Social Work

Social work at Saint Martin’s is a rigorous, exciting program where students leave as skilled, ethical, evidence-based practitioners. Our graduates are competitive applicants for advanced status entry into graduate programs. They are also among the most respected practitioners in the social work profession.

Beginning with the students' inspired good intentions, our program and teaching methods place special emphasis on social justice and cultural competence. Rooted in universal principles such as service, compassion and discipline, the BSW program produces thoughtful, knowledgeable, caring and visionary community leaders. We strive to begin where each student is, and help them create and grow into their professionalism with a focus on serving others.

• Faith: We believe in people’s inherent dignity, goodness, strengths and values.
• Reason: We cultivate critical, innovative thinking and a multidimensional global perspective.
• Service: We practice holistic, culturally appropriate, research-based practice and services.
• Community: We foster and build inclusive, healthy communities.

Saint Martin's Bachelor of Social Work program is distinguished by:

• An 85+ percent acceptance rate for graduate school
• Deeply caring faculty with extensive clinical experience
• Direct student access to faculty and program directors
• ​Advocacy, activism and volunteer activities through access to local government organizations

Core competencies

The following Core Competencies are emphasized throughout the BSW program, as outlined by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE EPAS, 2022):

• Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
• Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
• Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
• 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
• 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

Social work students at Saint Martin’s

Saint Martin's social work students are active on campus and in our community.

We work together to build relationship through regularly scheduled events and our Student Social Work Association. 

Graduate school

Our graduates have been accepted for advanced study at such institutions as:

• University of Washington, Seattle
• University of Washington, Tacoma
• Baylor University
• Boise State University
• Columbia University
• Eastern Washington University
• Fordham University
• George Fox University
• New York University
• Smith College
• University of Denver
• University of Hawaii
• University of Kentucky
• University of Michigan
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Southern California
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• University of Texas, Austin
• Walla Walla University