What is the Social Work Degree?
Social work professionals of society who work to alleviate poverty, oppression, and discrimination. The curriculum leading to the generalist social work degree at East Carolina University is designed to prepare beginning social workers for competent and effective performance in this field.

What Is the Purpose of Social Work?
Social work professionals strive to raise the quality of life of society's less fortunate members in order to exercise their humanitarian dedication to the needs of others and to improve the condition of society as a whole. These efforts take a number of forms, including the following:

• The promotion, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement of social functioning, for individuals, families, and groups by assisting them in accomplishing important tasks, preventing and alleviating distress, and using available resources effectively.

• The planning, formulation, and implementation of social policies, services, resources, and programs necessary to meet basic human needs and support the full development of human potential.

• The pursuit of policies, services, resources, and progress through organizational or administrative advocacy and social or political action so as to empower groups at risk and promote social economic justice.

• The development and testing of professional knowledge and skills related to these purposes.

Advanced Social Work Education
The ECU School of Social Work also offers a Master of Social Work degree. In the MSW program, students can choose either full-time, part-time, or advanced standing program.

Both the BSW and MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. BSW graduates may apply for advanced standing to complete the MSW program in summer school and one academic year.