About the UNE School of Social Work

Earn your social work degree in Maine or online with the University of New England — listed among the "Best Social Work Schools" by U.S. News & World Report and recognized as a top university by The Princeton Review.

Master of Social Work Update

Starting in spring 2023, the UNE Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program is transitioning all coursework to an asynchronous online format. The shift to online coursework will allow UNE to meet the evolving needs of prospective students while continuing to deliver a high-quality social work education. Current campus-based students will complete their coursework in the current in-person format until the Spring 2024 semester. Prospective M.S.W. students should contact and apply for the Online M.S.W. moving forward.

How Will You Do Good?

UNE’s School of Social Work provides students with the skills to have a positive effect in a rapidly-changing world. We take an experiential, integrated approach to professional social work learning. Our values-based curriculum is grounded in a philosophy of inclusion, and delivered within a close, caring community. Offering undergraduate and graduate-level studies, UNE will support your unique interests, and set you on a path of meaningful employment, social advocacy, and lifelong learning.

Our goal is to provide challenging, empowering, life-changing experiences that set graduates on a continuing path of meaningful employment, social advocacy, and lifelong learning."

— Jennifer O'Neil, Ph.D., LCSW, M.S.W., director, School of Social Work

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Programs

Advanced Standing Track

Accelerated Track for Those With a B.S.W.

Already have your B.S.W. degree? Get on a fast track to obtaining your master’s degree in social work and reaching your professional goals. If you have a B.S.W. degree from an outside institution (CSWE Accredited), you may qualify to enroll in our Advanced Standing Track.

Council on Social Work Education logo

ACCREDITATION

UNE’s Master of Social Work programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation. The last re-accreditation was completed in 2020. This information can be found in the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. CSWE is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States. With a curriculum aligned to CSWE standards, the UNE M.S.W. prepares students for state licensure eligibility.

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Shanelle Wakita '21

Social Work

Why UNE

The faculty of the social work program stand out, they are all so welcoming to everyone, all opinions, and even different levels of knowledge on topics. They make you feel comfortable with making learning mistakes and they encourage you to strive for your passions. Each faculty member has pushed me and encouraged me to be the best student I could be.

The B.S.W. program has given me a wide variety of classes and the thorough knowledge of each topic to feel as comfortable and prepared as I can be to be a successful social work professional. Each of the courses I have taken has opened my eyes to a new idea. These courses are designed to flow with one another, the professors are almost always on the same page and on track with one another. With each course, I feel more and more knowledgeable on social work, and comfortable putting my knowledge to the test within my work and in my internship. 

Experiential Learning

Finding a field placement was a good experience, it was similar to finding an actual job. I was definitely overwhelmed (but in a good way) with all the different options UNE has to offer just to the B.S.W. students, and each field placement was different than the next. I was able to select my top choices and then interview with each and make my own decision. I enjoyed the fact that I had to set up meetings/interviews with each agency on my own, but I also had the support of my field advisor, so any questions I had I could get answers. I did all of this preparing in the midst of COVID so all of my internship so far has been via Zoom or virtual. Both UNE and my internship has been exceedingly flexible with any issues I've had with handling an internship during a pandemic, which is a learning curve for everyone involved. The B.S.W. program has really prepared us in all aspects.

The B.S.W. program has really prepared us in all aspects...it has given me a wide variety of classes and the thorough knowledge of each topic to feel as comfortable and prepared as I can be to be a successful social work professional.
Social Work

Beautiful location

As a student in our School of Social Work undergraduate program, you study on UNE's scenic Biddeford Campus, where the waters of the Saco River flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Recently named the youngest city in Maine, Biddeford and its twin city, Saco, boast an up-and-coming, hip downtown offering delicious eateries, exciting social and cultural events, and more. With the transformation of the old mills into restaurants, breweries, housing, and retailers, there is something for everyone to explore. 

Take a Virtual Tour of Our Biddeford Campus

Virtual Tour

Recognition We've Received

Title
Best Online Master's in Social Work Degree Programs
Source
Intelligent
Year
2024
Title
Best One-Year M.S.W. Degree Programs Online
Source
Intelligent
Year
2024
Title
Best Schools for Social Work
Source
U.S. News & World Report
Year
2024