Social Work Major | Skidmore College

Social work is the study of people, power, and change — at the level of individuals, families, communities, and the systems that shape them. Our curriculum centers critical thinking and human connection, driven by the belief that change is always possible.

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Ground yourself in theory while doing real work in the world: advocating for justice, working in solidarity with people and communities, and building the skills to make policies, programs, and services more equitable and effective. Skidmore will challenge you to see the world differently — while giving you the skills, frameworks, and hands-on experience to act on it.

What will you learn?

At Skidmore, social work students earn a professionally accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) within a small, personalized liberal arts setting — opening doors to direct practice and fast-tracking you toward graduate school. Experienced faculty, close mentorship, and a commitment to social justice shape everything, while extensive fieldwork puts you in real practice settings long before graduation.

Where will you go?

Many social work graduates pursue roles in human services, education, healthcare, business, and community-focused organizations, with the majority working directly in service-oriented fields that align with the profession’s mission of supporting individuals and communities.

Career paths	Employers	Graduate schools
Case manager Child and family social worker Community organizer or advocacy worker Corrections or juvenile justice social worker Employee assistance or occupational social worker Aging services social worker Healthcare social worker Mental health or substance use counselor Policy or program analyst School social worker	African American Community Service Agency Backstretch Employee Service Team Capital Region BOCES Charles B. Wang Community Health Center Eleanor Young Outpatient Clinic FDNY Counseling Services Unit National Association of Social Workers RISE Housing and Support Services Saratoga County Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Third Street Women’s Residence WAIT House	Boston University Columbia University Fordham University Hunter College New York University University of Michigan University of Pennsylvania University of Vermont SUNY Albany Washington University (St. Louis)

Three people sit at a table in a school working in a notebook together.

Practice with purpose

Ready to put your learning into action? Skidmore social work students partner with nonprofit organizations throughout Saratoga County and the Capital Region to gain experience in the field while making a difference in the communities they serve.

Service Learning and Field Education

Sybil Newell sits at a table talking to two students. The walls are cream and there are two white photos in the background that say 'Inhale' and 'Exhale'

RISE to meet a need

Sybil Newell ’00, executive director of RISE Housing and Support Services in Saratoga Springs, works alongside Skidmore students and alumni in addressing the needs of Saratoga County citizens impacted by homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse.

Lily Ross standing in front of a firetruck with the number 20 on it.

Helping NYC's bravest heal

Lily Ross '24 partners with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Counseling Services Unit’s Addiction Transition Program to provide aid and services to firefighters recovering from addiction and trauma.

Read Lily's story

A student crouches down to a cat in a dessert mountain area.

Contribute to a global community

The Social Work Department boasts some of the highest rates of students studying off campus. Recently, over 75% of social work majors have studied off campus in Denmark, Thailand, Spain, Italy, and England, and in other states within the U.S.

Learn more

Faculty

Award-winning. Creative. Thoughtful and supportive.

Meet your professors

Contact Social Work

Office

Tisch Learning Center, Second Floor
Phone: 518-580-5410
Fax: 518-580-8067

Department Chair

June Paul
Associate Professor of Social Work
jpaul@skidmore.edu

Administrative Assistant

Linda Santagato
lsantaga@skidmore.edu