WILMINGTON — A local university is partnering with rural colleges to establish a new program.
UNCW has created a bachelor’s degree in social work and is teaming up with Montgomery Community College, South Piedmont Community College, and Richmond Community College to create transfer opportunities for students who have successfully completed an associate degree in human services technology programs.
The opportunity creates a straight pathway for students to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The social work courses will be offered online, as the first in the state. Once admitted, students receive individual advising on the program and required courses.
“Students in rural counties do not have a lot of options to earn an undergraduate degree, particularly if they are working professionals,” director of the UNC Wilmington School of Social Work Dr. Stacey Kolomer said in a press release. “At the heart of social work is social justice. We know there are not enough mental health and substance abuse counselors to serve in these rural areas, so the School of Social Work is excited to provide a pipeline to train professionals to meet the needs of their communities.”
Individuals who complete an associate degree at one of the three community colleges, plus the new bachelor’s degree of social work can easily progress into a Master of Social Work program with advanced standing. In turn, this shortens the length of time in graduate school.
The goal is to establish a direct pipeline to numerous job opportunities in government, social and private settings. The School of Social Work also has an agreement with Cape Fear Community College and Carteret Community College.
“This partnership with Montgomery, South Piedmont and Richmond community colleges aligns with UNCW’s mission to provide access to high-quality education to residents of North Carolina, especially those in rural communities,” UNCW Chancellor Aswani K. Volety said in a release. “This collaboration will open doors for students to pursue a career in social work that can lead to greater economic mobility for the students and meet the state’s workforce needs.”
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