UNC-Wilmington School of Social Work Partners with MCC to Provide Bachelor’s Degree Pipeline
Published on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022
November, 2023 – UNC Wilmington has partnered with Montgomery Community College to create a transfer opportunity for students wishing to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Social Work.
Students who have successfully completed an associate degree in the Human Services Technology program at Montgomery Community College and meet admission requirements of UNC Wilmington’s Bachelor of Social Work program will be admitted to the program. This means that students have a straightforward pathway to completing a bachelor’s degree. Social work courses will be offered online and once admitted, students will receive individual advising on the program and required courses.
Dr. Stacey Kolomer, director of the UNC Wilmington School of Social Work, says of the partnership, “Students in rural counties do not have many affordable options to earn an undergraduate degree, particularly if they are working professionals. At the heart of social work is social justice. We know there are not enough mental health and substance abuse counselors to serve in these rural areas, so the School of Social Work is excited to provide a pipeline to train professionals to meet the needs of their communities.”
The articulation agreement with UNC Wilmington will open doors previously unavailable to community college graduates, creating a direct pipeline to numerous job opportunities in government, social and private settings.
Amy Frieary, MCC’s Dean of Health & Human Services, has been working toward this pathway to a bachelor’s degree for a couple of years. “I am so pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to MCC students. They will begin here as a Trailblazer, and will finish their four-year degree as a UNC-W Seahawk. Both schools have committed to making this transition seamless and efficient, which translates into affordability for students.”
Students who complete the A.A.S. Human Services Technology degree at Montgomery Community College and the Bachelor of Social Work degree at UNC Wilmington can easily progress into the Master of Social Work program with advanced standing, thus shortening the length of their time in graduate school.
Those interested in the social work transfer pathway can learn more by contacting MCC’s Dean of Health & Human Services Amy Frieary at friearya2564@montgomery.edu.