Social Work & Criminal Justice

The department offers an interdisciplinary approach and broad foundation in behavioral science that is informed by hands-on experiences, real-world cases, investigative research, and student-led discovery through a Christian lens. The result is strong, integrated, critical thinking, academically-minded students with a professional goal in mind. It offers areas of study in both social work and criminal justice.

With NNU’s Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, students gain experience and expertise in social service under the supervision of skilled professionals both in the classroom and in the local community. Inside the classroom, students will gain the academic foundation necessary to begin removing barriers to social functioning and improving others' lives. In addition, students will gain hands-on experience applying what they are learning in the classroom. NNU alumni from this program are currently serving in positions as social workers, rehabilitation specialists, case managers, counselors and more.

NNU’s Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice provides a general foundation in the theories, models, and methods of investigation in criminology, and in the fields and practices within criminal justice. This program includes hands-on experience as students complete a criminal justice practicum. Upon graduation, students are prepared for entry-level work in a variety of occupations in the field of criminal justice such as law enforcement, attorney, prosecuting attorney’s assistant, private investigators, or intelligence officer as well as for graduate training in the field. 

After receiving your social work degree, you will be ready to pursue a master's degree or enter the workforce. Our alumni are currently serving in positions as social workers, rehabilitation specialists, case managers, counselors and more.

Northwest Nazarene University's social work program is nationally accredited at the undergraduate and graduate level by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). All Council on Social Work Education programs measure and report student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of the competencies which comprise the accreditation standards of the Council on Social Work Education. These competencies are dimensions of social work practice which all social workers are expected to master during their professional training. A measurement benchmark is set by the social work programs for each competency. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent mastery of that particular competency.