Accreditation Information
The Social Work Program was re-affirmation by the Council on Social work Education for June 2008 - June 2016.
Social Work Practice, Education, and Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards
The purpose of the social work profession is to promote human and community well-being. Guided by a person and environment construct, a global perspective, respect for human diversity, and knowledge based on scientific inquiry, social work’s purpose is actualized through its quest for social and economic justice, the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of the quality of life for all persons.
Social work educators serve the profession through their teaching, scholarship, and service. Social work education-at the baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels-shapes the profession's future through the education of competent professionals, the generation of knowledge, and the exercise of leadership within the professional community.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) uses the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) to accredit baccalaureate- and master's-level social work programs. EPAS supports academic excellence by establishing thresholds for professional competence. It permits programs to use traditional and emerging models of curriculum design by balancing requirements that promote comparability across programs with a level of flexibility that encourages programs to differentiate.
The Auburn University Social Work Program is housed under the Dept. of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work in the College of Liberal Arts. We have been an accredited undergraduate program for thirty-one years.
The program has maintained its accredited status since that time, having been reaffirmed in 1980, 1989, 1997, 2000, and 2009 for the purpose of preparing entry level, professional social workers. It remains an autonomous program within the multi disciplinary department with its own budget and administrative structure.
The Social Work Program's foundation courses and our practice courses, all of which seek to convey a mandate to students to strive towards social justice and an understanding of the historical roots of oppression and poverty, serve as preparation for our students to serve the poor and underserved populations in the State of Alabama.
Emily W. Myers, Associate Clinical Professor, has been the Program Director since 1995. In 2008 the Program has 89 students, sixteen percent of whom are African American, and five faculty, 40% of whom are African-American, two of whom are tenured, and three are Clinical faculty appointments. Students serve approximately 2500 individuals, families and communities each year via internships, service learning activities and volunteer service. We graduate on average 30 students per year. Additionally, through annual grants of $12,000 from the University of Alabama, three child welfare stipends are given to students who agree to complete their internships and work for one of the State Department of Human Resources offices.
The faculty of the program have community partnerships with the Alabama Poverty Project, Alabama Arise, the State and local Departments of Human Resources, East Alabama Medical Center, Lee County Youth Development Center, the AU Colleges of Nursing, Education and Architecture, Design and Construction, and many others. Training is offered periodically for social service providers to maintain their licenses. AU Social Work has among the highest pass rates for all Alabama schools for the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examination.
We want to hear from you on how we can better serve the needs of the State and local communities. Please contact us with your comments. See below: