You are in the official current online General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Social Work Education
The College of Health and Human Services
VIRGINIA RONDERO HERNANDEZ, Chair
CHRISTINE SMITH, Administractive Support Coordinator
Professional and Human Services Bldg., Room 128
559.278.3992
http://www.fresnostate.edu/socialwork/
B.A. in Social
Work*
* Note: The social work major will be closed to new admits
for fall 2013.
M.S.W., Master of Social Work
Certificate in Alcohol/Drug Studies
Certificate in
Cross-Cultural Competency
Faculty
Virginia Rondero Hernandez, Chair
Salvador Montana, Undergraduate Coordinator
Martha Vungkhanching, MSW Coordinator
Andrea Carlin, Field Coordinator
Kris I. Clarke
Benjamin Cuellar
Betty J. Garcia
Donna L. Hardina
Debra M. Harris
Mitzi Lowe
E. Jane Middleton
Anne S. Petrovich
Richard O. Salsgiver
Roger A. Simpson
Martha Vungkhanching
Social Work Education
The profession of social work is dedi-cated to meeting the diverse social
service needs of special populations of individuals, families, groups, organizations,
and communities. As a practice-oriented profession, social work deals with
social concerns that range from societal oppression to people's emotional/behavioral
problems. The social work practitioner helps at-risk populations which typically
include people of color; women; people who are recent refugees; those who
are older adults, poor, and/or homeless; children and adults who are abused/neglected;
people who have chronic mental illness; those who are developmentally disabled;
those who have physical illnesses or disabilities; and those who abuse substances
or engage in criminal activities.
In focusing on disadvantaged groups, social workers use a range of traditional
and nontraditional methods to promote well-being, personal growth, and social
justice. These methods include client and systems policy advocacy, brokering,
and consulting, as well as indi-vidual, family, and group counseling/psychotherapy.
Other methods include education, research, and professional supervision.
While the discipline of social work is deeply rooted in a rich, 100-year
history of service, what social workers "do" is no longer traditionally
defined. The role of the social worker is constantly expanding into innovative
service fields wherever a compassionate response to human need is indicated.
The Department of Social Work Education offers two degree programs to educate
beginning and advanced social work practitioners who can meet complex client
needs in a broad range of public and private human service settings and
who can perform in a variety of roles using a multisystems approach. The
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program prepares students for beginning generalist
social work practice as well as for graduate study in the human service
field, including social work. The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) prepares
the learner for advanced multisystems social work practice as well as for
doctoral study in social work and related human service arenas. Both the
B.A. and the M.S.W. programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work
Education.
Faculty and Facilities
The faculty members of the department represent a wide spectrum of theoretical
orientations and approaches to professional social work practice. All have
substantive practice experience and many engage in active research programs
and social policy interests. In addition to the on-campus facilities of
the university, the department uses the San Joaquin Valley's unique urban-rural
configuration of people, agribusiness and social-political institutions,
and the accompanying host of social service needs as the setting for internships
or practicum. Numerous public and private social service agencies in our
region make their facilities and professional social work staff available
for the internship/practicum element of the department's programs. Internship/practicum
experiences are available in the schools and mental health, probation, and
social services departments in the counties of Fresno, Kings, Madera, Tulare,
and San Luis Obispo. A representative sample of other settings include the
California Youth Authority, Community Medical Centers of Central California,
the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, Children's Hospital of Central California,
Fresno Unified School District, and Kings County Department of Children
and Family Servicess.
Career Opportunities
Graduates from the B.A. program typically find employment as social workers
in county or state departments of social services; private agencies offering
individual, group, or community services; and programs addressing issues
such as poverty, mental health, social rehabilitation, and human resources
development. Graduates work with diverse groups of people, including those
who are disabled or aged and those who have special needs. Graduates also
work with those who may be involved with major systems and institutions
such as public social services and government assistance, health care, corrections,
or education.
M.S.W. graduates continue to work with the above groups. They can expect
to assume additional responsibilities and engage in more advanced clinical
practice, case management, training, administration, program devel-opment,
or policy making/administrative practice in a broad spectrum of human service
organizations.
The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook 2012-2013 projects the employment of social workers to increase by 25% during the 2010-2020 decade. Special mention must be made regarding increased job opportunities in child welfare, mental health, substance abuse programs, school systems, and services for elders, as well as increased opportunities in serving rural areas.
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