Welcome from the Chair
Hello and welcome to the University of Saint Francis Department of Social Work.
As the only accredited bachelor’s social work program in the region, the Bachelor’s of Social Work (BSW) has met the highest standards set forth by the Council on Social Work Education. In the BSW at the university, you have the opportunity for learning inside and outside the classroom. In particular, our strong practicum component allows you to put your learning into practice, and is one of the most popular features of our program.
You will also experience much of the variety social work has to offer, both through frequent guest speakers and classroom and field experiences. We also offer four minors, designed to provide greater depth and preparation for specific fields:
- Child Welfare and Advocacy
- Diversity Studies
- Gerontology
- Introductory Forensic Social Work Practice
Most importantly, you will learn about social work in a Franciscan values-based environment. The BSW at USF incorporates the Franciscan tradition of peace, service, justice, and social change to create an affirming and supportive learning environment. These values not only impact how we teach the practice and theory of social work—they guide interactions between students and faculty. Truly, our faculty care about each of our students on an individual basis, not only as students, but as people.
The best way to get a true sense of the program is to meet our dedicated faculty and committed students. If you are interested in helping others and seek to make a difference in the world, perhaps social work is the right field for you. I encourage you to contact me if you would like more information, or, if you would like to visit our campus and classes, contact the Admissions department for information.
Thank you for your interest. Please feel free to be in touch!
Jan Nes
260-399-7700 ext. 8431
Email: jnes@sf.edu