Do your friends lean on you for support and advice? If you have a talent for helping, Saint Leo's Social Work program can help you turn your passion into a career. Whether assisting a homeless man, foster child or disabled veteran, social workers make a world of difference in individuals’ lives, and enact widespread social change.

Why choose Social Work at Saint Leo?

Explore social welfare policy, human behavior and practice methods. Intern at a social service agency to gain exposure to various practice settings and client populations. Learn how to empower individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

At Saint Leo—Florida's oldest Catholic college or university—you can bridge education with action through the Center for Values, Service and Leadership. The Center acts as an umbrella organization for the university's service organizations: AmeriCorps, Samaritans, RotarAct Club and Students Engaged in Rewarding Volunteer Experiences (SERVE).

Saint Leo’s Social Work program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). An advisory board composed of students, alumni and human service professionals guides the program, assuring the curriculum’s quality, relevance and currency.

Some amazing classes you can take

• Human Behavior in the Social Environment
• Social Welfare Policy
• Integrated Life Science
• Methods of Social Research
• Field Internship

Professional development opportunities

• Field internship: Gain hands-on experience at a social service agency for 32 hours per week during the spring semester of your senior year.
• Senior seminar: Taken in tandem with the field internship, the seminar provides an opportunity to discuss your field placement, present your cases, build your resume, practice interviewing and complete an integrative senior paper.
• Co-curricular activities: Become a member of Phi Alpha, the national honor society of undergraduate and graduate social work students. Join other do-gooders in the Social Work Club, Samaritans, RotarAct Club, and SERVE—our alternative spring break program. Participate in Saint Leo's Community Service Day.
• Service learning: Education should be meaningful and hands-on. Saint Leo is honored to have been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll each year since it was started in 2006.

What can you do with a degree in Social Work?

Graduates are prepared for entry level, generalist social work as well as graduate study in social work or related areas.

• Caseworker
• Substance Abuse Social Worker
• Community Organizer
• Child Welfare Worker
• Family Services Social Worker
• Gerontological Social Worker
• Researcher
• School Counselor
• Mentor
• Advocate

Where are Saint Leo Social Work grads now?

• Catholic Charities USA
• Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County
• Children's Home Society
• Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Student resources

View current Social Work student resources, including information on field placement admission requirements, supervision and grading.

Ready to apply?

Turn your compassion into a career. Apply now.

You may declare the Social Work major when you begin coursework at Saint Leo University. However, to be formally admitted to the social work program, you must complete a major application and interview with Social Work faculty.