Why is Social Work Right for You?
Social Work Program Highlights
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Social Work
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- Includes a field placement experience during undergrad
- Builds skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and analysis
- Helps prepare you for licensure, practice, and/or graduate studies
Introduction
Earn your bachelor’s degree in social work at UMBC-Shady Grove to make a difference in your community. Our unique model helps you save on tuition while earning the same UMBC degree as four-year students. You’ll graduate with the skills to work with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
UMBC’s fully-accredited social work program will prepare you for licensure as well as competitive master’s programs. You will also complete a hands-on field placement that will help you to build your resume, apply your knowledge, and explore job opportunities.
Steps to Your Degree
More About the Program
Prerequisites
The social work department requires a minimum 2.5 GPA for transfer to UMBC-Shady Grove. The department strongly encourages you to complete the following prerequisites prior to transfer:
- Introduction to Sociology
- Introduction to Psychology
- English Composition
- General or Human Biology (with Lab)
- Statistics
- Political Science or Economics
It is also recommended that you complete as many of the following courses as possible before transfer. These courses are required for graduation from UMBC and cannot be taken at UMBC-Shady Grove:
- 3 Arts and Humanities courses (from at least two different disciplines)
- 1 Science (lab or non lab)
- World Language Intermediate-Level (consult advisor about exceptions)
Community College Agreements
UMBC’s social work program has articulation agreements with the following schools. If you plan to earn an associate degree, these agreements outline which exact courses you should take to prepare for transfer:
- Montgomery College: A.A. Behavioral Health/B.A. Social Work (PDF)
- Prince George’s Community College: A.A.S. Human Services/B.A. Social Work (PDF)
Social Work in Action
Students currently enrolled at Montgomery College can join our Social Work in Action pathway to explore opportunities in social work before transfer to UMBC-Shady Grove.
Advising & Next Steps
All students are strongly encouraged to complete pre-transfer advising before joining us at UMBC-Shady Grove. Explore pre-transfer advising options.
You’re also welcome to contact UMBC-Shady Grove Social Work Program Director Dr. Katie Morris, LCSW-C, at kath@umbc.edu or 301-738-6312 if you have any questions about prerequisites, the program, or your future in social work.
Admitted and current students should visit our advising FAQs.
Major Requirements
UMBC Graduation Requirements
- Minimum of 120 academic credits
- Minimum of 2.0 GPA (2.5 required for social work major)
- 45 upper-level (300 & 400-level) credits
Minor Requirements
UMBC social work students are required to complete a minor in another academic field. Meet with your advisor to discuss the minor you’re most interested in. UMBC-Shady Grove social work students most frequently choose one of the minors listed below:
- Sociology Minor
- Political Science Minor
- Psychology Minor
- History Minor
- Public History Minor
Graduate School
Many of our students go on to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. We encourage you to visit the Council on Social Work Education website to explore your options, including University of Maryland, Baltimore’s MSW program that is offered right here at USG. Then, watch our “Thinking about grad school?” video to start considering next steps.
Career Opportunities
Social work offers many career opportunities:
- 90% of 2022 UMBC social work degree recipients reported firm plans of being employed and/or heading to graduate school.
- 96% of employed 2022 UMBC social work degree recipients are in positions directly related to their career goals.
- 100% of 2022 UMBC social work degree recipients engaged in applied learning, such as internships, research, service-learning, study abroad, student teaching and leadership positions while at UMBC.
- In Washington, D.C., child, family, and school social workers on average earn $63,740 annually. Source: ONet Online
- All social work professions are projected to grow faster than average over the next 10 years in the Washington, D.C., area (5% or higher). Source: ONet Online
Learn more about social work career paths (PDF).
Faculty
Dr. Katie Morris, LCSW-C
Program Director
Department: Social Work
Phone: 301-738-6312
Email: kath@umbc.edu
Office: Bldg III, Room 4141
Katherine (Katie) J. Morris, Ph.D., LCSW-C, Program Director for USM-Shady Grove Center in Rockville, MD. Dr. Morris has a B.A. in psychology from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, her M.S.W. from the University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate from UMBC’s Language, Literacy and Culture Program. Prior to her employment with UMBC, she worked as a therapist providing cognitive behavioral and motivational enhancement therapy to individuals with alcohol and substance dependence in Philadelphia. In 2001 Dr. Morris moved to Maryland and worked as a therapist at a mental health rehabilitation program in Prince George’s County, where she worked with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness in individual and group settings. She currently teaches Introduction to Social and Methods I in the methods sequence. Dr. Morris’ dissertation work was a phenomenological inquiry examining the lived experiences of Latina social workers and what they carry in their call to social work. Her dissertation work informs her teaching as she works to help students cultivate what they carry from their lived experiences while learning essential social work skills, knowledge, and values.
Email: kath@umbc.edu
Courses: SOWK 250: Introduction to Social Work; SOWK 397 (Methods 1)
Research/Clinical Interests: Enhancing student writing and student success among first generation and bilingual students
Dr. M. Nicole Belfiore
Department: Social Work
Phone: 301-738-6282
Office: Bldg III, Room 4135
Courses: SOWK 260: Introduction to Social Welfare, Social Policy, and Social Work and SOWK 360: Social Welfare, Social Policy, and Social Work II
Research/Clinical Interests: Social work and societal ethics, social work education, community service and service learning in higher education, poverty
Lisa Harfoot
Courses: SOWK 389: Human Behavior 2; SOWK 372: Social Work and Healthcare
Research/Clinical Interests: Aging and healthcare
Jeanette Hoover
Department:S ocial Work
Phone: 301-738-6108
Office: Bldg III, Room 4137
Courses: SOWK 388: Human Behavior and the Social Environment 1; SOWK 481:Social Work Methods 2; SOWK 438: Social Work Methods 3; and SOWK 386: Social Work Practice with Families
Natalie Sanchez
Department: Social Work
Phone: 240-665-6478
Office: Bldg III, Room 4139
Courses: SOWK 480: Field 1 and SOWK 482: Field 2
Research/Clinical Interests: Educational access and its impact on social and economic justice
Samantha Taylor
Courses: SOWK 388: Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Research/Clinical Interests: Spirituality, culture, healthcare, and geriatrics
Dr. Laura Ting
Courses: SOWK 397: Methods 1; SOWK 470: Social Work Research
Research/Clinical Interests: Intimate partner violence, cross cultural issues, and substance use
Priscilla Villavicencio
Courses: SOWK 250: Introduction to Social Work
Research/Clinical Interests: Trauma, domestic violence, and children’s mental health
Alumni Spotlight
Christian Figueroa '21
Social Work
"The professors that I've worked with in the social work program hold us to a high standard, and that has really elevated my work to the next level."
Cherie Tebah ‘20
Social Work and Psychology
“I am grateful for [the field placement] because this experience has allowed me to learn more about myself and given me a clear path moving forward in this profession.”
B.A. in Social Work Information Request