What exactly is social work?
The field of social work is concerned with enhancing relationships between people and their environments and is committed to the promotion of social and economic justice.

What is a Bachelor of Social Work Degree (B.S.W.)?
The B.S.W. prepares students to work in a wide variety of settings, all related to helping individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations function at their optimal level.

The field of social work is concerned with enhancing relationships between people and their environments and is committed to the promotion of social and economic justice.

The social work program at Virginia Intermont College is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Where can I work with a B.S.W.?
There are 11 fields of practice at the B.S.W. level:
1. Poverty services
2. Child/family services
3. School social work
4. Occupational social work
5. Health care
6. Mental health
7. Gerontology
8. Substance abuse
9. Developmental disabilities
10. Corrections
11. Physical disabilities

Is it possible to pick up a minor?
Yes. It is common for students in the social work program to minor in psychology, sociology, gerontology or equine-assisted growth and development.

What classes should I be taking now if I plan to transfer into the social work program?
Core classes, as described in the College Catalog, are recommended. Consult the Virginia Intermont Transfer Guide or get in touch with your college registrar to determine which courses are transferable. The three required courses most frequently missing from transfer students transcripts are human anatomy, American federal government and microeconomics. Transfer information.

What is the size and style of social work classes?
Social work classes are small, usually ranging from five to 12 students, which allows for class discussion and interaction with other students and professors. Social work practitioners from the community are regular visitors in classes. They provide unique insight related to social work skills and practice.

What are the agency field placements offered by the program?
Students complete a 400-clock hour placement during the spring semester of the senior year in an agency, preferably of the student’s choice, under the supervision of a B.S.W. or M.S.W. social worker. Students have completed field placements in various agencies and locales in the regional area. Field placements have included providing social services to children in foster care; child protective services; adult services; adult protective services; adolescent group homes; day treatment facilities for mental illness; inpatient psychiatric facilities; hospitals and home health care; corrections; nursing homes and other services to various client populations.

Recent agencies of placement:
Virginia Department of Social Services
Highlands House
Abuse Alternatives
Tennessee Department of Probation and Parole
Virginia Department of Juvenile Corrections
Ridgeview Hospital
HealthSouth Hospital

What are the opportunities for students in the social work program?
Majors are encouraged to join the Social Work Club. The club is a service-oriented club, which participates in many different community projects. The Social Work Club maintains the Moore Street Park, raises money and hosts a Christmas party for children at the local housing authority, participates in Keep Bristol Beautiful and will soon engage in one service project each month for the academic year.

Social Work Rally Day is held at the state capital in February. Students attend a social work legislative rally and lobby legislators on key social work issues.

Do most students graduate in four years?
Yes, most students are able to graduate in four years.

What is the job outlook for social workers?
Because of demographic changes in society, such as an aging population the increase in immigrants and refugees and changes in family structure, the U.S. Department of Labor projects faster than the average growth in social work employment through 2006 (Occupational Outlook Quarterly, vol. 36, no.1, 1992). The Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts an increase in social work, occupational social work and private practice. Growing concern over crime and juvenile delinquency is expected to increase demand for social work and private practice. Growing concern over crime and juvenile delinquency is expected to increase demand for social workers in the field of corrections, growth in the field of school social work is also expected, dependent upon state and local funding (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1998).

In recent years, 85-90% of graduates of the social work program at Virginia Intermont have found jobs in the field or have been accepted to graduate school. This is above the national employment average of 76.8% reported by the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (The Revised BPD Outcomes Instrument Report, 1993).