Academic Units:
- Child Development and Family Relations
- Criminal Justice
- Hospitality Management
- Interior Design and Merchandising
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Social Work
Human Ecology:
School Social Work Licensure |
| What is "School Social Work?" The fundamental goal for the practice of social work in school settings is to raise learning experiences for all school students to their highest values. Special emphasis is given to children-at-risk for academic difficulty including minority, handicapped, impoverished and socially disadvantaged children. The focus is on the interaction between students, and their environments - schools, families and communities. Intervention activities include restoration of impaired capacity, provision of individual and social resources, and prevention of dysfunction. Social work is committed to promoting growth for students academically, socially, emotionally, physically and environmentally (i.e., helping students to cope with our rapidly changing, complex environment). It is the duality of focus on students and their environment that distinguishes social work from other professions in public school education. |
| Why is Social Work practiced in school settings? Social work services in schools was first practiced to meet specific problems such as helping immigrant children and their families adapt to school settings. Gradually its use spread from urban to rural settings. Today the complexity of society requires that almost all children and families need at one time or another the assistance of skilled social workers to deal with problems and to negotiate bureaucratic systems. The need for social work-like services will increase as the pace of change and technology quickens. School social work has changed to meet today's challenges and the emphasis has changed from an individual child/parent focus toward facilitating home-school-community relations and providing educationally oriented counseling for children and families either in groups or individually. |
| How can I qualify to become licensed as a school social worker? School social workers are licensed in North Carolina by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. East Carolina University's School of Social Work and College of Education have been authorized to train and recommend students for licensure. |
LEVELS OF LICENSURE |
BACHELOR’S - Undergraduate Requirements for Licensure SOCW 4503 Social Work Services in Schools (3sh) In addition, candidates are required to complete a one-semester (360 hour) field placement in a public school setting under the supervision of a licensed school social worker who holds a social work degree from a CSWE accredited program. |
NOTE: New licensure requirements will be in effect for all students seeking school social work licensure beginning Fall, 2010. MASTER’S - Advanced Standing Graduate Requirements for Licensure SOCW 6004 Social Work Services in Schools (3sh) In addition, candidates are required to complete a two semester (720 hour) field placement in a public school setting under the supervision of a licensed school social worker who holds a graduate social work degree from a CSWE accredited program. NOTE: New licensure requirements will be in effect for all students seeking school social work licensure beginning Fall, 2010. Candidates who, as part of their undergraduate studies, completed any or all of this level’s course requirements as set forth above may request exemption from any or all of the aforementioned license level course requirements. Exemptions need to be approved by the Coordinator of School Social Work Licensure. However, in each instance where an exemption is granted for one or more courses, candidates will be required to complete a minimum of one additional course as part of their plan of study. |
SIXTH YEAR - Graduate Requirements for Licensure SOCW 6004 Social Work Services in Schools (3sh) In addition, candidates are required to complete a two (720 hour) semester field placement in a school setting under the supervision of a licensed school social worker who holds a graduate social work degree from a CSWE accredited program. NOTE: New licensure requirements will be in effect for all students seeking school social work licensure beginning Fall, 2010. Candidates who, as part of their undergraduate studies, completed any or all of this level’s course requirements as set forth above may request exemption from any or all of the aforementioned license level course requirements. Exemptions need to be approved by the Coordinator of School Social Work Licensure. However, in each instance where an exemption is granted for one or more courses, candidates will be required to complete a minimum of one additional course as part of their plan of study. |
| Who should I contact for information and assistance at East Carolina University? Ms. Mary Lisa Pories is the School Social Work Licensure Coordinator. She will evaluate your transcripts and determines what course of study you will need in order to become licensed. Ms. Pories can be contacted for information on the licensure process and your status therein at: |
Ms. Mary Lisa Pories, MSW, LCSW Coordinator of School Social Work Licensure Program East Carolina University Rivers Building RW 237 Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 328-5547 poriesm@ecu.edu |
| Social Work students currently enrolled at East Carolina University will need to contact Ms. Pories for advising on licensure requirements. MSW or BSW graduates will need to contact Ms. Pories for advising, and be accepted as a non-degree seeking student by the Graduate School prior to enrolling in any courses. For information on applying as a non-degree seeking student, please visit the Graduate School web page on the East Carolina University web site at http://www.ecu.edu/gradschool/.
For further information and a licensure kit, please visit the DPI Web site at www.ncpublicschools.org. Look under "Student Services" then "Job Descriptions & Licensure Requirements." To access DPI licensure forms, visit the DPI web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/licensure/forms/. By mail, you can contact them at: |
School of Social Work |
| College of Human Ecology |
| East Carolina University |
| 224 Rivers Building |
| Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4353 |
| 252-328-5650 |