Understanding People, Changing Systems: Carlow University’s Master of Social Work Program

When people think about social work, a simple idea typically comes to mind: helping others. It is a meaningful description, but it only captures part of the picture. The reality of social work is far more complex. It often requires stepping into situations that are uncertain, emotional, and overwhelming for the client. 

“You have to walk into the chaos of others to figure out what’s going on in their world,” said Dr. Carrie Stott, program director of the Master of Social Work program at Carlow University. “And then you can help figure out how to allow them to move forward, rather than telling them what you think they should do.” 

That philosophy shapes how Carlow social workers are prepared. They learn how to listen, observe, and understand the full context of a person’s life before offering support or guidance. 

Finding the Field and Building the Program 

Dr. Stott did not begin her academic career in social work. As an undergraduate, she studied pre-physical therapy and mental health counseling, planning to enter the workforce after graduation. When she began exploring job opportunities, she noticed that many of the roles she was drawn to required a Master of Social Work. 

“I hadn’t really heard about a master’s in social work before,” she said. “But I thought, if these are the jobs that I want, and that’s the degree that’s required, I’m going to go and get it.” 

What began as a practical decision quickly became something more. “Instantly, I kind of fell in love with the field,” she said. “I realized how broad it is and how you don’t have to commit to doing one thing indefinitely.” 

That breadth continues to define the program she now leads at Carlow. The University had offered a bachelor’s degree in social work for decades, and the graduate program was developed because, “we had graduates saying, ‘I wish I could have gotten my master’s at Carlow,’” Dr. Stott said. “So, the program was really built from that.” 

Understanding the Work 

One of the first things students learn is that social work extends beyond individual interactions. It involves understanding how people and their environments influence one another. They are encouraged to consider not only what someone is experiencing, but also the systems and communities that shape those experiences.   

“Social work is really about person and environment,” said Dr. Stott. “You can help the person, but if their environment doesn’t foster thriving, then they’re going to stumble again.” 

The field also requires a constant connection between theory and practice. “It’s practice-informed research and research-informed practice,” she said. “It’s not just about what you learn in the textbook, but how it connects to what’s happening in the real world.” 

Ethics at the Center 

For Dr. Stott, one of the most important aspects of social work is the ability to navigate ethical complexity. During her time working in healthcare, she encountered difficult decisions involving patients, families, clinicians, and institutions. Those experiences led her to pursue a PhD in healthcare ethics, where she focused on the ethics of care. 

“There’s a social responsibility component, but also an individual autonomy component,” she said. 

Her work explores how those two ideas interact, especially in situations where there are no clear answers. “There wasn’t really a way to fix it,” she said, reflecting on her early research. “But there was a way to learn to navigate it.” 

In the MSW program, students are taught how to think through ethical dilemmas as they encounter them, rather than waiting until challenges become overwhelming. “They need to be able to work through those value conflicts in real time.” 

A Classroom That Reflects the Real World 

Carlow’s MSW program is delivered online, but the experience is intentionally designed to remain highly interactive and connected. “The difference is just the space for us and where we talk, where we connect,” said Dr. Stott. “We’ve worked really hard to still make our online courses as interpersonal as they can be.” Students join the program from across the country and beyond, bringing with them a wide range of perspectives shaped by their own communities. “They come from their home perspective,” she said. “They still have the influences of their work, their family, and their communities when they come to class.” 

That diversity becomes a central part of the learning experience. Students are able to see how social work concepts take shape in different environments and gain insight into challenges they may not encounter locally. At the same time, the flexibility of the program allows them to remain engaged in their own lives while pursuing their degree. “We have students who are working full time, who have children at home, who are caring for loved ones,” Dr. Stott said. “And they still have a thirst for knowledge that fits into their lifestyle.”

Many Paths, One Core Philosophy

As students move through the program, their understanding of the field often expands. “I think that’s what’s so wonderful about social work,” Dr. Stott said. “It can be very narrowly focused, or it can be very broad based.”

Students enter with a wide range of backgrounds, from social work and psychology to education, nursing, and beyond. Many begin with a specific goal in mind, such as clinical practice, and then discover new possibilities as they learn more about the field. Graduates go on to work in schools, healthcare systems, community organizations, and policy roles. Some focus on direct service, while others work to improve systems on a larger scale.

“They come in with one idea,” she said, “and they leave with a whole host of ideas about how to make a difference.”

Through all of these paths, the same core philosophy remains: Carlow meets students where they are. In turn, those students learn how to enter complex situations with clarity and compassion, prepared to step into uncertainty, understand the environments around them, and work alongside others to move forward.