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Lisa Ibanez, Interim Director of Field Education, Social Work
Paula M. Sheridan, Program Director, Social Work

Social Work

Social Work is a profession committed to the enhancement of social and human well-being, the alleviation of poverty and oppression, and the promotion of social and economic justice for all. The profession practices in a wide variety of local, national, and global settings including family services, child welfare, gerontology, justice systems, behavioral health and medical centers, military social work, drug and alcohol treatment, community organizations, political and social policy arenas. With awareness of the major social and technological changes taking place in our world, the Whittier College Social Work program prepares students for entry level positions in generalist social work practice where they can effectively address the variety of human welfare needs prevalent in a global society.

The undergraduate program in Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). It provides a professional foundation curriculum that contains the common body of knowledge, values, and skills of the profession. The Program specifies a common base of liberal arts courses to be taken prior to and concurrently with enrollment in the core foundation courses. The foundation courses are sequenced over three years; the program culminates in the senior year with an intensive, professionally supervised field practicum in a community agency, and an integrative seminar that is designed to help students assess their own attainment of social work competencies in the social work curriculum.

The Social Work Program Mission Statement:

The Whittier College undergraduate Social Work Program seeks to prepare diverse students to become self-reflective, compassionate, ethical, knowledgeable, and skilled generalist social workers who are committed to career-long learning. We prepare students to aid in the empowerment of marginalized groups, particularly vulnerable and oppressed communities. In all this, we collectively work for the advancement of human rights in local, national and global environments.

Affirming the historical roots and mission of Whittier College, the Social Work Program provides learning experiences that inspire students to become advocates for peace and social and economic justice. Student learning is a combination of “knowing” and “doing,” grounded in the liberal arts foundation of interdisciplinary, research-based knowledge, and problem-solving methodology. We value generalist skill development that prepares reflective social work practitioners committed to promoting human well-being. Our program is designed to equip the body of professionals who will nurture the profession for the twenty-first century.

Students majoring in other areas such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, economics, child development, pre-medicine, pre-physical therapy, environmental studies, business administration, public health, and education may also be interested in selected social work courses. Interested students are urged to consult full-time Social Work faculty for information about academic and professional opportunities.

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