Poverty Simulation
Your Path to a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
At La Sierra University, our Social Work program equips you with the knowledge, experience, and ethical foundation to make a difference in people’s lives. Whether you’re an adult transfer student completing coursework from a community college or a high school senior planning your future, this program prepares you for careers in healthcare, schools, mental health, child welfare, and community agencies.
Program Features Designed for Transfer Success
- Transfer-friendly coursework that values your community college credits and helps you graduate sooner.
- Flexible scheduling and advising for adult learners balancing work, family, and school.
- Hands-on field education and internships that connect classroom learning to real-world practice.
- Dedicated support for high school seniors preparing to enter the field with confidence.
Career-Focused Curriculum
Learn core social work competencies including human behavior, social welfare policy, cultural diversity, and practice skills. The curriculum emphasizes ethical practice, community engagement, evidence-based intervention, and professional development—all essential for success as a social work practitioner or for continuing to graduate study.
Field Education Experience
Field placements are a cornerstone of the program. You’ll work alongside professionals in community settings, gaining professional experience before you graduate—an advantage for job readiness and career growth.
Who Should Apply
- Adult transfer students with community college credits seeking a structured pathway to complete a BSW.
- High school seniors ready to pursue a meaningful profession in social work.
Finish your bachelor’s with a program that supports academic success, real-world experience, and your career goals. Join a community of learners committed to service, justice, and transformation.
Location and Date
Location
La Sierra University Church
4937 Sierra Vista, Riverside, 92505
Venue: At the "Courtyard" on parking lot side of church
Date: Friday, Feb 20, 2026
Time: 9am - 12pm
Registration is Closed
We are excited to have full registration for this event, but are also disappointed that it filled up before you could register this time.
Thank you for your interest, and we hope you have the opportunity to participate another time!
Live a month in poverty in a few hours
Professor Thomas and Professor Straine have been involved in offering this simulation to the community since 2015. The Poverty Simulation provides people from all backgrounds an opportunity to walk in the shoes of a low-income family for a few short hours.
Participants receive an assigned identity and family profile and experience “one month” of poverty compressed into the real time of the simulation. Afterward, a debriefing occurs where participants share insights of extraordinary vividness and intensity.
The result can be a very special kind of awakening. The power of this unique learning resource is that it creates, like no other method, an insight into the state of chronic crisis that consumes so many working poor families.
If you are interested in bringing the simulation to your group, please contact us for more information.
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