Impact Individuals, Families, Groups & Communities

Transforming society takes more than willpower. It takes education, opportunities, and a strong support system with the power to break down barriers.

You have a servant's heart and a gift for healing. Make a lasting impact on lives in your community with a degree in Social Work from Belhaven University.

It's the study of the professional activity of helping individuals, families, groups, organizations, or communities at a local and global level. It's your calling. Let's get started.

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Bachelor of Social Work at Belhaven University

Why You’ll Love Social Work at Belhaven

Field Experience

A full academic year placement in a professional social work setting. This is the agency of choice for working with individuals, families, groups, and community. 

Caring Mentors

Personalized instruction and one-on-one interactions with professors.

Community Connections

Network with professionals in non-profit organizations across the state.

Research Opportunities

Prepare for graduate school with independent or group research projects.

12% Career Growth

More than 110,000 social workers will be needed in the next seven years

13:1 Student/Faculty Ratio

Small class sizes mean big opportunities

1883 Founding Date

Our rich heritage of excellent educational opportunities spans nearly 140 years

little wild flowers

The Highest Standards

The Department of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation.

Belhaven’s commitment to the accreditation process benefits you because it ensures you will be provided a quality education and allows you to sit for the social work licensing exam. Additionally, it may assist you in meeting eligibility requirements for state and federal financial aid and in pursuit of graduate education.

See Our Accreditations

Why Study Social Work at Belhaven?

Belhaven's social work degree program moves from an in-depth study of social work to a practiced application of theories and principles. Our program integrates current social work methods with a Christian perspective.

You prepare for your role as servant leader through extensive, mentored work experience; a field placement of 400 hours is required for graduation.

In compliance with standards of accreditation, you must apply for admission to the Social Work program. You’ll submit your application after successfully completing an introductory course (SWK 200).

Your Detailed Plan: Social Work at Belhaven

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The Poverty Simulation Project

Learning & Career Outcomes

What Can You Do with a Degree in Social Work?

Social work is a rewarding, purpose-driven career — your degree can lead to positions in healthcare organizations, mental health centers, child welfare agencies, nursing homes, community centers, non-profits, schools, government agencies, youth courts, and treatment centers.

Belhaven Social Work graduates take on challenging roles and responsibilities:

  • Mississippi Public School System
  • Mississippi Department of Family and Children Services
  • Spencer Perkins Center
  • Center for Violence Prevention
  • Opportunity Center
  • Beautiful Ones Ministry
  • Mississippi Department of Mental Health

The broad exposure and expertise in more than one area can also provide you with multiple career options and opportunities, as well as advanced training through graduate studies.

Program Goals & Objectives

The Council on Social Work Accreditation requires the program to report its most recent assessment outcomes to constituents and the public. These measurements are based on the programs’ Core Competencies. Scores are the compilation of implicit and explicit assessment tools administered to senior social work students.

Download the 2023 CSWE Assessment (pdf)

Get Involved

His Hands His Feet is a student organization that raises awareness of social issues, serving and ministering to the surrounding community. Join us in service projects, inner-city ministries, and workdays, and raise money for non-profits and ministries.

The Social Work Department Advisory Board includes social work professionals and members of the community who give guidance to the social work department. Help guide our decision-making with input and feedback from your unique perspective.

Social Work at Belhaven: Goals and Objectives

The Mission Statement of the BSW program attempts to integrate the mission of the university as well as the social work program. The mission of the Department of Social Work is to prepare social workers in a faith context for entry level generalist social work practice in a global, diverse setting and/or to pursue graduate level education.

The department aims to prepare students to integrate knowledge, skills, and values into practice by fulfilling the following goals:

  • To equip social workers with generalist knowledge, values, and skills and to prepare competent professionals for entry level social work practice with diverse systems within a global context.
  • To prepare social workers who understand a Christian worldview (which values social and economic justice while also respecting and appreciating diversity).
  • Prepare students with strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
  • Foster the student's social work identity including professional use of supervision and consultation, self-awareness, and an appreciation for the profession's history and values.
  • To prepare students with critical thinking skills in areas of practice, research, and ethics to help ensure success in graduate social work programs.
  • To assist with students' development of understanding and integration of social work theories and practice.
  • To develop student's professional social work values and ethics.
  • For students to apply systems concepts to practice across the micro and macro continuum.
  • For students to demonstrate constructive critical thinking skills.
  • To allow students to demonstrate an understanding of social work concepts and the planned changed process based in systems theory.
  • Provide opportunities for students to serve in social work settings.
  • For students to develop the ability to communicate effectively and professionally in oral and written formats.
  • To assist students with their professional development and professional identity.
  • Students will develop an understanding of working with people of diversity; including age, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation without discrimination.
  • Assist students with an understanding of working toward social justice and advocacy.
  • Provide students an opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of a bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment.
  • Expose students to the history, current realities, and future implications of the social welfare system with regard to the local and global continuum.
  • Integrate Christian beliefs and values with professional social work values and ethics as set forth in the code of ethics.

Internship opportunities are available with numerous organizations, including domestic violence shelters for women and children, group homes for children, inner-city ministries, hospitals, non-profit organizations, charities, and government agencies. For example, local institutions like these are possible places for an internship:

  • Sunnybrook Children's Home
  • Veterans Administration
  • University Medical Center
  • His Heart Ministries
  • Catholic Charities
  • Gateway Rescue Mission
  • Salvation Army

In spring 2015, student interns from Belhaven University collaborated with Beautiful Ones Ministries, Inc., and Shared Hope International to prepare a report that examines the prevalence of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) in the central Mississippi area.

The study revealed that the children being trafficked in the counties assessed are Mississippi children, largely trafficked by their own family members. Poverty and education gaps prevalent in Mississippi make children in the area particularly vulnerable to trafficking.

The research on DMST used a Rapid Assessment methodology provided by Shared Hope that covered four counties – Hinds, Rankin, Madison and Warren – and evaluated the identification of DMST victims and access to services for victims in these counties.

The Belhaven students interviewed a total of 36 local professionals – from law enforcement, the judicial system, government agencies, nongovernmental service providers and the community – about DMST occurring in the target areas.

Social Work at Belhaven: Goals and Objectives

The Mission Statement of the BSW program attempts to integrate the mission of the university as well as the social work program. The mission of the Department of Social Work is to prepare social workers in a faith context for entry level generalist social work practice in a global, diverse setting and/or to pursue graduate level education.

The department aims to prepare students to integrate knowledge, skills, and values into practice by fulfilling the following goals:

  • To equip social workers with generalist knowledge, values, and skills and to prepare competent professionals for entry level social work practice with diverse systems within a global context.
  • To prepare social workers who understand a Christian worldview (which values social and economic justice while also respecting and appreciating diversity).
  • Prepare students with strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
  • Foster the student's social work identity including professional use of supervision and consultation, self-awareness, and an appreciation for the profession's history and values.
  • To prepare students with critical thinking skills in areas of practice, research, and ethics to help ensure success in graduate social work programs.

  • To assist with students' development of understanding and integration of social work theories and practice.
  • To develop student's professional social work values and ethics.
  • For students to apply systems concepts to practice across the micro and macro continuum.
  • For students to demonstrate constructive critical thinking skills.
  • To allow students to demonstrate an understanding of social work concepts and the planned changed process based in systems theory.
  • Provide opportunities for students to serve in social work settings.
  • For students to develop the ability to communicate effectively and professionally in oral and written formats.
  • To assist students with their professional development and professional identity.
  • Students will develop an understanding of working with people of diversity; including age, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation without discrimination.
  • Assist students with an understanding of working toward social justice and advocacy.
  • Provide students an opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of a bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment.
  • Expose students to the history, current realities, and future implications of the social welfare system with regard to the local and global continuum.
  • Integrate Christian beliefs and values with professional social work values and ethics as set forth in the code of ethics.

Internship opportunities are available with numerous organizations, including domestic violence shelters for women and children, group homes for children, inner-city ministries, hospitals, non-profit organizations, charities, and government agencies. For example, local institutions like these are possible places for an internship:

  • Sunnybrook Children's Home
  • Veterans Administration
  • University Medical Center
  • His Heart Ministries
  • Catholic Charities
  • Gateway Rescue Mission
  • Salvation Army

In spring 2015, student interns from Belhaven University collaborated with Beautiful Ones Ministries, Inc., and Shared Hope International to prepare a report that examines the prevalence of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) in the central Mississippi area.

The study revealed that the children being trafficked in the counties assessed are Mississippi children, largely trafficked by their own family members. Poverty and education gaps prevalent in Mississippi make children in the area particularly vulnerable to trafficking.

The research on DMST used a Rapid Assessment methodology provided by Shared Hope that covered four counties – Hinds, Rankin, Madison and Warren – and evaluated the identification of DMST victims and access to services for victims in these counties.

The Belhaven students interviewed a total of 36 local professionals – from law enforcement, the judicial system, government agencies, nongovernmental service providers and the community – about DMST occurring in the target areas.

Honor Society

Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society provides a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideas. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.

Contact Us

Office of Admission

Phone: 601-968-5940

Mailing Address:
1500 Peachtree Street, Box 153
Jackson, MS 39202

For campus visit:
Jimmy Hood Welcome Center
855 Riverside Drive
Jackson, MS 39202

Fax: 601-300-2932

admission@belhaven.edu

BU letters displayed outside admission office

Verse of the Year

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

Philippians 2:13