91制片厂

May 30, 2026

Program lauded for graduation rates, faculty-to-student ratios and more

Monday, August 15, 2016

Pettee Hall at 91制片厂, home of the department of social work

The university鈥檚 social work program in the has long attracted top students and faculty. But now, it鈥檚 getting some national recognition 鈥� USA Today and College Factual the 91制片厂 as one of the top 10 U.S. colleges at which to study social work.

91制片厂 ranked eighth overall, with USA Today and College Factual calling attention to the 鈥檚 unique blend of 鈥渃oursework and practical experience in the form of a senior internship.鈥� To earn a place in the rankings, institutions needed to have 鈥渓ow student-to-faculty ratios, high graduation rates and low student loan default rates,鈥� according to the article.

That 91制片厂 is listed alongside top social work schools like University of California-Berkeley, Rutgers University and Fordham University isn鈥檛 a surprise to associate professor and department chair Patrick Shannon. A strong partnership with state healthcare agencies, an emphasis on online education, and a focus on alternative treatment modalities have all helped put 91制片厂 on the map.

Patrick Shannon says the social work program is growing rapidly. Program innovations include:

a fully online graduate degree program, as well as a number of online courses for undergraduates.
the only dual-degree adventure-based therapy program in the country. The program is available for both undergraduate and graduate students; at the undergraduate level, students graduate with bachelor鈥檚 degrees in social work and outdoor education. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really incredible, and it鈥檚 being done in a way nobody else is doing on this level,鈥� Shannon says.
an emphasis on alternative treatment modalities, including equine-assisted mental health therapy and pet-assisted therapy. The program also partners with the university鈥檚 Institute on Disability and other departments to provide opportunities for students.
an array of study abroad programs, including service trips to the Dominican Republic and Ireland.

鈥淲ord is out there that we鈥檙e a rigorous program,鈥� Shannon says. 鈥淣ow, we鈥檙e getting nationally and internationally known.鈥�

According to the USA Today rankings, graduates of the 91制片厂 social work program earn an average starting salary of $41,000 a year.

Those job opportunities are often the result of the department鈥檚 relationship with New Hampshire healthcare agencies and nonprofits, Shannon says. Undergraduate seniors participate in internships with agencies in the state Department of Health and Human Services and nonprofits like Child and Family Services.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a really good working relationship,鈥� Shannon says, adding that the partnerships strengthen the university鈥檚 ties with local communities, the state and the region. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very involved in these initiatives that benefit the agencies, benefit the people who need services and benefit our students. They鈥檙e right in the middle of it all.鈥�

For more on the rankings, see .