Social Studies at BC3
BUTLER TWP — A social work program is so popular at Butler County Community College it pulled Jennifer Boros of Zelienople away from the nursing program there.
Boros said she started at the college to study nursing because she wanted to help people. Then, she saw an introduction course in social work and began thinking about other ways to help.
The program fits her needs better, she said.
It was much the same story for Samantha Feil of Meridian, who started at BC3 with the intention of later transferring to Slippery Rock University to major in history.
"This just sounded so awesome," she said.
She now is in the social work program and has a career goal of working with families or inmates.
This semester the college, for the first time, is offering an associate's in social work. One introduction course was offered in the fall, and it was filled. Now, with the recent approval of the program by the board of trustees, the college staff sees the program launching.
Bill Miller, dean of humanities and social sciences, said just by listing the class in the schedule guide, the introductory class in the fall attracted more than 20 registrants. This spring classes in child welfare and human diversity are full.
Miller said the college community told him for years that there was a need for a social work program. The help of instructor Karen Stubenbort was instrumental in getting the program off the ground, he said.
Stubenbort, who also is an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh, worked with that school to develop a program that will allow students to transfer credits from BC3's associate's program to Pitt and earn a bachelor's degree. The courses needed to finish a bachelor's will likely be offered on the BC3 campus.
The partnership, which is known as a "2+2" program, is the only one Stubenbort knows of for a social work degree from Pitt.
Stubenbort, who is teaching the courses, said 40 hours of volunteer work are required in the introductory course.
Feil is already working with Family Pathways, and Dillon Cullin-Crews of Butler is looking into doing community service with the county adult probation department.
"(Stubenbort) explained every lesson with a personal story," Cullin-Crews said.
Those personal stories are much of what attracted Boros to the program.
"It takes the boring out of it," she said.
Miller expects development of the program to be finished in time for fall enrollees to finish on schedule.
When students graduate with a bachelor's in social work, they will be prepared for entry level positions working with various populations, including elderly, the young, addicts and inmates, Stubenbort said.
Erica Bobby of Butler said she is interested in getting her bachelor's degree in social work and then continuing on for a master's degree. She wants to work with children of families dealing with drug addition.
"It's so nice the courses would be offered here, because I live five minutes away," she said.
