Building Refugee and Immigrant Degrees for Graduate Education Program
Since the early 1990s, we have addressed the need for the recruitment and preparation of newcomer social workers through the School’s Refugee & Immigrant Training Program–an initiative that helped establish a solid track record of recruiting members of newcomer groups to enter the social work field. Today, we are proud to serve as home to the Building Refugee and Immigrant Degrees for Graduate Education (BRIDGE) program.
The BRIDGE program aims to increase access to graduate social work education for refugees and immigrants as well as critical cultural competency needs within the human services workforce. This program will increase the number of professionally trained social workers from underserved culturally- and linguistically-diverse newcomer populations through a unique structure of support that provides a transitional bridge to graduate academic communities.
Learn more about eligibility and applying on our Applying & Deadlines webpage.
BRIDGE Program Structure
Our program is structured in four phases.
Orientation (Pre-Admission)
A free, nine-session pre-admission course takes place from October to December. This course introduces participants to the culture and expectations of graduate social work education as well as provides assistance and support for those who go on to apply for admission to an MSW program.
Preparation (Pre-Matriculation)
Preparation support eases the transition into graduate social work education for those individuals accepted into the BUSSW MSW program. Additional activities include social events and workshops on topics including—but not limited to—speed reading and writing graduate-level papers.
Education Program (Master of Social Work)
While there is no guaranteed financial assistance available in the BRIDGE program at the present time, our ultimate goal is to secure ongoing financial support for all BRIDGE participants who enroll as BUSSW students. Over the past two years, all BRIDGE students enrolled at BUSSW have received some financial assistance. Those enrolled will continue to receive support and mentoring from the BRIDGE coordinators as well as from faculty and other student groups.
Career Development (Post-Graduation)
BRIDGE graduates have access to Boston University’s career resources. Additionally, we assist graduating students with career planning and the employment search process, maintain a social and support network for newcomer alumni, and recruit former BRIDGE participants to provide voluntary assistance with future students in the program.
2024 Meeting Dates
There will be 8 sessions starting in October and ending in November. Meetings will take place at BU School of Social Work (264 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA 02215) from 5:30–7:30pm on the following dates:
- Session 1 – Tuesday, October 1
- Session 2 – Tuesday, October 8
- Session 3 – Tuesday, October 15
- Session 4 – Tuesday, October 22
- Session 5 – Tuesday, October 29
- Session 6 – Tuesday, November 5
- Session 7 – Tuesday, November 12
- Session 8 – Tuesday, November 19
Room number will be communicated to students via email.
There will also be a BRIDGE Program dinner celebration on Tuesday, December 3, at 5:30pm at a nearby restaurant (location TBD).
Contact BRIDGE
Claudio Martinez
BRIDGE Co-Director
claudiom@bu.edu
Margaret Lombe
BRIDGE Co-Director & Associate Professor
lombem@bu.edu
Jorge Delva
BRIDGE Co-Director & Professor
jdelva@bu.edu
BRIDGE News
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July 24, 2023
Claudio Martinez, a program co-director at BU School of Social Work (BUSSW), Read more
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December 15, 2022
Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) celebrated its BRIDGE and MSW... Read more