Major Monday: Social Work students in their own words
Two PLU social work majors, Ciara I., who is about to graduate this spring, and Belen S. Z., who graduated just last year, answered questions about what it’s like to be a social work major at PLU.
Wondering what social work includes? In the Department of Social Work at PLU, we prepare you for a fulfilling career in community care for others, including children, youth, and families; working with marginalized and disenfranchised populations; addressing community behavioral health needs; and bringing about social change.
Why did you choose social work?
I chose social work as one of my majors because growing up helping others has always been a passion of mine. Social work is a very versatile major – there are many different things a social worker can do, and for me that was key when finding a career that I will pursue in the future. There is nothing better than being able to pursue a career that will make you feel rewarded at the end of the day because of all the hard work you put into helping others. – Belen S. Z. ‘25
What kinds of hands-on learning opportunities have you had?
During a January Term, I took the Social Work 175 class (J-term on the Hill), which allowed me to be in the community and do service with Habitat for Humanity, Northwest Furniture Bank, and Nourish Pierce County. That experience was great! I tried new things like building houses, which is something I’ve never really thought about doing. We were also able to visit organizations like the Korean Women’s Association. I was able to hear experiences from people who work there in the social work profession. – Ciara I. ‘26
I did an internship as part of the social work program at Tacoma Community House, as part of the immigration team. The experience overall was great, starting with all the amazing work that TCH does for the community. My coworkers were very supportive and showed that they were invested in contributing to my learning process as an intern and future social worker. I learned so much – from sending emails, calling clients and scheduling appointments, to filling important immigration applications and meeting with clients. I was able to put into practice what I learned in my classes, as well as understanding how connected social work and immigration are. This internship helped me expand my knowledge about social work, gain experience in the field, and explore areas of interest that I am interested in pursuing in the future. – Belen
What is it like to study social work at PLU?
It has definitely been a great experience. Faculty in the department are always willing to help and provide the best options to students throughout the journey of completing the program and make the experience meaningful and enjoyable. Something that I really enjoyed was that I was able to create a connection with professors – they are all very supportive and understanding. All the classes I took helped me understand social work in a better way, and were key to feeling prepared for what we may face in the field. – Belen
How is your major at PLU preparing you for your next steps and career goals?
I really appreciate that the social work major has internships woven in the plan. It gives everyone an opportunity to be hands-on in the field before graduating. Also, getting internships by yourself is not always easy, but this degree makes sure that everyone gets to do it. The internship experience is pretty vital when trying to get a job post-college because a lot of entry-level positions want you to have some sort of experience. – Ciara
My major is preparing me to advocate for everyone that needs it, to lookout for helpful resources, to be aware of past and current policies that can affect my community or others, and so much more. As a bilingual immigrant myself, a future personal goal is to be able to work and advocate for the Latinx community. Having the chance to work with immigrants from many different countries and also Spanish speakers during my social work internship has made me discover the huge impact that social workers have in the community. – Belen
Social Media