USM School of Social Work Receives Accreditation Reaffirmation
Tue, 02/21/2023 - 12:18pm | By: Karelia Pitts
Following a thorough review by the Commission on Accreditation (COA) for the Council on Social Work Education, the Master of Social Work (MSW) and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programs in The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) School of Social Work received accreditation reaffirmation through June 2030.
“It was wonderful to see the COA vote during their October 2022 meeting to reaffirm our accreditation for the next eight years! Their standards for social work education are rigorous, and we are honored to maintain the highest program criteria which align with their expectations for the finest educational offerings in social work,” said Dr. Jerome Kolbo, director of the USM School of Social Work. “This accreditation is also necessary for our graduates to obtain licensure requirements for employment as professionals across the U.S.”
Founded in 1952, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the national association representing social work education in the United States. Its members include over 750 accredited baccalaureate and master’s degree social work programs, as well as individual social work educators, practitioners and agencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education. Through its many initiatives, activities and centers, CSWE supports quality social work education so that social workers play a central role in achieving the profession’s goals of social and economic justice.
“Faculty in the USM School of Social Work did an excellent job with their self-study and site visit for accreditation,” said Dr. Trent Gould, dean of USM’s College of Education and Human Sciences. “In response to their hard work, we are delighted to see our undergraduate and graduate programs receive reaffirmation of their accreditation. This achievement is a testament to the high-quality instruction and experiential learning taking place at USM.”
The MSW program started at Southern Miss in 1974 and has been continuously accredited since 1976. The BSW program began at USM’s Gulf Park campus in 1996 and achieved initial accreditation the same year. Accreditation of the undergraduate program has continuously been maintained since that time, including the on-site program at Gulf Park since fall 2005.
“Our faculty and staff are passionately dedicated to serving the community while educating the next generation of social work professionals who will assist the poor, oppressed and underserved in our state,” Dr. Kolbo said. “A shared vision of social justice and advocacy for the health and well-being of all people inspires us, and we are so proud that the Council on Social Work Education recognizes our commitment to excellence in this pursuit.”
The USM School of Social Work develops and communicates social work knowledge and skills consistent with the values and ethics of the profession. Graduates of the school produce dynamic solutions for personal, interpersonal and systemic challenges with particular attention to the needs of people who are poor, oppressed and underserved.
There are currently 213 BSW students and 134 MSW students, with 239 enrolled at the Hattiesburg campus and 108 enrolled at the Gulf Park campus. For more information regarding USM’s School of Social Work, visit usm.edu/social-work.