Serve People. Strengthen Communities. Create Lasting Change.
Program Overview
The Social Work program at Elizabeth City State University prepares students to become competent, effective, and professional generalist practitioners working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Grounded in a person-in-environment perspective, the program emphasizes understanding how social, economic, and environmental factors impact people’s lives—especially in rural and developing communities.
Students graduate ready to serve, advocate, and lead with purpose in diverse settings.
Students who earn the BSW degree from ECSU typically continue their education by pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree through an Advanced Standing curriculum, which will allow them to complete the degree within one academic year, and then pursue Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensure.
Other BSW graduates may enter the workforce directly in a variety of professional positions and practice settings.
Program Options
The BSW program offers both an on-campus, face-to-face option and 100% fully online option.
Program Leadership
Professor & Program Coordinator | Chair, Department of Protective and Human Studies<br>335 STEM Complex
ksdowning@ecsu.edu | 252-335-3135
Lecturer | Director of Field Education
Odbridges@ecsu.edu | 252-335-3810
Curriculum and Experience
What You’ll Learn
Students in the Social Work program develop the knowledge, values, and skills needed for professional practice, including:
- Working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
- Understanding social systems and inequalities
- Advocacy and social change strategies
- Ethical and professional practice
Field Experience
A key component of the program is field education, where students gain hands-on experience in real-world settings—applying what they’ve learned in the classroom.
Accreditation
Field education is the signature pedagogy of social work and a cornerstone of the Social Work Program. Through supervised field placements, students have the opportunity to apply the knowledge, values, and professional skills developed in the classroom to real-world social work practice. Field education provides students with meaningful opportunities to develop professional competence, build relationships with practitioners and agencies, explore areas of professional interest, and establish networks that can support their future careers. Through these experiences, students demonstrate and strengthen the competencies and practice behaviors expected by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), while developing the confidence and skills necessary for effective professional social work practice.
The BSW degree is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Most Affordable Social Work Schools for Active Duty Military and Veterans in North Carolina
Certifications and Additional Options
Expand Your Credentials
Substance Use & Addiction Certificate (100% Online)
- Prepare for careers in addiction counseling
- Pathway to earning the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential in North Carolina
Gerontology Minor
Study aging and support for older adult populations
Policies related to the Social Work Program
Please refer to the Student Handbook and Field Education Manual for detailed information regarding each policy. The following provides a brief summary of selected policies and procedures within the Social Work Program.
Admission Process:
Students select Social Work as their major but must be formally admitted in the Program in the Spring or Summer of the sophomore year (after completing all six of the 200 level courses).
Students may declare Social Work as their major upon entering the university, however, formal admission to the Social Work Program occurs during the spring or summer semester of the sophomore year, after students have successfully completed all six 200-level Social Work courses and met the program’s admission requirements.
Transfer Credit for Courses
The Social Work Program accepts eligible transfer of coursework to minimize duplication of foundational social work content and prevent students from unnecessarily repeating equivalent 200-level courses. However, transfer of a social work course does not automatically guarantee that the course will satisfy a specific requirement within the ECSU Social Work Program. Transfer coursework is reviewed to determine its equivalency to ECSU course requirements.
The Social Work Program does not award academic credit for social work courses completed through non-accredited social work programs. In addition, the program does not award social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.
Academic Advising
Freshmen Social Work majors receive academic advising through the Office of Student Success and Retention. Beginning in the sophomore year, students are assigned an academic advisor within the Social Work Program.
All Social Work majors receive professional advising from Social Work faculty only throughout their academic careers. Professional advising is provided through pre-registration advising, individual meetings, classroom discussions, and other program-related activities.
Program Mission
The mission of the Social Work Program is to prepare competent, effective, and professional social workers who promote human and community well-being. The program emphasizes service delivery to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, with particular attention to the needs of rural and developing communities. Grounded in scientific inquiry and human rights principles, the program prioritizes vulnerable populations and is guided by a person-in-environment perspective within a global context. Through these commitments, the program fosters hope, a sense of individual belonging, and sustainable social change.
Career Pathways
Where This Degree Can Take You
Graduates are prepared for entry-level roles in areas such as:
- Social Services Agencies
- Child Welfare & Family Services
- Community Organizations
- Healthcare & Mental Health Settings
- Nonprofit and Advocacy Work
This degree also provides a strong foundation for pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW).
Take the Next Step
Ready to turn your passion for helping others into a career?
