The social work program is designed to prepare students for generalist social work practice in a wide spectrum of social work positions. The program is dedicated to the development of the whole student, using a liberal arts approach, with special concern for the development of social work attitudes, values, and behavior. Social work majors prepare to carry out the program's mission by building on a core of basic studies, concentrated social work courses, and complementary courses from other disciplines.

Social work is a professional career in which one strives to assist individuals and groups to seek out, strengthen, and identify their maximum potential.

SOCIAL WORK STARTS WITH COMMITMENT

Social work has been defined as the professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning. As a social work major at Loras College, you'll learn how to use social work skills, values and knowledge to help people and communities help themselves.

What qualities do you need to be a good social worker? You need to be empathetic, flexible, self-understanding, and tolerant. These components give social workers the ability to communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds.

The Loras College Social Work program provides personal and individual attention to every student for the purpose of enriching the educational experience of each social work student. The program will prepare you for a wide spectrum of professional social work positions or graduate school. This four-year program leads to a B.A. degree in social work.

Your curriculum will begin with classroom theory courses. Then you will put theory into practice with field experiences as early as your sophomore year and a senior practicum with an area social agency. Graduates will receive special consideration in other schools’ master's degree programs through advanced standing.

The Work Social Work Program

• Qualified students are admitted into the social work program at the beginning of their sophomore year.
• Student membership in the National Association of Social Workers helps establish professional identity.
• Student representatives serve on the Loras Social Work Advisory Board, which guides the Social Work program and links it with the expectations of the field placement agencies.
• There are many opportunities for paid work in area social agencies, providing students with experience in specific social work field
• Social work education prepares students for the social work profession, which has emerged from societal concerns regarding undeserved and vulnerable client systems. 
• Undergraduate education for social work has had rapid growth since baccalaureate programs began in 1965.nding.