Overview
The nationally accredited Social Work Program at McDaniel College prepares students for entry-level, culturally sensitive, generalist practice with individuals, families, small groups, communities and organizations. Students are provided with the knowledge, skills, values and training needed to work effectively with vulnerable and at-risk populations. We offer multiple service learning experiences throughout the Social Work curriculum. Through coursework, field education, and the learning environment we provide, students gain the knowledge, skills, and values they need to become competent generalist practitioners. Graduates can move directly into social work positions, are eligible for state licensure and qualify for advanced standing at most graduate schools of Social Work.
Location
Hill Hall, 3rd floor
Contact
Dr. Cathy Orzolek-Kronner
Department Chair and Director of Field Education
(410) 857-2535
Social Work Online Catalog
About
The foundation Social Work courses provide an understanding of the theories and dynamics of human behavior, policy development and analysis, helping roles, assessment skills, intervention techniques and research methods and evaluation. In their senior year, students are placed in a human service agency under the supervision of a master’s level social worker two days a week for a two-semester internship. By the completion of the social work major, students are capable of asserting leadership in the establishment, provision, and delivery of human services at the local, state, national, and international levels.
Social Work borrows ideas from a number of other disciplines including psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, and philosophy, thus making the liberal arts setting a perfect home for the major. Students interested in this major should consult with a social work faculty member as early as possible in their academic planning to ensure proper sequencing of courses and eligibility for the field.
Assessment of student learning outcomes (.pdf)
Faculty
(Ph.D., Smith College School for Social Work), teaches Social Work practice, research, human behavior and field instruction while pursuing her practice and research interests, often in collaboration with students, in disabilities, death and dying, eating disorders, women’s issues and psychodynamically-informed clinical practice.
Associate Professor Jim Kunz
(Ph.D., University of Michigan), 2011 Maryland Social Work Educator of the year who helps organize McDaniel’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes team to raise funds for rape-crisis intervention, teaches policy, macro practice and research, and mentors students in his practice and research interest areas of Social Work advocacy, community organizing, cost analyses of social welfare programs and services to ex-offenders.
(MSW, University of Maryland School of Social Work), teaches in both the FYS and SIS programs, In addition she teaches social work research, human behavior and family and group practice. She maintains a small clinical practice with expertise in maternal and child health, eating disorders and couples therapy. She is the advisor of Phi Alpha, the national social work honor society.
Resources
About 75 percent of all recent graduates are employed in social work or related human service jobs. Many also pursue graduate study at such institutions as the University of Maryland, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and Catholic University.
McDaniel’s social work program is one of only two programs at private colleges in Maryland accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Graduates of the program are eligible for licensure at the baccalaureate level in Maryland and in other states that have licensure for BSW. Graduates of accredited programs in social work may receive up to one year of advanced standing in selected graduate programs in social work.
Recent Internship Placements for Social Work Majors:
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Department of Social Services
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Carroll Lutheran Village
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Youth Services Bureau
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Family and Children Services
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Hopewell Cancer Support Center
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Carroll County (MD) Human Services Program
Interested Social Work students have the opportunity to conduct independent research with any of our professors.
A sample of recent student-faculty research collaboration includes:
|
Student |
Faculty |
Thesis |
|
Brittany Kemp |
Dr. Kunz |
Needs Assessment of the Tri-Street area adjoining the campus |
|
Olivia Sykes |
Dr. Orzolek-Kronner |
Identifying familial characteristics of children who participate in the Boys and Girls Club in both rural and urban areas.
|
|
Hannah Elovich
Brittany Libernini
|
Ms. Young |
The consequences of reading to dogs in a school setting on both children's self esteem and reading levels. |
The Social Work Action Team (SWAT) gives students opportunities to organize community activities ranging from a Hunger and Homelessness Awareness campaign in the local community to the annual “Walk a Mile” fundraiser for the local Rape Crisis Intervention services. Students raised over $5,000 and won the County award in 2012.
McDaniel has a chapter of Phi Alpha, the national Social Work honor society, provides a closer bond among students of Social Work and promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Eligibility requirements include declared Social Work as a major, achieved sophomore status, completed 8 semester hours of required Social Work courses, achieved an overall GPA of 3.0, and achieved a 3.25 GPA in required social work courses.
Associate Professor and department chair Catherine Orzolek-Kronner
Lecturer Michelle Young