The University of North Carolina System Board of Governors has approved UNC-Chapel Hill’s plan to offer a Bachelor of Social Work degree, expanding the university’s School of Social Work. The new degree is designed to address workforce shortages in the field, particularly in rural areas.

Social Work Workforce Needs

The School of Social Work has been working towards offering the degree pathway for years, with the Faculty Senate voting to approve the program in November 2024. The school emphasized the need for the program, noting that at least 30 states, including North Carolina, would likely experience a shortage of more than 195,000 social workers by 2030.

The UNC System is already responsible for the majority of social work degrees awarded in the state. However, certain professions within social work, such as mental health services, are still feeling a strain. The report also noted that rural areas in North Carolina have a significant lack of social workers, with some counties having zero social workers per 10,000 people.

Student Demand

UNC will join 13 other UNC System institutions in offering a Bachelor of Social Work degree. The program will have an enrollment limit of 75 students and is designed to serve students already admitted or enrolled at UNC. The School of Social Work has an interest database of 175 current and admitted students, and informational sessions this spring drew around 100 attendees.

The BSW program is designed to provide a social work pathway for students who have already selected UNC-Chapel Hill and would otherwise pursue a non-social-work undergraduate major. The program will include a 400-hour supervised practicum, statewide agency partnerships, and research opportunities, as well as a preparation pathway that supports eligibility for Advanced Standing MSW study at UNC or other institutions.

Original reporting: Carolina Public Press — read the source article.