Coker College's Social Work Program
Earns Accreditation

For more information, contact James Jolly, director of marketing and communications, at 843.383.8018

Social work professors Shirley McClerklin-Motley (left) and Jeanne Cook listening to gang activist A.V. Strong at the College's 7th Annual Social Work Conference recently.

Hartsville, SC —  Coker College’s social work program has been granted accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national organization that works to ensure the preparation of competent social work professionals. The accreditation is retroactive to 2003-2004, the year Coker’s social work program was granted candidacy.

"This is a major accomplishment that reflects well on our faculty, administrators, field instructors, and social work students,” said Jeanne Cook, associate professor of social work and director of the college’s social work program.

With accreditation, Coker College students who earn a Bachelor of Social Work degree can seek advanced standing in graduate school. Advance standing will allow them to complete a master’s degree in social work in one year instead of the standard two years. As of July 2006, Coker has graduated 80 students with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Currently, there are 46 majors and 23 pending majors in the program.

“Our social work program has distinguished itself by meeting the high standards required for accreditation and I am proud of the faculty who contributed to this achievement,” said Dr. Ron Carter, provost and dean of the faculty. “Once again, Coker College has reached a milestone.”

Founded in 1952, the CSWE is a nonprofit national association that represents over 3,000 individual members as well as graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. This partnership of educational and professional institutions, social welfare agencies, and private citizens is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in United States.

The main responsibility of CSWE is to promote and maintain the high quality of social work education. In addition, CSWE strives to stimulate knowledge and curriculum development, to advance social justice, and to strengthen community and individual well-being.

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November 14, 2006