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Social Work

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Learn to participate in the life of a community with a B.S.W

With a B.S.W. degree from Trinity, you will be prepared to help change lives and communities. Our program emphasizes that community well-being is essential to a common good, that each community has gifts and assets, and that we are called to participate in the life of a community.

With Trinity’s location less than 25 miles from downtown Chicago, you will have the opportunity to fulfil your calling to Christ-like service through many service-learning and field-education experiences. You will interact with a range of people from differing national and ethnic origins, cultures, ages, and economic backgrounds.

Trinity’s social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

2020-2021 Annual Review

Click on thumbnail to read the Annual Report.

“Is social work for me?” Self-Assessment

  • Do you have empathy for others and genuinely care about people?
  • Are you passionate about social justice issues and promoting social change?
  • Are you committed to working with and able to be open-minded, nonjudgmental, and culturally humble when working with people and communities of diverse backgrounds?
  • Are you able to engage in self-awareness and self-regulation for managing any biases and values when working with diverse clients and constituencies?
  • Are you willing and able to demonstrate a commitment to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics?
  • Do you have or are you willing to develop the following skills for effective social work practice: leadership skills, communication skills, listening skills, teamwork skills, problem solving & decision-making skills, and networking skills?
  • Do you value and respect the strengths and assets of others and seek to partner with service recipients in social work fields of practice?
  • Are you committed to lifelong learning through continuous professional growth?

*Adapted from Ritter, J. & F. Ofahengaue, H. (2015). 101 careers in social work.  2nd Ed.). Springer Publishing Company, LLC.

*Adapted from Council on Social Work Education. (2015). Educational policy and accreditation standards. Council on Social Work Education

Minors & Double Major Options

As a professional degree program, social work students are not required to have a minor to graduate from Trinity. For those students who are interested in pursuing a minor below, are suggested options that complement the social work major well:

For students interested in a double major, recommended options include:

*Note: Pursuing a second major is not an option for social work students seeking to complete their degree via the 3-year plan.

Sample Field Placement Sites

Trinity social work students complete a 400-hour field placement during their final semester in the BSW program. Trinity social work students are fortunate to have access to several field agency sites both in the Chicagoland area as well as through the various off-campus program options available through Trinity. Below is a sample of field placement agency sites:

Access Community Health Network
All Our Children’s Advocacy Center
Arab American Family Services
Bethany Christian Services
Bethshan Association
Blue Cap, Inc.
By the Hand
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Cook County Correctional
Corazon Community Services
Elim Christian Services
Evangelical Child and Family Services
Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery
Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
New Moms, Inc.

North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW)
Palos Heights Police Department
Palos Heights Rehabilitation Center
Parkview Community Church
Pathlights
Precious Blood Ministry
Restoration Ministries
Sarah’s Inn
Sertoma Centre, Inc.

Off-Campus Programs:
Chicago Semester
Semester in Ecuador
Semester in Uganda