Year
Pursue Calling		Fourth Year
Pursue Wisdom
Grow Intellectually
  • Meet the School of Social Work faculty during Wildcat Week
  • Develop research skills in Cornerstone (CORE 110)
  • Explore the life of Jesus and the New Testament church in BIBL 101 and 102
  • Support your peers by attending ACU's URCI Festival
  • Explore the message of the Old Testament in BIBL 211
  • Engage in a faculty-mentored, SOCW-related research or creative project
  • Prepare for field work by taking SOCW361: Pre-Practicum Orientation
  • Complete Interprofessional Education (IPE) course
  • Participate in an information literacy or research workshop
  • Present at the URCI Festival
  • Put your critical thinking skills to practice by completing SOCW 416: Program Evaluation
  • Submit original research to a national or regional SW conference
Grow Spiritually
  • Participate in SCOW departmental chapel
  • Experience Candlelight Devo during Wildcat Week
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Engage in practices of meal fellowship, testimony and breath prayer
  • Participate in departmental chapel
  • Learn about service opportunities during Missions Week
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Commit to volunteering at a non-profit organization in the Abilene community
  • Engage in practices of intercessory prayer, pilgrimage and journaling
  • Practice leadership skills by leading a departmental chapel
  • Gain hands-on ministry experience on a Global Service Trip
  • Engage in practices of silence, spiritual listening and examen
  • Practice leadership skills by leading a departmental chapel
  • Receive and extend blessings to others in the department at Senior Blessing
  • Experience Candlelight Sendoff
  • Take SOCW 725 (Spirituality) course
  • Engage in practices of friendship, relinquishment, and developing a rule of life
Grow Personally
  • Take StrengthsFinder assessment
  • Become involved in the ACU community by joining a student organization
  • Identify a potential faculty, staff, or older student mentor in the School of Social Work
  • Grow as a leader throughACU LEADS: Emerging Leaders

  • Care for your whole person by taking advantage of recreation opportunities on campus (SRWC, intramurals, etc)
  • Actively engage in a student organization
  • Develop your leadership skills while serving in a leadership role on campus
  • Lead in a church ministry or local service organization

  • Develop your leadership skills through ACU LEADS: Elected Leaders
  • Lead a student club or organization
  • Mentor a younger student in the School of Social Work
Grow Culturally
  • Attend events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)
  • Explore the opportunities to study abroad at a Study Abroad interest meeting
  • Attend events hosted by the International Students Association (ISA)
  • Learn about the Carl Spain Center and its mission and attend one of its events on Race Studies and Spiritual Action
  • Participate in World Wide Witness
  • Attend events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) & the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action
  • Study abroad for a semester in Oxford, Leipzig or Montevideo
  • Participate in department-led cultural events
  • Lead an OMA, ISA, or Carl Spain Center Event
  • Lead departmental cultural events
  • Take SOCW 741 (Globalization) in Leipzig, if available
  • Apply to be a Fulbright Scholar, AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps, or other international service opportunities
  • Lead departmental cultural events
Grow Professionally
  • Explore career possibilities by completing PathwayU
  • Begin connecting with potential employers by activating your Handshake profile
  • Learn new creative possibilities through Creative U
  • Engage in the Student Social Work Association
  • Attend beginning of school year/welcome back event
  • Develop a rĂ©sumĂ© and participate in a mock interview
  • Gain practical field experience by completing SOCW255: Summer Observation
  • Apply to SW Program
  • Create LinkedIn Profile
  • Finalize rĂ©sumĂ©
  • Research graduate schools that interest you
  • Identify faculty members who could write recommendations
  • Attend professional advising sessions
  • Learn and serve at Hope Speaks in Uganda (if available)
  • Secure letters of Recommendation
  • Apply for jobs and/or graduate school
  • Attend/organize professional advising sessions
  • Take FPPAI assessment

Exploring Areas of Growth

Five Areas of Growth

  • Grow Intellectually – Sharpen your mind through critical thinking, problem solving and engaging in original research or creative projects. Build knowledge in your field and develop relevant skills through innovative and experiential assignments and activities.
  • Grow Spiritually – Grow in likeness of Christ, as the Spirit leads both individuals and communities into deeper love of God and others. Cultivate Christian community, hospitality, vocation and wisdom through reflective participation in community practices such as worship, study and service. 
  • Grow Personally – Mature as a whole person through mentorship, peer-to-peer relationships and cultivating habits that produce wellness. Discover your strengths, become a productive team member and grow as a leader.
  • Grow Culturally – Deepen intercultural knowledge and the ability to communicate with and relate to people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and geographic areas. Foster a greater respect and empathy for all peoples through building dynamic and mutually rewarding relationships in local and global contexts. 
  • Grow Professionally – Prepare for a meaningful career by exploring options, participating in career development activities, gaining relevant experiences and making purposeful connections that launch your professional life.

Integrated Spiritual Formation Themes

NOTE: Transfer students and those that surpass traditional semester cadences can progress to the next phase when appropriate for their needs.

Year 1 – Pursue Community

Connecting students to cruciform relationships with peers and adults on campus and in Abilene through compelling opportunities to invest in a variety of Christian organizations, both discovering and experiencing the distinctive nature of Christian community.

Year 2 – Pursue Hospitality

Engaging students in encounters with diverse peoples, ideas, and cultures through both local and global opportunities to extend and receive hospitality and to serve others in Christ’s name.

Year 3 – Pursue Calling

Advancing students’ understanding of vocation in a manner that integrates each student’s particular identity, career goals and vision for life with the broad calling for Christians to participate in the ongoing mission of God revealed in the pattern of Christ’s life and death.

Year 4 – Pursue Wisdom

Launching students into cruciform and purposeful living beyond the university by equipping them with tools for and experiences seeking Christian wisdom as they prepare to transition into a new season of life and career.