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By Lacey Desserault

In response to a growing need for mental health providers in the Mid-Columbia region and across the state, Washington State University Tri-Cities’ Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program will welcome its first cohort of undergraduate students in fall 2025.

Backed by $1.6 million per biennium from the Washington state legislature, the program’s development marks ������ Tri-Cities’ initial steps toward establishing both undergraduate and graduate social work programs. This initiative aims to address critical shortages of trained social work professionals, particularly in rural areas, with an ultimate goal of increasing the number of healthcare professionals who can represent and advocate for clients from diverse backgrounds.

“Evidence shows that communities, families and individuals in need of support and services trust and utilize services recommended or provided by health professionals representative of their culture and backgrounds,” said Daniel Cavanaugh, director of the bachelor’s of social work program at ������ Tri-Cities. “Therefore, a program that draws from students in Tri-Cities, the Yakima valley, and the Mid-Columbia region could greatly enrich the services available in eastern Washington.”

The undergraduate program will equip students with foundational skills in social work practice settings and prepare them for advanced study, including Master of Social Work degree programs that lead to clinical, macro, or specialized careers. Graduates will be positioned for roles in social service offices, educational institutions, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and healthcare facilities.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that social work will grow “faster than average,” with an estimated 67,300 additional jobs needed annually nationwide over the next decade to meet increased behavioral health and social service demands.

Housed within the ������ College of Nursing, students will enter the program in their junior year, joining a dedicated cohort that will complete the program together. Part of the program’s signature pedagogy includes a 400-hour field placement in the students’ final year, giving them hands-on experience in generalist social work roles in the community.

“The addition of a social work program will not only meet a critical community need but will further our campus goal of supporting students’ academic and personal success in their pursuit of health and social sciences degrees,” said Kate McAteer, vice chancellor of academic and student affairs.

With applications opening in March, prospective students must complete their first two years of undergraduate study, fulfill the social work program prerequisite courses, and submit additional materials including transcripts and a personal essay. Admission also requires a signed attestation to the National Association of Social Workers’ Ethical Practice standards.