Study Social Work at LBC
Get a Degree That Can Change Lives
Calling all world-changers: we need you. Study social work at Lancaster Bible College and get equipped with the skills you need to help and empower the forgotten in our society.
If you have a heart for serving the least of these, social work just might be the major for you. Consider entering into a rewarding career where you can be the hands of Christ to those living in the midst of challenging circumstances.
Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, Lancaster Bible College’s social work program is designed to equip students for a future of serving individuals, families, and communities, by demonstrating the servant heart of Christ. A wide range of classes taught by professional and licensed social workers allows our students grow and develop their unique God-given gifts, preparing students to effectively serve those in need. Our students graduate ready to work in the social work profession and equipped to continue their education at the graduate level.
Our uniquely structured program combines Bible classes, classroom experience and homework in an intensive field education experience that develops well-rounded Christian students and social workers. In fact, by the time our students graduate from the program, they will have spent over 480 hours within the community through service learning opportunities. As an added bonus, our students learn from experienced practitioners who come from diverse backgrounds, both professionally and culturally. LBC’s small class sizes and our low student-to-professor ratio allow students to interact with professors and form a tight-knit learning community.
By integrating a biblical worldview into the curriculum we teach in the classroom and the way we live out our faith, students engage the head, heart and hands in preparation to serve others.
Why Study Social Work at LBC?
- Lancaster Bible College uniquely combines a social work education, meeting all the CSWE requirements, and a strong concentration in biblical studies. By purposefully connecting a biblical worldview with the social work profession, our students are better equipped to act as the hands and feet of Christ even in the face of injustice and secularity.
- Our bachelors in social work program boasts an excellent job placement rate for 2016 graduates (students who obtained a job or acceptance to a graduate program of study prior to graduation) was 92 percent. The year prior, the placement rate was 100 percent.
- With a bachelor’s in Social Work from LBC, graduates can get their master’s degree from an accredited program in one year.
A Closer Look: Social Work
Social Work Major Interns with PA State Rep
“Without good policy, social work would not be as effective. Advocacy is a key component of competent social work practice. Knowing how to advocate, write and practice good policy is [what makes a difference] for a lot of people. I chose this internship as a way to challenge myself and to broaden my understanding of policy. LBC has such an amazing social work program, and I wanted to take my already existing knowledge I learned from policy class and run further with it.” – Megan Young (’18)
Hear more about our social work program by watching this video.
Meet the Faculty
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Tyler Gehman, LSW
Assistant Professor, BSW Program Director
In the classroom, biblically integrated social work education looks like training students to grow in knowledge and critical thinking skills so that they can analyze the theories, policies, and movements in which they will work. It also looks like teaching ethical decision-making skills so that they can serve their clients with integrity. – Gehman
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Mary Yager, MSW
Assistant Professor
“By preparing students to be excellent social workers, I know that my efforts of helping others will be multiplied seven times seventy.” — Mrs. Yager
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Kurt Miller, DSW
Professor, Masters of Social Work Program Director
“Each and every person has strengths, resources, and wonderful capacities which guide their narrative, despite the many adversities that exist in life. Helping students become comfortable with owning and sharing their story allows Christ to use them in a redemptive manner, joining with the stories of their clients.” — Dr. Miller
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Sample Course Outline
SWK 102 – Introduction to Social Work
This course will provide the student with an overview of the field and profession of social work. It will explore the purpose, function, core values, and knowledge base unique to social work, including a survey of social work history, methods, and fields of practice. Students will develop an understanding of the social work profession with emphasis on generalist practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. The course will highlight issues of discrimination, marginalization and abuse of vulnerable populations and address how the profession advocates on behalf of these groups. Students will be challenged to develop an integrative biblical approach to the field of social work.
SWK 204 – Cultural Diversity
This course is designed to expand knowledge, awareness, and skills that will enable the social work student to interact successfully and respectfully with people of different backgrounds, viewpoints, and values. Students will be exposed to the need for a culturally sensitive perspective to social service delivery and explore intervention differences based on culture, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. They will analyze perspectives on culture, race and ethnicity as they apply to a diverse group of clients in the United States. The course will focus on people from oppressed or disadvantaged minority groups and recognize the role and influence of the majority culture on these groups. Attention will be given to recognizing the particular strengths and vulnerabilities of populations viewed as minorities. This class is designed to challenge the social work student to identify personal beliefs and biases which would prove detrimental in their work with people from groups different than their own.
SWK 206 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
This course will examine human behavior within the context of the larger collective system of social environment. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills for generalist practice including effective assessment, intervention and prevention methods. Utilizing a systems approach, students will recognize the biological, psychological, socio-cultural, and religious elements which impact human development throughout the life cycle.
SWK 202 – Social Work Policy and Practice
This course is an overview of social policy development and evaluation. Students will be challenged to analyze policy from an agency standpoint as well as on the local and national levels. They will develop a better understanding of the legislative process as it applies to the development of social policy. In addition, they will explore the process of policy formation and the influence of historical context and societal values. Special attention will be placed on activism and advocacy and the role of the Christian social worker.
SWK 207 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
This course will explore human development throughout the life-cycle, beginning with pregnancy through late adulthood. Students will acquire knowledge of life events significant to individuals at all stages of life from the bio-psychosocial perspective. Life issues significant to social work practice such as mental illness, chemical/ substance abuse, teen pregnancy, eating disorder, poverty, elder abuse, and long term care will be addressed. Students should end the course with increased knowledge and skills for generalist practice including assessment, intervention, and preventive methods.
SWK 302 – Social Work Practice with Individuals
This first of three practice course offerings will introduce students to the generalist social work method of practice with individuals (micro practice). It will include training in the strength-based, solution-focused problem solving approach, encompassing the skills of client engagement, data-collection, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation and termination. The overall purpose of the course is to help students develop social work knowledge and skills in translating social work practice philosophy into sustainable, ethical social work in diverse situations. Students will also be exposed to practices with families and small groups (mezzo practice) in Practice II as well as practice within communities and organizations (macro practice) in Practice III. Students will participate in a junior practicum experience during this semester. The development of an integrated biblical model of social work delivery will be explored.
SWK 303 – SWK Practice II: Family & Groups
This second of three practice course offerings will introduce students to the generalist social work method of practice with families and groups (mezzo practice). It will include training in the strength-based, solution-focused problem solving approach, encompassing the skills of client engagement, data-collection, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation and termination. The overall purpose of the course is to help students develop social work knowledge and skills in translating social work practice philosophy into sustainable, ethical social work in diverse situations involving families and groups. Students will already have been exposed to practices with individuals through Practice I (micro) and will also be exposed in Practice III to practice within communities and organizations (macro practice). Students will participate in a junior practicum experience during this semester. The development of an integrated biblical model of social work delivery will be explored.
SWK 460 – Field Seminar I
This field experience is designed to give students opportunities in a social service setting. This course utilizes knowledge; methods and skills learned in previous courses and apply them through classroom activity, assignments, discussion, role-play, presentations, and field service. This is a 6-credit course that combines class time and field work. Students will attend a 3-credit T/TH class as well as spend 210 hours in the field for an additional 3 credits; totaling 6 credit hours earned for this experiential course.
SWK 460F – Internship I
This field experience is designed to give students opportunities in a social service setting. This course utilizes knowledge; methods and skills learned in previous courses and apply them through classroom activity, assignments, discussion, role-play, presentations, and field service. This is a 6-credit course that combines class time and field work. Students will attend a 3-credit T/TH class as well as spend 210 hours in the field for an additional 3 credits; totaling 6 credit hours earned for this experiential course.
Featured Courses
SWK 204 - Cultural Diversity
This course is designed to expand knowledge, awareness, and skills that will enable the social work student to interact successfully and respectfully with people of different backgrounds, viewpoints, and values. Students will be exposed to the need for a culturally sensitive perspective to social service delivery and explore intervention differences based on culture, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. They will analyze perspectives on culture, race and ethnicity as they apply to a diverse group of clients in the United States. The course will focus on people from oppressed or disadvantaged minority groups and recognize the role and influence of the majority culture on these groups. Attention will be given to recognizing the particular strengths and vulnerabilities of populations viewed as minorities. This class is designed to challenge the social work student to identify personal beliefs and biases which would prove detrimental in their work with people from groups different than their own.
SWK 302 - Social Work Practice with Individuals
This first of three practice course offerings will introduce students to the generalist social work method of practice with individuals (micro practice). It will include training in the strength-based, solution-focused problem solving approach, encompassing the skills of client engagement, data-collection, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation and termination. The overall purpose of the course is to help students develop social work knowledge and skills in translating social work practice philosophy into sustainable, ethical social work in diverse situations. Students will also be exposed to practices with families and small groups (mezzo practice) in Practice II as well as practice within communities and organizations (macro practice) in Practice III. Students will participate in a junior practicum experience during this semester. The development of an integrated biblical model of social work delivery will be explored.
Application into the Social Work Major
Students who meet the requirements for admission to the Social Work Program are invited to apply for formal admission to the Social Work Program. Students must have completed the foundational courses of social work study, have a 2.5 or greater cumulative GPA, completed 2 semesters of Christian Service, write a self-assessment, submit 3 letters of recommendation and complete the admission application process. Students also are required to obtain 3 clearances (child abuse, criminal, FBI) for entrance into their Junior Practicum. Interviews are held in April prior to the junior year of study. Decisions are made prior to the end of the sophomore semester and provided to the student in writing as well as retained in the student’s academic file.
View Social Work Handbook
Careers and Jobs in Social Work
- Adoption Agency Caseworker
- Career Counselor
- Developmental Disabilities Caseworker
- Job Placement
- Mental Healthcare Staff
- Non-profit Staff
- Social Work Caseworker