International Social Work

For students who are interested in working internationally, working with international communities in the USA, or simply seeking to expand their perspective, the Social Work Program at Seattle University offers many opportunities to globalize their educational experience. Opportunities to enhance cross-cultural and experiential learning range from the traditional study abroad, a combined academic and service immersion program, or working with a global population in a local setting.

The University, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Social Work Program encourage students to study abroad. Incorporating a study abroad experience requires early planning in consultation with the student’s faculty adviser, so all program requirements can be met. Social work students may participate in these programs offered by Seattle University’s Study Abroad. International Development Intern Program (IDIP) or those offered by Augsburg College’s Center for Global Education. All students who wish to study abroad in any offered programs must obtain the University’s approval and file all required paperwork with Seattle University’s Study Abroad Office.

The University offers study abroad fairs during the academic year, to further advance the opportunities available for students. We recommend that students complete their study abroad prior to the winter quarter of the junior year or during the summers. Our students have traveled to such interesting places as India, Guatemala, Belize, Africa, France and South Africa.

The Social Work Program, in collaboration with other University departments, offers two interdisciplinary service immersion programs. One course, with the College of Nursing, goes to Belize and the second, with Sociology goes to New Orleans, La. These programs consist of a spring quarter academic course and in June the students and faculty travel to their site to do service immersion work. The service immersion placements are in agencies selected by faculty that will allow students to use their social work knowledge and developing skills with populations and communities-at-risk. Included in the service learning work are opportunities for cross-cultural learning. A third opportunity, offered by Biology is to study Biology 101 (a social work program required course) in Costa Rica during the summer.

For students who wish to concentrate mainly on the academic context of international social work, our courses are infused with international aspects of the subject and we offer an elective on international social work.

Students may also choose to work with international communities locally through service learning and their field placements. Several placement sites have specific programs that provide services to refugee and immigrant populations. While the field practicum does not currently offer international placements, we do place students in local agencies that are involved with local/ global issues.

For more general information about international social work, click here for International Federation of Social Workers.