Program Overview
Prepare yourself for a lifetime of advocacy. By joining Ashland University’s Social Work program, you will gain the experience and education needed to serve a variety of at-risk populations.
You will master crisis intervention, client assessment and case management while gaining insight into human behavior, the structure of relationships and the organization of communities.

Learning Experiences
In the Social Work program you will:
- Receive personalized attention in small classes
- Learn from dedicated, innovative faculty who have extensive experience with social work
- Gain invaluable, firsthand experience through field placements with more than 40 agency partners.
- Become fully prepared to obtain social work licensure. Past graduates have achieved more than a 90 percent pass average on the Association of Social Work Boards, exceeding the national pass rate of 78 percent and the Ohio pass rate of 83 percent.
- In the past five years, more than 95 percent of graduates have received a job offer or been accepted to a graduate school within six months after graduation
As a senior, you will complete a 500-hour agency placement working under the direction of a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) to gain experience working with clients in real-life situations.
To learn more about what you can expect in the Social Work program, refer to the Ashland University Social Work Handbook.

Curriculum
Courses required for the Social Work program include:
- Family Violence - Examine the dynamics of power and control in intimate relationships
- Foundations of Social Welfare - Study the history of social welfare in the United States to understand the context of social welfare movements and policies
- International Perspectives on Women - Study women’s issues from an international perspective and address the diversity and similarity of women’s experiences worldwide
For details, review the Four-Year Curriculum Guide and Academic Catalog.
Graduate Outcomes
Upon graduating from the Social Work bachelor’s degree program, you will obtain the state licensure required to become a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the state of Ohio and many other states.
Typically, more than 95 percent of graduates receive a job offer or are admitted to a graduate school within six months after graduation.
Past graduates have achieved more than a 90 percent pass average on the Association of Social Work Boards.
Internships and Career Opportunities
More than 40 agencies partner with us to offer internship opportunities, including:
- Mental health clinics
- Children’s services agencies
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Rehabilitation clinics
- Long-term care facilities
- Community agencies
Contact Information
Diane Bonfiglio, Ph.D.
Chair, Social Work and Family Studies Department
145 Dwight Schar College of Education
dbonfigl@ashland.edu
419-289-5859
Sara Williams (Szmania)
Administrative Assistant
238 College of Education
swilli88@ashland.edu
419-207-4967