Bachelor Degree in Social Work Offered This Fall at UC East

A bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) will be offered at UC East beginning this fall through a new partnership between the University of Cincinnati Clermont College and the School of Social Work, part of UC’s College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS).

Students can now complete the two-year program at UC Clermont and then transition to UC East where the CAHS will be offering the Social Work bachelor’s degree. This enables area residents to complete all four years of this degree option without leaving Clermont County.

“Organizations across Ohio are looking for Social Workers to fill positions. Offering the Bachelors of Social Work Program at UC East will assist community organizations in filling important positions in healthcare, social services, schools, courts and treatment centers. Students living east of I-275 are sometimes opposed to traveling to UC main campus. Bringing the program to Clermont County is a positive for the students, community and the Social Work Profession,” said Assistant Professor and Area Coordinator for Social Work, Jill Gomez from UC Clermont.

“In addition to the convenience this four-year option will provide, this is an important tool for workforce development. There's a growing need for well-trained Social Work professionals, especially in health and aging-related careers. This will mean jobs for Social Workers and expanded services in rural communities. It’s really exciting to be a part of this project,” said Assistant Professor and BSW Program Director Amy McMahon from UC’s College of Allied Health Sciences.

The Social Work Program is built around the values and core competencies of the profession as defined by the Council on Social Work Education. The Social Work faculty brings a strong practice background to the classroom, engaging students in learning activities that develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for professional practice.

“I am very excited about this because I will be able to complete my bachelor’s degree without going downtown. I think this will help save students time, transportation and money," said UC Clermont Student Shelby Matthews from Eastgate who plans to begin the BSW program after completing her associates in social work in the spring, 2015.
 
For more information about this program, please contact Jill Gomez at jill.gomez@uc.edu via phone 732-5266 or Amy McMahon at amy.mcmahon@uc.edu or via phone: 556-4621.

UC East, a Clermont County expansion in the former Ford plant in Batavia Township, opened in the fall of 2010. It is home to UC Clermont College's Allied Health programs including: Surgical Assisting, Respiratory Therapy, Physical Therapist Assistant, EMS-Paramedic Certificate, Medical Assisting, and Multi-Skilled Health Technician. On the second floor of UC East, UC’s College of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services offers Bachelor Degree completion programs in criminal justice and paralegal studies. UC’s Allied Health College will begin offering the Bachelor Degree in Social Work the fall of 2014.