Students Social work students include traditional age students primarily from South Dakota and the four states surrounding it.
Students state that their motivation to help others comes from a variety of sources.
Their Christian commitment, their experience as a peer helper, their wish to contribute to the community, and to reflect the helping they have received are a few of the motivations heard from students. Most plan to work in the region and are open to serving people in a variety of agency settings, but interest in working with children, adolescents, families and elders are mentioned often. Social work students are likely to be involved in activities on campus or in the community. Many have volunteered before coming to USF and choose to continue to volunteer, if time permits. Course assignments sometimes require an individual or group volunteer experience to expand the students' knowledge of the agencies in Sioux Falls which are similar to agencies in other communities.