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Student Life

The School of Social Work sponsors trips, service projects, clubs, and other activities for the social work student body. These opportunities provide pre-professional experiences that enhance student's confidence and competence through actual "hands-on" experiences. Such real life experiences also help the student decide if social work is the profession for them. Other activities and trips are great ways for the students to learn, and sometimes receive college credit, while having fun. 

Below is a list of a few of the projects, trips, and activities our students have engaged in:

  • Promoted Domestic Violence Awareness week on campus
  • Volunteered for Chattanooga's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
  • Organized Christmas party for children in need with Chattanooga Community Kitchen
  • Brought holiday cheer to Eagle Crest Assisted Living residents
  • Collaborated with the Salvation Army and The Street Store to hand out clothes to the homeless
  • European Study Tour
  • New York City Study Tour
  • Social Welfare Issues and Policies (SWIP) Washington, D.C. trip
  • Phi Alpha induction ceremony
  • BSW pinning ceremony and graduation

Clubs

Social Work Club

The Social Work Club (SWC) is directed by social work majors and club officers are elected by their peers. The SWC is recognized as a university organization, and all declared social work majors are automatically members of the Social Work Club since the School of Social Work pays the membership fee for all of their majors. The club provides opportunities for students to build leadership skills, network, and collaborate as they plan their events for the year. Each year the club hosts community service projects, club vespers, social activities, and fundraisers. An example of one of the larger community service events the club has participated in since 2015 is the Salvation Army Street Store in Chattanooga on Martin Luther King Day.  

Phi Alpha Honor Society 

Phi Alpha is a national honor society for professional social work. The organization’s purpose is to advance excellence in social work practice and to encourage, stimulate, and maintain scholarship of individual members. Membership requires junior status, nine hours of social work, and a 3.0 overall GPA, and a 3.25 GPA in the major. The local chapter is Mu Chi, which was chartered in the 1980s. Eligible students receive an invitation to apply each spring.

Coalition of Black Social Workers (CBSW)

The Coalition of Black Social Workers (CBSW) provides students with opportunities to engage in conversations surrounding social justice, advocacy, leadership, and culturally responsive practice. Through programming, community engagement, and professional development, members build connections while exploring issues impacting Black communities and the social work profession.

Study Tours

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Students in New York on study tour

New York Study Tour

Step beyond the classroom and experience social work in action through an immersive week in New York City.

The purpose of the study tour is to develop a sensitivity to issues and problems facing selected subcultures, gain an appreciation for human diversity, study the minority experience, develop an awareness of ethnocentric tendencies, observe urban dynamics and social problems, and study social agency functions. You will have the opportunity to:
  • Study the issues and problems facing selected subcultures.
  • Study attitudes of the host culture toward minority groups and to look at patterns of intergroup relations. Study urban dynamics.
  • Study contemporary social problems.
  • Study social agency structures and functions.
  • Study the role of the Seventh-day Adventist church in large urban settings.
  • Be a New Yorker for one week!
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Students in D.C. on the policy trip

Annual Policy Trip - Washington D.C.

Discover the impact of social policy firsthand as students engage directly with lawmakers, advocates, and national institutions in Washington, D.C.

Social Welfare Issues and Policy (SWIP) is a course in which students study contemporary issues and policies that influence the delivery of social services. A required element of the course is a five-day trip to Washington, D.C. While in the nation’s capital, students visit the Capitol building and Library of Congress, attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court of the United States, and meet with social work interns in Congress and lobbyists for Councils on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Prior to arriving in DC students have scheduled appointments to meet with U.S. senators and representatives on a selected piece of legislation. Students prepare policy briefs that are shared with the policymakers. Through experiential learning, students have the opportunity to advocate for changes in policies that are consistent with social work core values as set forth by the NASW.

Prerequisite(s): MATH 215; SOCW 212, SOCW 322; PLSC 254 or ECON 213.
The course is only available to senior social work majors.

Awards & Scholarships

Please see the following criteria for our awards and scholarships

Academic Excellence (Seniors)
The Academic Excellence Award is given to a graduating BSW senior who demonstrates superior academic excellence. This is defined as performance of work recognized at a level, above and beyond the expected standard established…expected standard established by the School of Social Work (see BSW Student Handbook, Criteria for Evaluation of Student Performance for reference).

The student should be in their senior year and be in the top 20% of their class.

This award may be given to more than one student who displays superior academic excellence, and it can be given together with any other award. Student(s) chosen for award will be nominated by the respected academic teams (i.e., BSW or MSW Teams) and voted by the School of Social Work faculty.

The Academic Excellence Award is presented at the Senior Recognition Banquet and Pinning Ceremony.
Excellence in Field (Seniors)
The Excellence in Field Award is given to a graduating BSW senior who shows a commitment to social work practice and goes above and beyond the requirements of field, as well as exceeding expectations in most, if not all, areas of professional performance outlined in the learning plan.

Nominations are made by the field instructors and task supervisor from the agency at which the student is completing practicum hours. School of Social Work faculty review the nominations and select the recipient.

This award may be given together with the Academic Excellence Award if the student meets the criteria.

The Excellence in Field Award is presented at the Senior Recognition Banquet and Pinning Ceremony.
Leadership (Seniors)
The departmental Leadership Award is given to a graduating BSW senior who has shown leadership in class, the Social Work Club, Phi Alpha Honor Society, and/or department-sponsored activities.

This award is determined by faculty nomination with peer input.

This award may be given together with the Academic Excellence Award if the student meets the criteria.

The Leadership Award is presented at Senior Recognition Banquet and Pinning Ceremony.
René Drumm Research (Seniors)
The René Drumm Research Award is given to a graduating BSW senior who has displayed a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. The student must have a top-scored final product in research class and a minimum 2.5 GPA.

This award is determined by faculty nomination.

This award may be given together with the Academic Excellence Award if the student meets the criteria.

This award may be given to a team of students from the Research Methods course. 

The René Drumm Research Award is presented at the Senior Recognition Banquet and Pinning Ceremony.
Social Work Major of the Year (Seniors)
The Social Work Major of the Year Award is given to a graduating BSW senior who demonstrates academic achievement, reflects the values of the School of Social Work, participates in service activities, is an active member of the Social Work Club, achieves the recognition of peers and professionals, and demonstrates support of staff and the school.

This award is determined by faculty nomination with peer input.

This award may be given together with the Academic Excellence Award if the student meets the criteria.

The Social Work Major of the Year Award is presented at the Senior Recognition Banquet and Pinning Ceremony.
Top Achiever Scholarship Award
The Top Achiever Award is given to multiple students with freshmen, sophomore, or junior status. Recipients are selected based on overall GPA, class standing, and professionalism. This award is accompanied by a monetary amount that is applied to the recipients' financial account during the following school year.

This award is determined by faculty nomination and student financial status. Please be aware that due to this being a monetary award, student's with full ride scholarships are not eligible.  

The Top Achiever Award is presented during Winter Semester's department convocation and Southern's Award Convocation during the month of April.
Ed Lamb Community Service Scholarship
The Ed Lamb Community Service Scholarship Award is given to a student with freshman, sophomore, or junior status. The student must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. They must also display extensive community service leadership and passion for service. This award is accompanied by a monetary amount that is applied to the recipients' financial account during the following school year.

This award is determined by those who have applied and faculty nomination.

The Ed Lamb Community Service Scholarship Award is presented during Winter Semester's department convocation.
Distinguished Alumni
The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to a BSW or MSW alumni who is in the field of social work with preference given to those who have had one to two years of post-graduation experience.
NASW Social Work Student of the Year
The National Association of Social Work Tennessee Chapter (Southeast Branch) Social Work Student of the Year Award honors a student member of NASW who is enrolled at least half-time in a social work program and has created a positive influence on classmates for the profession, as well as maintained academic achievement.

Nominations for the NASW Social Work Student of the Year Award address:
  • How the nominee has integrated social work knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values
  • Accomplishments of the nominee at the university and in the community
  • What challenges the nominee faced to achieve results
  • And who has benefited from the nominee's efforts.
This award is presented during the annual NASW Social Work Month Celebration Dinner in the Chattanooga area.
The School of Social Work has several awards and scholarships available for undergraduate students. For more information about grants and scholarships available at Southern Adventist University, visit the Finances website.

Senior Pinning Ceremony

Senior Social Work Pinning is a special ceremony that recognizes graduating social work students as they transition from student to professional practice. The event celebrates students’ accomplishments, honors their commitment to service and advocacy, and marks an important milestone in their social work journey.

Feed My Sheep Food Pantry

The Feed My Sheep Food Pantry is open to all Southern Adventist University students and employees, to "shop" for groceries.

Visit Their Website

Upcoming BSW Events

08/24/2026

Welcome Back Party

Daniells Hall Front Lawn

06:00 PM-

09/15/2026

Chattanooga Providers Resource Fair

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10/22/2026

Purple Thursday

Bietz Center

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12/10/2026

Department Convocation

Daniells Hall

11:00 AM-

Students working during Christian Service Day
Social Work students working during MLK Service Day
Students on New York Study Tour
Students on New York Study Tour
Social work students on SWIP trip
Social work students in front of the White House on SWIP Trip
Students at Phi Alpha Induction
Phi Alpha Induction 2026
Students at a community service event
Social Work Club at a community service event