Social Welfare Minor

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Study social issues and the public good. Prepare to make positive change through a social welfare minor at Luther College.

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Why Study Social Welfare?

Our world needs people dedicated to social justice. Studying the social issues facing our nation is essential to helping others navigate the world. By doing this, you will be better equipped to make positive change.

Exploring the social welfare system will inform your life and career. If you have a passion for improving the lives of all members of society, look no further.

Why Study Social Welfare at Luther?

Are you hoping to go to graduate school for social work? The social welfare minor at Luther College can give you a boost. Luther’s social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. This means you’ll have good introduction to the profession and discipline before you enter a graduate program.

Your program will be shaped by the core values of:

Service
Social justice
Human dignity and relationships
Integrity
Competence
Human rights
Scientific inquiry

At Luther, developing a knowledge of the liberal arts will serve as a foundation for lifelong learning.

Student Organizations

Expand your knowledge and professional network by joining the Social Work Association and Lambda Theta Chapter of the Phi Alpha National Social Work Honor Society.

Faculty-Student Collaboration

At Luther, you’ll partner with faculty to shape your learning experience. You’ll work closely with staff to make a difference in people’s lives.

Opportunities for Hands-On Learning

You have the option to complete a short-term internship through the course Social Work Field Experience. Faculty will guide you in arranging a job-shadowing internship in your home community or another location, providing you with hands-on experience in the social service field.

What You’ll Learn

As a social welfare minor at Luther, you’ll focus on the development of social welfare and the behavior of individuals, families, organizations, and communities within their social environment. This minor does not provide the specific skills needed for actual social work practice.

You’ll take five courses to fulfill your social welfare minor, including three required courses: Introduction to Social Work and Social Justice; Human Behavior in the Social Environment; and Social Welfare Policies, Programs, and Issues.

These courses will introduce you to historical and present-day issues of public good. You’ll develop a comprehensive understanding of the social welfare system in the US, the values and theories behind it, and the social issues facing our nation. You may not major in social work and minor in social welfare.

Curriculum

The social welfare minor with my psychology major allowed me to integrate and assess how factors such as social justice and policy can affect an individual’s psychological well-being.

Laurel Studt ‘22

PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR