
Added Value Opportunities
Added Value
Research Opportunities
Students have the opportunity to be highly-involved in research at the KU School of Social Welfare.
As a School within a comprehensive, premier research university, we value research and encourage students at all levels to take advantage of the opportunities to be a part of the research process. The School has strong research and scholarship in the areas of children and families, health equity, health and behavioral health, social and economic justice, and older adults.
Find out how you can get involved on the Research Office students in research webpage.
Study Abroad
The School offers three faculty-led study abroad locations focusing on global social work.
Study abroad locations are not guaranteed to run every year, so it is important to check with Study Abroad & Global Engagement (SAGE).
International Social Work: A Costa Rican Perspective
The program provides students a general perspective on social services and broader social problems through a combination of lectures and site visits to social service agencies. These institutions focus on the institutional as well as individual aspects of social problems through individual troubles. In addition to daily seminars and site visits, students will have the opportunity to travel to significant cultural and historical sites in and around San José.
The following questions shape the context for these experiences: What are the differences in service delivery across cultures? How does culture influence the definitions and responses to social problems and answers? What influence does global economics have on community practice, child welfare, mental health, and schools?
Visit the Office of Study Abroad for more information
Bi-lingual Spanish Language Intensive for Social Workers
The goal of the program is to help students improve their language skills, become familiar with Costa Rican culture, and prepare future social workers to work in programs that serve immigrants. There will be several meetings prior to departure and upon return. While in Costa Rica, students will take an intensive Spanish language course at the Universidad de Costa Rica and live with a host family to further practice their language skills and be immersed in Costa Rican culture. Students can choose between two program lengths: one or two months.
Social Welfare in India
Learn first-hand the social, economic, and political currents that impact the welfare system in India. Open to undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Social Welfare; students enroll in one 3 credit course in the School of Social Welfare. The two-week program will take place in Mumbai, India.
Social Welfare in Italy
This 12-day program offers students the opportunity to gain an international perspective on social work through lectures, field trips to social service agencies, and presentations by social work faculty from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. The program will focus on the political, economic, and historical context of Italy as it impacts social work education and the delivery of social services. Students will visit social service agencies that address mental health, social work with children and families, public health, government and community-based social work practice, aging, and immigration issues. In addition to daily seminars and site visits, students will have the opportunity to travel to significant cultural and historical sites in Milan, Florence and the Lake Como region.
Get Involved & Networking
Providing opportunities for students to find community and unique experiences.
BSW Student Group
BSW students have formed two student groups that are made up of social work students on both the Lawrence and Edwards Campuses. The student groups provide advocacy, service, and awareness to encourage empowerment and challenge oppression and promote social interaction among all social work students.
The groups meet bi-monthly and hosts regular fundraising and community service events. To find out more, contact the group at bsw@ku.edu.
KU Lawrence BSW Student Group Facebook Page
KU Edwards BSW Student Group Facebook Page
Social Work Doctoral Student Organization
The Social Work Doctoral Student Organization provides forums for student discussions and invited presentations related to expressed student interests. In addition, the Doctoral Student Organization may voice students’ concerns and suggestions and recommend topics for discussion to the student representatives on the PhD Program Committee, the program director, and the dean. The student members of the Ph.D. Program Curriculum Committee are responsible for liaising with the Doctoral Student Organization year to year.
To find out more information about the Doctoral Student Organization, contact the PhD program director.
RISE (Resilience, Inclusion, Support and Empowerment)
To empower BSW, MSW and PhD students of color (racially-ethnically) to excel personally, academically, and professionally in order to foster successful degree. Learn more about RISE.
Additional Learning
Providing safe spaces for critical conversations and expanding learning opportunities.
Pathway to the Profession is an event series that provides learning opportunities throughout the year for all levels of social work students. This material is not graded and participation is just encouraged, not mandatory. We will use a hybrid approach, combining pre-recorded & live content and will also include some virtual activities (informational and for fun). We will have workshops, professional development, employment prep, and graduate school prep.
If you do not have access to the Pathway to the Profession Blackboard site, contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu.
Mark your calendars for the Fall Pathways to the Profession Series!
Events are open to BSW and MSW students. Join us!
Advanced Standing MSW Info Sessions for current KU BSW students
Lawrence – Registration Form
Edwards – Monday, September 27th at 6:00 p.m. or Saturday, October 2nd at 1:00 p.m. (Regnier Hall room 255)
Microaggressions Are Aggressions
Discussion with Dr. Kim Warren, Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the School of Social Welfare and Associate Professor of History
October 14 | 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu for the Zoom link
Resume Formatting Nuts & Bolts
Jointly presented with the University Career Center
November 1 from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on Zoom
Contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu for the Zoom link
BSW / MSW Graduation Preparation
November 9 from Noon – 1:00 p.m. on Zoom
Contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu for the Zoom link
Or
January 11 from Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu for the Zoom link
What is Grad School? Nuts and Bolts
November 19 from Noon – 1:00 p.m. on Zoom
Contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu for the Zoom link
Self-Care – Managing Stress and Burnout
December – TBD
The Toni Johnson Scholars for Racial and Social Justice Program supports BSW, MSW, and PhD students in the KU School of Social Welfare who have historically and contemporarily experienced marginalization and oppression. Through financial support, mentoring, leadership and professional development opportunities, the Toni Johnson Scholars for Racial & Social Justice Program aims to enhance community, retention, and success for program scholars.
The Toni Johnson Scholars for Racial & Social Justice Program provides three programs for BSW, MSW, and PhD students in the KU School of Social Welfare.
BSW Students: Toni Johnson Scholars ($3,000)
MSW Students: Toni Johnson Scholars ($6,000)
PhD Students: Toni Johnson Dissertation Award ($3,000)
To learn more go to the Toni Johnson Scholars Program webpage.
The Sigler Family Aging Scholars Program aims to develop the next generation of leaders in the field of gerontological social work by offering an innovative, individualized, and community engaged learning opportunity to Bachelor's and Master’s students in the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare who demonstrate a passion for serving older adults through multi-level gerontology practice, policy, and research.
To learn more go to the Sigler Family Aging Scholars Program webpage.
Integrated Health Scholars Program provides a value-added educational experience for exceptional clinical MSW students at KU to develop knowledge and skills in integrated mental health, substance use, and primary health care service delivery. Applicants must be enrolled in either the Advanced Standing MSW plan of study or the advanced year of the Traditional MSW plan of study.
To learn more go to the Integrated Health Scholars Program webpage.
School of Social Welfare Student Positions & Position Descriptions
Student representatives are always needed in various capacities to provide input and feedback to the School and to support our educational mission. Elections for each academic year are held in the fall of that year. If you’re interested in getting involved with the School and have questions about any of the positions, please feel free to contact Kristin Trendel at katrendel@ku.edu.
BSW Program Committee (3 student members)
Generalist Year Board
- Sara Montgomery
- Rebekkah Aarnes
- Robert Armstrong
- Max Bearce
- Latrese Kabuya
- Rachel Parrish
- Alexandra Swinney
- Drew Turner
- Madison Russian
- Edan Belihu
- Madeline Birdashaw
- Hannah Hunter-Lee
Specialist Year Board
- Kelly Miller
- Isabella Aguirre
- Nathan Eikmeier
- Choco Gbomina
- Megan Goins
- Akiyaa Hagen-Depusoir
- Mackenzie hanna
- Mary Hutchins
- Val Merriman
- Jessica O'Flannagan
- Kelsey Savastano
- Stefany Ortiz
- Robyn Burton
- Kendra Knight
- Jenna Ratzlaff
Dean's Student Advisory Board (13 student members)
- 2 PhD students
- 1 Macro student
- 1 Clinical student from Lawrence Campus
- 1 Clinical student from Edwards Campus
- 1 Generalist student from Lawrence Campus
- 1 Generalist student from Edwards Campus
- 1 Western Kansas Partnership Site student
- 1 Pittsburg Partnership Site student
- 1 BSW junior from Lawrence Campus
- 1 BSW senior from Lawrence Campus
- 1 BSW junior from Edwards Campus
- 1 BSW senior from Edwards Campus
Student Representatives to School Faculty Meetings (6 student members)