Social Work

The mission of the Bachelor of Arts Social Work program is to prepare students to enter the field as effective and culturally competent generalist practitioners. Equiped with skills, values, and knowledge of the social work profession, our graduates will go on to meet the unique needs of individuals, families, groups, and the larger community in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. The generalist practitioner is passionate, empathic, and genuine in their use of specific methodologies with diverse populations. The program addresses the needs of the Territory and larger Caribbean by including curriculum that is trauma-informed, culturally specific, and emphasizes empowerment and advocacy for local populations. 

Field education is a core component of the social work curriculum. Through supervised internships at local agencies, students are able to practice skills learned in the classroom. 

There are currently no concentrations or specializations for the social work major. Entry level courses can be completed on either campus, but degree must be completed on St. Thomas campus. The Introduction to Social Work course is offered by video-conference to social work majors on the St. Croix campus. The courses in the social work major must be completed on the St. Thomas campus during the students’ junior and senior year. Students on St. Croix are assigned to an Advisor, but can also contact the Program Coordinator for information on the major.

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4-Year Suggested Course Sequence

• Social Work 4-Year Suggested Course Sequence (revised FALL 2018) ( Foreign Language in First Year)
• Social Work 4-Year Suggested Course Sequence (revised FALL 2018) (Foreign Language in Second Year)

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Prospective Students should be aware that:

• Entry level courses can be completed on either campus, but degree must be completed on St. Thomas campus.

Along with the required General Education Requirements, students must complete the following courses to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work:

The following courses in the Social Sciences are required:

The student must choose three to nine credits from among the following Social Sciences courses:

Required courses in other fields:

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What employment opportunities are available to social work graduates?

Social work focuses on the “person in environment” to work effectively with individuals, families, small groups, organizations and communities. Social work graduates are equipped with knowledge, skills and values essential to working in settings such as:

• human services
• criminal & juvenile justice
• education
• housing
• health/mental health
• child welfare
• senior citizens programs

Social workers at the undergraduate level are trained in the generalist model of social work, which assures that professional social work skills, values and knowledge can be applied in working with individuals, groups, communities and organizations. The undergraduate curriculum provides a professional social work foundation that is transferable to different settings, population groups and problems areas.  The foundation includes field education which is the signature pedagogy of social work education where the student connects and integrates theory and practice.  Content is also provided on human behavior and the social environment, populations at risk, human and cultural diversity, the professional social worker, research, social and economic justice, social welfare policy and services, social work practice and social work values and ethics. 

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• The Social Work major at the University of the Virgin Islands provides an array of courses that cover the areas that have been identified as essential competencies for social workers by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• At the end of their senior year, students are assessed on their knowledge of the ten core competencies identified by the CSWE.
• It is expected that students will be able to perform at the generalist level of social work practice at the completion of their social work program of study.

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The Master of Social Work Program at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) provides a robust curriculum that supports the Advanced Generalist social work practitioner. The curriculum is designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of trauma-informed practices across the lifespan from a Caribbean cultural perspective. There is an emphasis on working with populations who have been exposed to intergenerational trauma and adverse childhood experiences as a result of experiencing natural disasters in the region. Moreover, all of the coursework and field experiences include an explicit focus on social institutions such as child welfare and the needs of people belonging to the Caribbean diaspora.

The program is designed to provide students with the necessary academic knowledge base, problem-solving skills, and experiential opportunities to work in a variety of social service settings with a specialization in working with children, youth and families. This graduate Social Work Program does not itself lead to licensing but does seek to prepare practitioners for licensure throughout the US and abroad. The minimum academic credential required to obtain licensure to practice as a social worker in most states is a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). UVI’s MSW program is currently accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

The MSW program is offered on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and the St. Thomas Campus.  Courses are conducted via video conferencing with face to face attendance on either campus. Some class components will only be held face to face for simulation hands-on learning. The MSW Program provides a flexible, affordable path to an MSW degree. The faculty and staff of the MSW Program foster a community, rooted in creativity, innovation, and excellence in teaching, student learning, research, and community engagement.

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Application Deadline:  June 30, 2025 to begin Fall 2025

1. Earned a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

2. Possess a minimum combined 2.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale as reported on official transcripts from accredited institutions. A GPA of 3.0 or above is preferred.

3. Submit an online application form to the Graduate Admissions Office on the appropriate campus requesting admission to the Graduate Program by June 30, 2025. $45.00 Application Fee (paid via application portal)

4. Submit official transcript(s) of all previous college course work. Transcript(s) must be forwarded by the institution(s) attended. Update: Due to COVID-19, UVI admissions office is accepting unofficial transcripts via email to admissions@uvi.edu . Official transcripts will be required prior to admission into the program.

5. References: Provide three letters of recommendation from someone who can address the applicant's abilities and interpersonal skills, potential for graduate education and potential for professional social work practice.

   1. One letter should be from a former professor and one from a professional who should address the applicant’s ability to perform at the graduate level as well as relevant experiences that he or she has had with the applicant. If a letter from a professor is not possible, a letter by someone who can address academic writing and scholastic abilities can be submitted. A professional is ideally a former employer from a social service agency. Please no recommendations from family members.

   2. Letters must be submitted electronically or by mail. This instruction sheet can be given to those who are writing the letter. Be sure to complete the top half of the sheet for their reference of information.

6. Personal Statement: Applicants must provide a well-written personal statement that addresses the following:

   1. Describe your interest in social work and how your personal and professional goals align with the mission and goals of the profession and the MSW Program. See the "assessment" tab  for information on our program's mission and goals. You also can review the National Association of Social Worker's Code of Ethics to review our profession 's mission.                                                                                                

   2. Explain how the program's specialization in Children, Youth and Families can help you to achieve your identified goals.

   3. Describe your personal and professional skills and qualities, strengths and weaknesses that will support and/or may challenge you to achieve your professional goals.

   4. Field practicum (internship) is a critical component of the MSW curriculum and requires regular daytime hours to fulfill the requirements for successful completion of the program. Explain how your work/life responsibilities and support system will accommodate your field practicum and other requirements of the program.

7. Resume: Applicants will provide a professional resume that includes the following: a) Educational background, including honors and distinction b) Internships, paid or voluntary, in social service settings c) Work experience and duties d) Extra-curricular activities e) Reading interests and hobbies 

8. Interview: Applicants may be asked to interview with the Admissions Committee before a final decision is reached.

Please contact our admissions office, if you have questions about the UVI graduate application process.

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The mission of the Master of Social Work program is to prepare social workers who honor and promote the resiliency of individuals, families, groups, communities, institutions, and systems in the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, and its diaspora, through ethical, evidence-based practice and advocacy that centers the cultural, historical, political, economic, and environmental experiences, needs, and rights of those served.

The MSW Program has two overarching goals for Generalist Practice and  Specialized Practice course sequences.

• Goal One: To prepare students for ethical, competent generalist social work practice in local, regional, and global settings, which requires knowledge grounded in scientific inquiry, values that foster respect for diversity, and trauma-informed, culturally responsive skills for promoting individual and community well-being. 
• Goal Two: Advance the knowledge and skills of generalist practitioners to engage in ethical, evidence-based practices and advocacy with, and for, children, youth, and families in the VI, the Caribbean and its diaspora.

The MSW Program goals are the basis for curriculum design, assessing program effectiveness and the competency of students, and guide program development. The program assessment is based on the Council of Social Work Education’s (CSWE)  2015 Educational and Policy and Accreditation Standards which include core competencies.
All courses support the development of nine core competencies in graduates. These include:

• Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
• Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
• Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
• Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
• Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
• Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies
• Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
• Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
• Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Graduates from the MSW Program will have an advanced set of professional learning experiences that lead to competency for advanced social work practice and responsive community service with children, youth and families. 

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Program Course Sequence:

Below is a outline of the courses for the first year Generalist Practice Sequence and the second year Specialization Sequence.

Course Descriptions:

SWK 510 - Social Work as a Profession 

This course introduces students to the profession of social work and the methods of social work practice. Students will explore the historical developments that shaped the profession and techniques of generalist practice. The course introduces theories that provide the basis for social work interventions and values and ethics that undergird professional social work practice.

SWK 511 - Lifespan Development and the Social Environment

This course examines the major social science theories that inform the social work profession's understanding of human behavior from a social systems perspective. Development across the life span is conceptualized as the interplay between nature and nurture where biological and psychosocial risk influence individual resiliency and environmental competence.

SWK 512 - Research and Social Problems

This course is designed to help students develop into effective practitioners/researchers. The course includes content on ethical standards of scientific inquiry, research design for qualitative and quantitative research, analyses and reporting, practice evaluation, and the utilization of research. Students will critically review research reports on Caribbean social problems in the media and professional journals.

SWK 513 - Practice with Individuals, Families and Small Groups

This practice course will introduce the development and application of empowerment and strengths-based interventions for the purpose of creating alternative African-centered healing models for practice with Caribbean families. The course will combine a historical overview of Caribbean families with an emphasis on the obstacles they encounter as threats to healthy development and family functioning. Special attention is devoted to unraveling the effects of African cultural legacies, slavery, and institutional racism on Caribbean family life.

SWK 514 - Foundation Practicum in Caribbean Settings I

Students are assigned to an approved social service agency 15 hours per week (150 total hours) under the supervision of an experienced social work professional. Field placements provide students the opportunity to integrate social work theory within an ethical framework and apply skills within an agency setting and Caribbean community context. The field setting will enable students to develop a greater respect for diversity and practice with populations at risk, to utilize critical thinking and problem solving, and to develop comfort in the professional role.

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Overall, the Master of Social Work  comprises a minimum of 61 credits divided as follows:

• academic coursework (45 credits)
• 900 hours of supervised internship (16 credits)

*A grade of C is the lowest grade counted toward graduation in the Graduate program. Matriculated graduate students are allowed a maximum of two C grades. No course may be taken more than twice.

 

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The University of the Virgin Islands' MSW program has achieved Candidacy for Accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation. Please view a summary of our latest student learning outcomes.

Accreditation: Student Learning Outcomes - AY 2020/2021

Accreditation: Student Learning Outcomes - AY 2021/2022

Accreditation: Student Learning Outcomes - AY 2022/2023

 

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