Welcome From the Department Head

Welcome to the James Madison University Department of Social Work.  The department offers one major program, three minor programs of study designed for a wide variety of majors across the university, and one certificate program.  The Social Work Program prepares students for beginning professional practice. Social work majors earn a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree, which is the entry level for professional social work practice as recognized by the National Association of Social Workers. The JMU program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.  Students who complete this program are well prepared for graduate school and for careers in the field of human services.  

The family studies minor is designed to enhance the student’s major while increasing understanding of self and relationships. The interdisciplinary minor in gerontology is designed for any undergraduate major desiring a concentration of study in gerontology of personal understanding or career preparation. The Gerontology Certificate Program addresses the needs of individuals with an associate’s or baccalaureate degree with career interests in the rapidly expanding field of aging. Completion of the minor and certificate program provides preparation for challenging positions in planning, program development and direct service delivery in a wide variety of gerontology and geriatric settings. The Nonprofit Studies minor is designed for students interested in working in the nonprofit sector providing grounding in the skills and perspectives necessary to work in one of the 1.6 million nonprofit organizations in the US today.

We invite you to join with the Department of Social Work - as a student, an alumnus, a friend or community partner who supports our programs.  Please explore our website to learn more about our programs.