Social Work launches graduate certificate in Rural Health and Well-Being

The UK College of Social Work launches a fully online Graduate Certificate in Rural Health and Well-Being to prepare professionals to support rural communities through expanded access and service delivery.
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LEXINGTON, Ky.  — The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is proud to announce the launch of a new Graduate Certificate in Rural Health and Well-Being, designed to prepare social work professionals to serve individuals and communities across Kentucky and beyond.

The certificate, which will be available beginning Fall 2025, is fully online and led by Dr. Amanda Brown, CoSW Master of Social Work Program Director.

From persistent provider shortages to economic barriers and health disparities, rural America faces an evolving set of complex issues. Rooted in the principles of quality care and access, this graduate certificate equips students to address the health, mental health, and social service challenges faced by rural communities.

“The challenges facing our rural population are unique and complex,” said Brown. “This certificate reflects our commitment to preparing students and building a workforce able to meet those needs.”

And that commitment is desperately needed.  

Approximately 93 of Kentucky’s 120 counties are predominantly rural, with nearly 40% of residents living in these areas—almost double the national average. Like rural communities nationwide, these regions often experience limited access to healthcare, education, and other essential services.

The Graduate Certificate in Rural Health and Well-Being offers professionals a way to engage with and support these communities by expanding access and strengthening service delivery. Alongside coursework focused on rural health, students also complete field internships in the very communities they aim to serve.

“Field education is an essential part of this program,” said Brown. “It grounds learning in the lived realities of rural practice and helps foster trust between future providers and the communities they’ll serve.”

These experiences offer students deep insight into local strengths and needs, preparing them to build culturally responsive, relationship-driven solutions that extend beyond the classroom.

For more information, or to express interest in the certificate, contact the College of Social Work Admissions team at coswadmissions@uky.edu. You can also learn more by attending an upcoming virtual information session.

For over 85 years, the College of Social Work (CoSW) at the University of Kentucky has been a leader in education. Our mission is clear: Through rigorous research, excellence in instruction, and steadfast service, the CoSW works to improve the human condition. Always, in all ways.

As the state’s flagship university, our mission is actualized through our deeds. Our faculty are renowned academicians dedicated to fostering the development of high-quality practitioners and researchers. As a college, we promote community and individual well-being through translational research and scholarship, exemplary teaching, and vital community engagement. We are committed to the people and social institutions throughout Kentucky, the nation, and the world.