Pacific Oaks College Launches Online Programs in Social Work

Pacific Oaks College (PO) announces its new online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and online Master of Social Work (MSW), officially launching fall 2020. The Social Work programs will draw upon PO’s unique history as a 75-year old institution founded on social justice, with access to urban, rural, and international practice opportunities. Graduates will serve as culturally intelligent agents of change by fostering the growth of social work practice and scientific inquiry, with an overarching purpose of enhancing the quality of life in diverse communities. Both degree programs educate and train social work professionals to promote social equity and integrate the holistic competencies and standards as established by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

“The social work profession is a multidisciplinary approach to public service and individual well-being that is uniquely and explicitly grounded in social justice values. Pacific Oaks’ commitment to developing the next generation of change agents rightly extends that effort to cultivating our world’s future social work leaders,” said Angela M. Vazquez, MSW, Board of Trustees member for Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School.

The 120-credit Bachelor of Social Work program utilizes relevant field education and prepares entry-level social work generalists to advocate for change in traditionally underserved communities, particularly in the field of human services. As a strengths-based program, it aims to enhance protective factors and prevent the development of problems in communities, groups, and families. Career outcomes include community outreach worker, behavioral management aide, juvenile court liaison, and rehabilitation case worker.

The Master of Social Work is a 60-credit Advanced Generalist program that provides broad training and instruction in clinical and macro social work, allowing students who haven’t settled on a specific area of practice to develop an understanding of both of these fields within the profession. The Advanced Generalist program provides students the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to manage programs, address community inequities, and work to change systems within communities. The MSW has a comprehensive curriculum that is grounded in Pacific Oaks’ social justice and equity frameworks. The Master’s program incorporates extensive opportunities for real-world training through required field placement and internship hours over the course of four semesters. Students will complete a minimum of 350 hours of supervised field education in the foundation year, and 550 hours in their specialist year.

“Our country’s and the world’s need for social workers is greater than ever before. Pacific Oaks believes in the civic duty and responsibility of affecting positive outcomes in our most vulnerable populations. It is our intention that graduates of PO promote well-being and empowerment, that they invigorate communities and serve on the front lines of supporting community and family-centric models of service and learning,” said Dr. Jack Paduntin, President of Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School.

For more information about Pacific Oaks’ Social Work programs, individuals are encouraged to contact admissions@pacificoaks.edu.