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Social Work Liberal Arts Area of Interest

Study in Social Work will help you gain skills in critical thinking, research methods, understanding the way society works, and understanding the relationship between individuals and the societies in which we live. Social Work emphasizes the importance of social environment as it affects the quality of people’s lives. The skills you learn studying Social Work are transferable to many careers.

If you are interested in completing a bachelor’s degree in Social Work you should consider taking 12 credit hours from the courses listed below as part of your AA degree in Liberal Arts.

Career Opportunities

A Social Work degree prepares students for career opportunities in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. The following are some of the major career fields you can pursue related to Social Work:

  • School social work
  • Older adults
  • Mental health
  • Healthcare
  • People with disabilities
  • Criminal justice/corrections
  • Children, youth, and families
  • Substance use, abuse, and dependence

The National Association of Social Workers provides additional information on careers in Social Work.

School of Social Work Colleges and Universities in Iowa

Involvement Opportunities

  • Hawkeye Reads: A campus-wide program that seeks to support the College's Institutional Outcomes and increase literacy.

  • MAPS (Minds, Actions, People, Society): Special interest club for students interested in Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work.

  • Multicultural Student Organization: A student-led group created to be a platform for students to focus on diversity issues that shape our world.

  • Student Ambassadors: A group of students who assist the Admissions office with the recruitment of new students and who represent and promote Hawkeye.

  • Student Leadership Council: Represents and promotes the common interests and general welfare of the student body.

Faculty Spotlight

Chatara Mabry

Chatara Mabry graduated from the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Science of Social Work (BSW) in 2009, and received her Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012. She is also a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in the state of Iowa. In addition to teaching at Hawkeye, she has taught at Western Iowa Tech Community College and currently teaches at Upper Iowa University as an Adjunct. She has served diverse communities over the last ten years as a professional Social Worker, primarily working with children, youth and families who are experiencing homelessness and students in higher education. Lastly, she enjoys facilitating faculty-led study abroad trips, volunteering in the community, and working on diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Areas of research:

  • Homelessness Among Youth
  • Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
  • Best Practices When Working with Juvenile Sex Offenders
  • Sexual Trauma Intervention Practices with Youth Ages 12–17
  • Sex Trafficking

Faculty Mentor

Chatara Mabry
Black Hawk Hall 230
319-296-2329 ext.1576
Email me

Administrative Assistant

Communications, Humanities, Education, Social Sciences, and Arts

Deb Hacker
Black Hawk Hall 258
319-296-4007
Email me

Dean

Arts and Sciences

Catharine Freeman
Black Hawk Hall 258
319-296-4041
Email me

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