Auburn University offers a minor, undergraduate degree, and graduate degree in social work in the College of Liberal Arts and the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work. By studying human behavior and norms, as well as social adaptations and movements, the Master of Social Work program includes both research and application in order to reach those who
are “economically, physically, mentally, or socially disadvantaged.” Dedicated to scholarship, professional practice, and advocacy, Auburn equips students to improve underperforming institutions by offering multifaceted solutions. Hands-on practice and experience enable students to develop practical skills for future careers in social welfare.

The Global Studies in Human Sciences Major, housed in the College of Human Sciences, is designed to educate students on relevant global issues, the realities of globalization and how local and global issues are interconnected. The major draws on content relevant to human sciences, such as international nutrition, hunger and food insecurity, microlending and entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, maternal and child health, education of women and girls, global markets, goods and services, humanitarian aid, and social policy. Students are trained to activate their critical and design-thinking skills for positive global change and become true global citizens.

The Model United Nations, housed in the Department of Political Science within the College of Liberal Arts, is a student organization aimed at providing a realistic panel experience similar to that of the United Nations (UN). The club is open to all majors and stresses the interdisciplinary nature of the UN itself, in that public speaking, research, and debate skills will prove to be useful in an ever-globalizing world. In 2021, Auburn’s United Nations team competed in the Southern Regional Model United Nations Charlotte Virtual Conference. The group received a top 10 distinction and was recognized as an “Outstanding Delegation for Position Papers” for the first time in the club history.

The mission of Government & Economic Development Institute (GEDI), part of Auburn University Outreach, is to promote improved government policy and management, civic engagement, economic prosperity, and improved quality of life for the State of Alabama and its communities. GEDI prioritizes enhancing local economic and leadership development in communities across the state and beyond. GEDI offers services in education, training, and professional development; community assistance, engagement, and consulting; and applied and policy research. The center develops entrepreneurs, businesses, and Alabama’s local government sector through workshops and conferences.

Dr. Bridgett King is the Director of the Master of Public Administration Program and an Associate Professor within the College of Liberal Arts. Dr. King’s research specialization focuses on election administration, public policy, citizen voting experiences, and race and ethnicity. Particularly, King’s work involves the administrative structure of felony disenfranchisement and stigmatization and consequentially, its effect on participation and representation, citizen confidence in electoral outcomes, and the effects of administration discretion on voter experiences and democratic representation. She also collaborates on interdisciplinary projects that apply systems and architectural engineering approaches to the realm of election administration in order to address systemic issues within political systems and voter experiences.

Juvenile Delinquency Lab is the result of a 20-year partnership between Alabama Department of Youth Services and AU’s Department of Psychological Sciences. This partnership provides residential treatment services for adolescents adjudicated for illegal sexual behavior. The Lab collects data to inform individual treatment decisions for clients and provides information about the overall functioning of the treatment model in order to inform decision-making for the program. The success of the partnership speaks to the importance of this institutional model in bringing about client-centered results. All who are involved in this partnership are motivated by the results of the data showing mental health and behavioral improvements in the youth served.