51°µÍř

51°µÍř’s College of Health & Human Services has announced the approval of the university’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW) program to begin in the Fall 2025 semester. Leading the degree program is Dr. Courtney Ruggles, an SSU alumna, who has been developing the program for the past year.

“The approval and launch of the BSW program at Shawnee State is a significant and exciting step forward – not just for our university, but for our region,” said Dr. Ruggles. “It opens doors for students who are passionate about becoming change makers and creating positive impacts in their communities.”

Part of funding awarded through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s INSPIRE (Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems) program, SSU’s BSW is designed to address workforce shortages in the area of behavioral health and addiction treatment services. During the development of the program, the input and feedback from local area health agencies provided valuable information for the unique and specific needs within the community and region.

“By offering a pathway to a social work degree here in Southern Ohio, we’re equipping local and regional students with the tools to launch meaningful careers without having to leave the region,” said Dr. Ruggles. “At the same time, the program addresses critical workforce needs by preparing graduates to serve in areas such as behavioral health, child welfare, schools, healthcare and other fields of social work.”

A degree in social work can open several career pathways for students including in behavioral health agencies, substance use treatment centers, hospitals and medical centers, court systems, government agencies, community and social services, and much more. Students in the BSW program will be trained to meet the growing need for compassionate and skilled professional social workers in the region and beyond. Through classroom learning with hands-on field experiences, students will be able to address real-world challenges to make a meaningful impact on their communities.

“Through internships and community partnerships, our students will actively contribute to local organizations while learning, and bringing fresh energy and support to the populations that need it the most,” said Dr. Ruggles.

Students will first declare their major as pre-social work while completing their foundational coursework and program pre-requisites over their first two years of their education. Admission to the program to SSU’s program will be on a competitive basis with the deadline for application occurring annually on Apr. 1 for admission in the fall semester. Due to accreditation requirements, the first application cycle will occur in 2027, and pre-social work students can begin in Fall 2025. The program has started the necessary steps toward obtaining accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education, social work’s accrediting body.

Once accepted into the BSW program, students will enroll in focused social work education, including field experience, over the next two years leading up to the completion of their degree and entry into the workforce. The BSW curriculum meets the requirements for licensure in most states in the nation. 

“In addition to being an in-demand profession that contributes significantly to society, the BSW program is the cornerstone of our college’s growth and development of future human service professionals,” said Dr. Christine Raber, SSU Dean of the College of Health & Human Services, noting the demand for social work professionals in the region is great. “We are thrilled that the program has come to fruition, and are grateful for Dr. Ruggles’s leadership, as well as the strong support of our community partners.”

The BSW program will host a Virtual Orientation for interested students on Tuesday, May, 6 at 6:30 p.m. Students will meet Program Director Dr. Courtney Ruggles, review key program expectations, walk through the outline of the pre-social work pathway, and have their questions about the new program answered. To register to attend, visit shawnee.edu/bsw-orientation.

To learn more about the Bachelor of Social Work at 51°µÍř, visit shawnee.edu/bsw or contact Dr. Courtney Ruggles at cruggles@shawnee.edu.