Northwestern College has recently formalized an articulation agreement with Northwest Iowa Community College (NCC) in Sheldon that will allow students graduating with an associate’s degree from NCC to seamlessly continue their education to complete a bachelor’s degree in social work at Northwestern.
The agreement lays out the academic path that will enable a student who has graduated with an Associate of Arts degree at NCC to complete Northwestern’s social work program in two years. A total of 124 credit hours will need to be completed for graduation from Northwestern.
“We are excited about this opportunity to help train more students for a career in social work,” says Donna Van Peursem, associate professor of social work at Northwestern. “Getting a four-year degree can look intimidating, and we want to communicate to NCC students that you don’t have to start over if you choose to continue your social work education at Northwestern. We can get you to where you want to be in the helping professions.”
Northwestern College’s social work department is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, which helps graduates expedite their Master of Social Work degree. The program provides students with the theory and real-life experience necessary for meeting the needs of individuals and communities. Students learn from faculty who have extensive experience as social workers in settings like group homes, domestic violence programs, governmental and nonprofit agencies, and therapy and counseling centers.
The social work articulation agreement joins agreements Northwestern College and Northwest Iowa Community College have for business administration and elementary education majors.