Dr. Spencer Zeiger, Associate Dean and Professor of Social Work

Welcome to the School of Social Work, where we offer students the opportunity to develop knowledge, and skills, and to build competency for practice in a wide range of social service agencies. At Dalton State we offer the associate’s degree (a two-year plan of study) and the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree (a four-year plan of study). The associate’s degree allows a student to apply for admission to the upper division for the BSW degree. The BSW is the nationally recognized degree for generalist, entry-level social work practice. We also prepare students for future graduate study in a Master of Social Work (MSW) program.

The Dalton State BSW degree is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Accreditation through the year 2019. In addition to core content shared with all accredited social work programs, the Dalton State BSW program offers preparation tailored for social work with the emerging Latino and indigenous Appalachian populations in northwest Georgia, including special opportunities for learning about the strengths of these two populations, and approaches to understanding other diverse groups. Cultural competence training and a cultural immersion experience in Latin America provide enhanced skills for social work practice. We are proud to offer the only bi-lingual/bicultural social work program in the United States.

We hope that you will consider social work as a profession. The job market is outstanding. Our students are highly sought. In fact, 100% of our graduates over the last three years are employed, with many receiving more than one offer prior to graduation.

Our website offers an overview of our program, our outstanding faculty, and the exceptional opportunities available to our students. If we can assist you in any way, please get in touch through the links on this web page or by telephone at 706-272-2682 or 706-272-2481. We will be happy to discuss the many possibilities of a career in social work and the rewards of knowing you can make a positive difference in people’s lives. Social workers do no less than change the fabric of society—for the better!

Dr. Spencer Zeiger, Associate Dean
szeiger@daltonstate.edu