Social Work Programs at Methodist College
Methodist College is a prominent institution that offers a complete social work education to prepare you for rewarding careers in this growing field. The Social Work program helps students become competent professionals who serve individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities while easing oppression and poverty.
Students at Methodist get specialized attention to Cumberland County’s needs in North Carolina and surrounding areas. This local focus will give a solid foundation that you can apply anywhere in your career.
Methodist College’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program equips you to work as a generalist practitioner. You’ll learn to think critically and tackle various social work challenges head-on. The program builds your skills to participate with marginalized communities, analyze social policies, communicate with clients and colleagues, and practice social work in different settings.
The Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation has accredited Methodist College’s Bachelor of Social Work program. This accreditation confirms your education’s quality and boosts your professional credibility.
A BSW degree from Methodist prepares you to take the required licensing exam for becoming a licensed social worker. Social workers find jobs in hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, child welfare agencies, human service organizations, or private practice, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook. The employment of social workers should grow 6 percent through 2034, showing increased need in healthcare and social services.
Methodist College’s faculty members invest deeply in your future goals. They work alongside you to develop significant social work skills that prepare you for professional practice. Small class sizes mean you’ll get personal attention and mentorship throughout your educational experience.
Methodist University’s social work program was the first private university in the North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative. Students can take specialized training through the SWK 3750 Child Welfare Course to prepare for positions in public Child Welfare and other child-serving organizations.
The BSW degree needs 120-124 total credit hours, split between general education requirements and social work coursework. BSW students must maintain academic standards and earn a final grade of C or better in all SWK prefix courses and required English composition courses.
Your final semesters include a practicum experience in real-life settings. This hands-on training sharpens your knowledge and practical skills. Students must complete at least 400 contact hours in an approved social welfare agency with supervised learning experience, giving valuable professional exposure before graduation.
Students can choose between on-campus and fully online options to complete their BSW degree. The online program matches the in-person format’s quality, with dedicated faculty and access to Methodist’s academic support services like tutoring and writing centers.
Methodist graduates pursue diverse career paths. They work in mental health services, case management, nonprofit advocacy, social services, child welfare, adoptions, foster care management, school social work, hospital family advocacy, home health/hospice care, and correctional facility case management.
The program offers affordable education compared to other institutions. Online BSW courses cost $435 per credit hour. Methodist College makes education accessible – 97% of students qualify for financial aid, and the institution offers more than $24 million yearly in scholarships.
Methodist’s social work program teaches you critical thinking skills and helps you understand oppression’s collateral damage. You’ll analyze social policy, communicate effectively with clients and colleagues, and work in various contexts while adopting the profession’s values, ethics, and principles. This preparation ensures you can make a real difference in people’s lives after graduation.
Where is Methodist College located
Methodist College sits right in the heart of Illinois, making it a perfect spot for students who want to study social work. You’ll find the college at 7600 N. Academic Drive in Peoria, Illinois 61615. This spot gives students amazing chances to learn about social work and other healthcare fields.
Peoria makes a great backdrop for your college years. The city has about 350,000 people in its metro area. It’s big enough to give you plenty of learning opportunities but small enough to feel like home. Students who want to learn about different community dynamics will find this balance just right.
The campus lies in Peoria County, in what we’d call a midsize city setting. Getting around is easy thanks to great transportation options. The Greater Peoria Regional Airport and major highways like I-74, I-474, I-155, and I-39 connect you to everywhere you need to go. You can reach campus easily, no matter where you’re coming from.
The natural surroundings make Methodist College’s location special. The Peoria Park District leads Illinois and ranks among the best public park systems in the country first in Illinois and ranks among the top public park systems nationwide based on its open-space to population ratio. These green spaces let social work students take breaks from their studies and get involved in community activities.
Peoria’s community adds something extra to your education. The city buzzes with cultural activities that fit perfectly with your studies. Social work students can explore museums, theaters, community organizations, and social service agencies. These places often become great spots for field placements.
A midsize urban center like Peoria lets social work students work with different groups of people and tackle various social issues – just like in bigger cities. Students learn to work with people from all walks of life, which helps them become better social workers.
Local connections make a big difference. The college works closely with healthcare facilities, social service agencies, and community groups. Social work students can find field placements and jobs more easily. The area needs social services, so you’ll get real experience helping solve community problems.
Life in Peoria offers plenty of fun too. The city has great entertainment, food, and outdoor activities. Social work students can take breaks from their studies and enjoy themselves. The park system helps you stay active and manage stress while you’re working through your program.
The college’s role as a private, not-for-profit school shows how much it cares about both education and community service. Being in Peoria helps the college stay connected with local groups while teaching students. Social work students learn how people, organizations, and social systems work together.
Students can reach the campus at 309-672-5513 or visit www.methodistcol.edu to learn more about campus facilities, programs, and resources.
The urban setting works great for social work education. Cities face complex social challenges that help students learn. Your time in Peoria will show you the kinds of issues social workers deal with every day, from healthcare access to community development.
Illinois has strong social services and many organizations that help people. Social work graduates can find jobs in healthcare, agencies, and community groups across the state. This location boosts both your education and career opportunities.
Methodist College’s spot in Peoria creates the perfect place to study social work. Students get urban learning experiences, community connections, and a good life balance. Everything comes together to help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to become an effective social worker.
Methodist College offers several social work education programs to help you become a professional in this ever-changing field. The college’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program teaches you to become a generalist practitioner who can help individuals, families, and communities thrive.
Students need 120 total credit hours to graduate. The program splits these hours between general education (47-51 credits) and social work core courses (62-63 credits). Most students complete the program in four years, though some might finish faster. The program meets all standards set by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which has accredited Methodist College’s program through 2025 and beyond.
Methodist College lets you choose how you want to study. You can get your degree through:
- On-campus program: Face-to-face classes in Peoria, Illinois
- 100% online program: Distance learning that matches the quality of on-campus classes
The online BSW option helps you stay connected with what teachers call a “family unit” support system. Your teachers care about your future goals and help you build essential social work skills, whether you study online or in person. Online students can finish their 124-credit hour BSW in just 3.5 years, with options to study part-time or full-time based on their schedule.
Methodist College also offers special paths to boost your career options. The School Social Work Licensure path needs nine extra credit hours. You’ll learn about counseling theories and intervention techniques to work in schools. This special training helps you:
- Build school social work skills
- Learn key counseling theories
- Master school intervention techniques
- See how public schools work
- Create approaches that help students and communities
The college arranges its curriculum to build your skills step by step. You’ll start with general education courses in your first two years. Your third and fourth years focus on professional social work courses. This matches the Council on Social Work Education’s approach, helping you develop measurable skills based on professional knowledge, values, and skills.
You’ll learn to:
- Think critically as a professional social worker
- Practice social work ethics and values
- Work with people from all backgrounds without discrimination
- Understand and fight oppression while promoting social justice
- Use general social work skills with different groups
Field education plays a key role in all Methodist College social work programs. During your final two semesters, you’ll spend 24 hours each week in a field placement. This hands-on learning needs 400 clock hours split between two field courses, each worth 9 credit hours. The Social Work Program Field Director helps find internships that match your career goals.
Students can work in many places like non-profit agencies, mental health centers, hospitals, clinics, schools, community centers, child welfare agencies, and senior organizations. These experiences help you master interviewing, assessment, planning, intervention, termination, and evaluation skills.
The programs prepare you for licensing too. Illinois BSW graduates can work in many roles without a license, but two license types exist: licensed social worker (LSW) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). The BSW program gets you ready to take the licensed social worker exam.
Students must keep a 2.25 GPA in university courses and a 2.75 in SWK courses. This thorough preparation ensures graduates can help people and ease oppression and poverty in various settings.
Methodist College’s accredited social work programs offer clear paths to your professional goals, whether you want to work in schools, child welfare, with older adults, or in general practice.
Field education at Methodist College
Social work education at Methodist College puts field experience front and center. This hands-on training creates a bridge between what you learn in class and how you’ll use it in real-life settings.
Methodist College starts your field education earlier than most schools. You’ll connect what you learn in class with actual practice right away. This early start helps build your confidence throughout the program instead of waiting until your final semesters.
Structure and Requirements
Senior BSW students spend 24 hours each week at their field placement during their final two semesters. You’ll need to complete at least 400 clock hours across both terms. Each Field Course (I & II) has 9 credit hours – three are classroom learning and six are the placement itself.
The field practicum follows a clear educational path. You’ll learn about your agency’s policies, service systems, and structure when you first start. This knowledge helps you see how your agency fits into central Illinois’s social service scene.
Your first task is to create a field-agency agreement. This plan builds on what you know about the organization and sets your learning goals. The agreement maps out your learning journey and makes sure your academic needs match what the agency can offer.
Learning Experiences
You’ll manage real cases under your field instructors’ guidance. This hands-on work helps you build essential skills like:
- Interviewing techniques
- Client assessment
- Intervention planning
- Service implementation
- Case termination
- Practice evaluation
Methodist College stands out because you’ll work with client systems of all sizes. Your work happens at multiple levels:
- Micro (individuals)
- Mezzo (families and small groups)
- Macro (organizations and communities)
This comprehensive approach gives you the versatility needed in generalist social work practice. That’s a big plus when you enter the job market after graduation.
Field education exposes you to human diversity naturally. Working with clients from different backgrounds helps you develop cultural competence. You’ll learn to serve diverse populations, including vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Your field experience includes a research project with help from your instructor. The project connects to your practicum and agency needs. You’ll learn to blend research with practice – a must-have skill for evidence-based social work.
Placement Settings and Process
Methodist College partners with many central Illinois nonprofits, human service organizations, and hospitals. These partnerships create opportunities in:
- Mental health and counseling centers
- Inpatient hospital units (including behavioral healthcare)
- Outpatient clinics
- Schools and community centers
- Child welfare agencies
- Senior service organizations
The Social Work Program Field Director helps match you with internships that fit your career goals. This tailored matching process ensures your field experience supports your future while meeting program requirements.
Support Systems
Professional growth at Methodist depends on self-awareness. Your field experience encourages reflection through supervision and weekly logs. These logs capture your activities, feelings, insights, and concerns. This practice develops your emotional intelligence alongside technical skills.
Field seminars meet weekly to support your agency work. These classes let you discuss cases, work through challenges, and get support from peers. The seminars connect theory with your daily experiences to deepen your understanding of social work principles.
Unique Aspects
Online BSW students still complete their field internship in person. The program helps these students find good placements near them to ensure they get the same quality experience.
Methodist’s field education builds your skills step by step. By the end of your 400 hours, you’ll have the practical skills employers expect from new social workers. That’s why employers value Methodist College graduates – they know both theory and practice.
What sets Methodist College apart?
Methodist College’s Social Work program has features that make it different from other schools. Students experience a blend of close-knit learning spaces and hands-on practice. This creates a learning trip that fits your professional growth needs.
Small class sizes are an important aspect of Methodist College’s teaching philosophy. Many large universities make you feel like just another student in a big crowd. Methodist creates an intimate setting that promotes strong connections between teachers and students. You get personal guidance throughout your college years. This makes learning more meaningful through direct attention and mentoring.
Teachers at Methodist go above their regular classroom duties. They stay available for personal talks about classes, field work, and career goals. Students and teachers work together toward professional growth in this supportive environment. This creates a united learning community.
The college takes an innovative approach to teaching ethics. Rather than treating it as a separate topic, ethical practice runs through every part of Methodist’s program. You’ll be ready to handle complex moral choices that come with being a social worker.
You start getting hands-on experience sooner at Methodist compared to other schools. This helps you connect classroom learning with actual applications right away. By graduation, you’ll have practical skills that employers want—not just book knowledge.
Strategic collaborations drive Methodist’s teaching approach. The college builds strong bonds with local agencies, hospitals, schools, and non-profits. These connections often lead to preferred internships and jobs after graduation. The Social Work program utilizes these partnerships to give students training that matches current industry needs.
Methodist College’s program takes a broader view than most focused programs. Students participate in classes that connect with psychology, sociology, public health, and criminal justice. This wide-ranging education gives you skills to handle modern social work challenges that rarely fit one category.
The program looks at social work from a global viewpoint. This worldwide outlook reflects Methodist’s heritage of serving all people whatever their background.
Students learn to become agents of change in their communities. Methodist College’s Social Work Program wants “to prepare Students as Social Work generalists to be change-agents facilitating human well-being and responding to diverse human needs within the context of their practice environment”. This focus on making real change sets it apart from programs that just maintain existing systems.
The college values human dignity, integrity, inquiry, and social justice. These principles show up in every part of the social work program. They create a space where people’s worth gets unconditional respect. Strong character, active learning, and fair treatment matter here, whatever someone’s background.
Money-wise, Methodist College is more available than similar schools. Methodist offers good value with competitive tuition rates. New residential students get average financial awards over $34,000.00. Almost all students (97%) receive some financial help.
Methodist College delivers unique education that blends serious academic work with practical skills. Students become skilled social workers through small classes, built-in ethics training, early field work, mixed subject studies, and focus on creating change. They practice social work from day one, not just study it.
Next steps
Are you ready to start your social work trip at Methodist College? The application process is simple and offers several ways to begin your education in this rewarding field.
You must complete and submit an application through the Methodist College website at www.MethodistCol.edu/apply. The college has waived application fees, which makes this first step more available. After you submit your application, the admissions team will contact you to confirm they have all needed information and guide you through the next steps.
The Bachelor of Social Work program has specific academic requirements:
- A cumulative college GPA of 2.0/4.0 for transfer students
- A high school GPA of 2.5/4.0 for students with less than 30 college credits
- Proof of graduation from a state-approved high school (diploma or GED certificate)
Your next step is to provide all official transcripts from previous institutions. High school transcripts are only required if you have fewer than 30 college credits. Students with a college degree (associate or higher) don’t need to submit high school documentation. Homeschooled students should contact admissions directly.
Methodist College will make an admissions decision within 7-14 business days after receiving all your official documents. The admissions team stays ready to answer questions and provide guidance. They will contact you via phone or email if they need more information.
A campus visit could help you experience Methodist College firsthand before finalizing enrollment. These visits are a great way to get insights as you meet faculty and staff, tour facilities, and check out student apartments. You can schedule an individual appointment or join an upcoming open house event to learn about the social work program and campus life.
The Recruitment Coordinator can answer specific questions about the Bachelor of Social Work program at (309) 672-5513. You can also submit an information request form online to learn about Methodist University’s application process, admissions requirements, tuition, financial aid, and program details.
Admitted students begin a well-laid-out educational path toward their BSW degree. The program needs 120 total credit hours – 47 general education core credits, 63 social work core credits, and 10 elective credits. Students typically complete the Bachelor of Social Work degree in four years or eight semesters.
The Social Work program requires a separate admission process beyond university admission. The Social Work Admissions Committee reviews candidates based on specific criteria, including completion of prerequisite courses with minimum grade requirements. Students can apply for admission to the Social Work program in both Fall and Spring semesters.
The admissions team will connect with you after your application submission. They will share details about the social work program, student life, and upcoming campus visits. This tailored approach continues throughout your education at Methodist.
Methodist University’s online program offers three entry points each year. Applications are due about three weeks before each term. Online applicants receive responses within one to two weeks. They should call 910-212-4956 to speak with a counselor who will help personalize their enrollment experience.
The Methodist College’s admissions team has undertaken the task of providing tailored guidance throughout your college admissions trip, whether you’re a first-time student, transfer applicant, or returning to education.