Clubs & Organizations

Social Work

Social Work clubs and honor societies augment, expand and complement the experiences students gain in the classroom at PennWest Edinboro. Our students also benefit from a variety of volunteer and field experiences.

Social Work Club - BSW Students

If you are an undergraduate, seeking a Bachelor of Social Work degree, the BSW Social Work Club is right for you. It helps you connect with other majors in the program and with professionals in the community. These contacts help with decisions about volunteer experiences, field education placements and finding employment after graduation.

Information about Social Work Club activities can be found on the bulletin board outside the department office (Hendricks G49) or from the advisor, Dr. Margaret Smith, at msmith@pennwest.edu.


Social Work Association of Graduate Students (SWAGS) - MSW Students

The mission of SWAGS is to:

  1. Develop within its members an appreciation of the diversity of issues, perspectives, values and beliefs within contemporary society and our profession
  2. Foster strong professional ethics in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
  3. Demonstrate commitment to the discipline and cultural competence through service, continuing education and the advancement of the profession.

Originally founded in 2000, and refocused with attention to the inclusion of online students in 2013, the Social Work Association of Graduate Students (SWAGS) seeks to:

  1. Improve the University community and the communities in which student members live, practice and conduct their field internship
  2. Enhance the educational, professional and social experiences of its members.

Membership is open to any graduate social work student enrolled in PennWest Edinboro, without regard to gender, race, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity who fulfills the following requirements. While active participation is encouraged, membership does not require GPA, QPA, credit hour or service hour requirement in order to become and maintain membership.

Become a member of SWAGS.

Any questions about SWAGS can be directed to the group's co-faculty advisors: Dr. Christine Rine at crine@pennwest.edu or Dr. Molly Wolf at mrwolf@pennwest.edu.


Phi Alpha Honor Society – Kappa Epsilon Chapter

The purpose of the Phi Alpha Honor Society is to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.

Phi Alpha offers membership to social work students, faculty and practitioners. Students from BSW and MSW programs who are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or accepted into candidacy status are eligible for Phi Alpha membership.

The qualifications for individual membership in the Kappa Epsilon Chapter are as follows:

Undergraduate Students

An undergraduate student is eligible for membership after achieving the following requirements:

Graduate Student

A graduate student is eligible for membership after achieving the following requirements:

Membership is available to all full-time Social Work faculty members. Honorary membership is awarded to persons outside the program who have made a significant contribution to the program and/or society.

Any questions about Phi Alpha Honor Society can be addressed to Dr. Elaine Rinfrette, faculty advisor, at erinfrette@pennwest.edu.


Contact Us

Social Work
G38 Hendricks Hall
235 Scotland Road
Edinboro, PA 16444
Phone: 814-732-2013

Dr. Sheri Boyle

Department Chair
Email: boyle@pennwest.edu
Phone: 724-938-5988