Social Work In Action
Explore a future career in social work through our pathway program for MCPS and Montgomery College (MC) students. Social Work in Action offers a mix of programming and applied learning activities. Students will learn how social workers promote social justice; provide clinical and therapeutic support; and advocate for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students experience field trips to community agencies, job shadows, field placements, internships, and employment opportunities. They will also see how social workers impact and advance policy and strive for equity for the vulnerable and oppressed.
MCPS students can start the program as early as their junior year. They then attend MC for their associate degree, UMBC at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) for their bachelor’s degree in social work, and finally, the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) for their master’s degree in social work.
Guided pathway to college completion in Maryland
Early access to college resources and support
Coaching, career readiness training, and professional opportunities
The Social Work Action Pathway
What is Social Work In Action?
Social Work in Action is a program that provides exposure, support, and guidance as you pursue your path to become a social worker. Pathway programs are not dual enrollment or early college programs; rather they supplement and complement your academic experiences and other extracurriculars.
Join our program to directly engage with local community agencies and the services they provide while learning from practicing social workers. As a participant in the pathway, you’ll be matched with a peer mentor who is further along in the program, and can share their insights along your journey. Connect with employers to enhance your experience in social work with internships and jobs.
Our Approach
Social Work Academic Exploration
Explore the academic field of social work. What is social work? What do social workers do? We will work to address these questions and dispel the many myths about this field. You will learn about the different levels of social work practice and the roles that social workers have in our communities. And, you will learn to draw upon your unique identities and perspective for your future work in a culturally competent workforce.
Service, Social Justice, and Community Engagement
Learn the value of service, social justice, human dignity, interpersonal relationships, integrity, and competence in the profession of social work.
- Serve your community and experience giving back
- Examine the needs and assets of a community to best advocate with its members to strive toward social justice
- Present your findings to agency and community leaders to be part of the change process
Peer-to Peer Mentoring
You’ll take part in peer-to-peer mentorship that spans undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.
- Grow alongside mentors who are further along their path in one-on-one settings and through community work
- Serve as a mentor for those who join the program after you for continual leadership development
Degree Advancement and Professional Development
While the end goal is a graduate degree and employment, you’ll have opportunities to gain credentials, licensure, and career development along the pathway.
- Throughout the program, you’ll have help choosing which courses to take to get to where you want to go in your career. You’ll also have support with your applications to UMBC-Shady Grove and UMB at Shady Grove
- Montgomery College provides opportunities for credentials in community health, mental health, first aid, and crisis prevention
- You’ll connect with employers about internship and employment opportunities in the field.
- You’ll learn about options for licensure at the bachelor’s (LBSW), master’s (LMSW), and clinical levels (LCSW-C)
Personal and Professional Development
Through the exploration of the social work pathway and profession, students will be able to reflect on their personal and work experiences to cultivate and develop their social work knowledge, skills, and values.
- Social work alumni working in different settings will be available to answer your questions and share about their journey to social work
- Visiting community agencies and learning about their work will provide options for future volunteer work, field placements, internship opportunities, and jobs
- USG’s Center for Career Development offers additional workshops to strengthen career-readiness skills
Your Experience
Student-Focused Programming
Social Work in Action is an opportunity to explore a future in social work while still in school. Programming is focused on enriching your experiences as you navigate high school, college, and graduate school. It is also here to help ease uncertainties around how to get to where you want to go in life–we’ll be with you every step of the way.
Is Social Work in Action right for me?
- I am interested in pursuing a degree in social work.
- I plan to pursue follow the local MCPS -> MC -> UMBC-USG -> UMB at USG pathway
- I want to supplement my academic journey with meaningful career experiences
- I am passionate about social justice and bettering my community through meaningful service and change
- I look forward to becoming a social worker in my local community
Application Process
- Students will register to attend a pre-application information session, starting in spring of 2024
- Application opens on August 1, 2024 and closes on October 18, 2024
- Students accepted into the Social Work Pathway program will be notified November 1, 2024
- Accepted students complete the intake process in November and December 2024
- New student annual kickoff in January 2025
Students interested in social work can APPLY NOW