Department of Social Work

Department of Social Work

Social Work Programs at UCCS

The Department of Social Work at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) empowers students to make a significant difference in the lives of others. 

About the Department

Social Work students develop the skills to improve the well-being of those around them through direct practice with individuals, groups, and families and community-focused initiatives.

Graduates become leaders, advocates, and social justice champions, dedicated to creating a better future for all. UCCS offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community and improve lives.

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Explore Social Work Programs

Bachelor of Social Work, BSW

The Bachelor of Social Work program is designed to equip students for careers in a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that advocates for social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people.

Master of Social Work, MSW

Traditional Program

The Master of Social Work program prepares students to change lives and communities for the better through ethical and competent trauma-informed social work practice.

Master of Social Work, MSW

Advanced Standing Program

Students who hold an undergraduate social work degree from an accredited social work program may be eligible for the MSW Advanced Standing Program at UCCS.

School Social Work Endorsement

At UCCS social work, you can apply for a special services provider license with a school social worker endorsement to provide social work services in the Colorado public school district or charter school.

Professional Licensure

The Department of Social Work at UCCS must comply with Fed. Reg. 34 CFR § 668.43(c) by informing you of our accreditation and licensure status for the UCCS MSW program, including whether our education meets the requirements for licensure in your state and where to find more information.

Course Schedules

The UCCS College of Public Service (CPS) offers flexible delivery of courses, with options for both online and on-campus classes each semester.

Field Education

Social work field education is an integral component of the social work program at UCCS.

The program provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in various social work competency areas while making a difference in their local community.

Become a Social Work Field Instructor

The Department of Social Work relies on field education and community agencies to help produce competent practitioners. The department is always looking for community partners to become field instructors for Social Work degree programs.

Accreditation Information

The UCCS Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work are both accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process.

An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Commission on Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Accreditation applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program.

Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program. For more information about social work accreditation, you may contact Accreditation.

View Learning Outcomes Assessment

Explore the Department's Frequently Asked Questions

Want to Learn More?

Learn more about Social Work at UCCS through department information sessions, available in person and virtually.

Outstanding Students of the Year

Noah Ruybal
Outstanding BSW Student of the Year

“After my first class with Professor Gangemi, I told her I did not know if I was cut out to be a social worker. That's no longer a concern. This program has allowed me the opportunity to explore my strengths and weakness while preparing me for the profession.”


Noah is a nontraditional Bachelor of Social Work student graduating this spring. After graduation, he will be jumping right into the Master of Social Work Advanced Standing Program. His long-term goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and open an animal rescue that incorporates rescues into therapy. His mission statement is to wake up every day excited for the day and go to bed satisfied with what he accomplished. He strives every day to make his mission a reality.
 

Gcinile Kayitare
Outstanding MSW Student of the Year

“It’s a humbling honor and privilege to be nominated as the first-ever MSW Outstanding Student of the Year. While doing my Master of Social Work degree program at UCCS, I have improved various skills, including anti-oppressive social work practice, ethics, how to provide trauma-informed services efficiently, and scholarly writing. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here at UCCS, and while part of that can be attributed to the course material itself, my positive experience primarily stems from the guidance and support offered to me by the program faculty. Taking classes such as Trauma and Violence, Psychopathology and Trauma, and Social Work Practice with Service Members educated me on how trauma affects us differently. My internship with the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic further cemented my desire to work with veterans and their families. My goal is to focus on social justice issues with an emphasis on treating trauma. Upon graduation, I will be relocating to Virginia where I hope to get my licensure and intend to continue serving our veterans and their families.”


Originally from The Kingdom of Eswatini in Southern Africa, Gcinile began her social service career as a community development associate at World Vision International-Eswatini where she worked for three years before relocating to the United States. She then began her academic career at Lincoln University of Missouri where she completed her Bachelor of Social Work degree. While at Lincoln, she was a board member at Faith Voices for Jefferson City where they specialized in policy change and social justice advocacy. She also interned at Catholic Charities where she worked with refugees and assisted them with finding accommodation, getting necessary U.S documentation, and understanding American culture. As part of her social work development, she worked for the Missouri Department of Mental Health as a forensic rehabilitation specialist in the state's maximum security state hospital. Upon graduation, she relocated to three more states before coming to Colorado. While applying for master's programs in North Carolina where she was residing at the time, they received military orders for the beautiful state of Colorado. While looking for schools here, she came across UCCS and found that they offered an advanced standing Master of Social Work degree. She was thrilled to receive the acceptance letter and to learn that she could finish her Master of Social Work (MSW) in three semesters which was both exciting and challenging. While at UCCS, she completed her internship with the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic.

Contact the Department

If you have any questions regarding Social Work programs offered at UCCS, you can reach out to the department via email at socialwork@uccs.edu or by calling (719) 255-4256.

Additionally, you can submit the contact form below to connect with the department, and a member from the department will get back to you directly.

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