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Boston College Graduate School of Social Work
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Events

Commencement 2013

MAY 20, 2013
9:15 a.m. — Academic Procession
10:00 a.m. — University Commencement (main ceremony)
12:30–2:30 p.m.— Graduate School of Social Work Diploma Ceremony

The 137th Commencement of Boston College will be held on Monday, May 20, 2013. The University Commencement, which is attended by all graduates, is held in Alumni Stadium (rain or shine) and will begin with the Academic Procession at 9:15 a.m. and end after approximately two hours.  More about Commencement 2013 »

Newly Admitted Students Reception & Resource Fair

MAY 13, 2013
4:30–6:30 p.m.
Heights Room, Corcoran Commons
RSVP by May 10, 2013, to 617-552-4024 or swadmit@bc.edu

Meet other admitted students, current students, faculty, and staff. Appetizers and light refreshments will be available.  More about Newly Admitted Students Reception »

News

Graduate School of Social Work Offers Hispanic/Latino Track

"En un futuro no muy lejano estará muy valorado el poder trabajar con clientes Latinos en su propia lengua" *

JANUARY 15, 2013

By mid-century, the majority of the U.S. population will be made up of minorities, predominantly Latinos. On average, people with Latino backgrounds are disproportionally affected by low educational attainment and fewer financial resources. As a consequence, their families and communities often struggle with poverty and access to jobs and basic services. Hence, social workers are increasingly called to promote social change with and on behalf of this growing and diverse population. Yet in 2009, the CSWE Task Force on Latino/as in Social Work Education said that "the field of social work is unprepared for the rapid growth in the Latino/a population."

In response to this call, Boston College Graduate School of Social Work established a Hispanic/Latino Track (HLT). The new offering, within the MSW program,  bolsters students' linguistic and cultural competencies to work with Latino communities here and abroad.

"We at the GSSW will strengthen our efforts to attract students from Hispanic backgrounds while at the same time increasing cultural awareness and Spanish language skills of students with different backgrounds," explains Dean Alberto Godenzi. "The courses will differ not just in terms of being taught in Spanish but, as importantly, by familiarizing students with the realities of Latino life in the U.S. and their respective home countries."

Assistant Professor Rocio Calvo, a native of Spain who worked in Latin America prior to joining BC, believes "in the not too distant future, it will be a real asset to be able to engage and collaborate with Latino clients in their native language." Adding a second language to the portfolio of graduating students deepens empathy and expands imagination, both core principles of a Jesuit education.

HLT courses carry the same credits as courses taught in English. Students interested in taking an HLT course are required to pass a Spanish proficiency exam.

*"In the not too distant future, it will be a real asset to be able to engage and collaborate with Latino clients in
their native language"

Read more from TuBoston.com »