The Social Work Program Faculty encourages students to join and actively participate in the Whitney M. Young Social Work Club, National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), and Phi Alpha Social Work National Honor Society. Notices of meetings are posted in classrooms and on bulletin boards and are announced in classes. Faculty members view participation in a club(s) as an integral part of the total Department curriculum.

Membership is open to all students in Department, with only minimal annual dues. Under the leadership of elected student officers and a faculty advisor, the clubs engage in a variety of activities, which provide excellent opportunities for student’s socialization, professional enrichment, and community service. A major annual event is the Honors Banquet, where students invite speakers from the practice community. This program also includes the presentation of awards to students who have excelled in academics, community service, and service to the organization.

Students are also encouraged and expected to join the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Alabama Conference of Social Workers (ACSW), the student chapter of Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), and the student chapter of Alabama/Mississippi Social Work Education Conference. Brochures and membership information are available in the Social Work Resource Center or from social work faculty members.

In addition to the above, MSW students are encouraged to become active members of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) on the campus of Alabama State University. The purpose of the organization is to serve as a vehicle in promoting graduate student interest, needs, and concerns both on the main campus and off site locations.