Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2016-2017 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED PUBLICATION]

Social Work Major, B.S.W.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Liberal Arts

The Bachelor of Social Work program prepares students for entry into social work positions within local, state, and federal social service agencies and programs. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits this program.  Students graduating from the program possess a solid liberal arts foundation through Core 39 integrated with professional social work knowledge. The principal educational objective of the program is to prepare students for beginning competency-based social work practice. The focus of the program is to prepare generalist bachelor’s level practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and ethical principles needed for work with diverse populations. Students will be prepared to work with a variety of client systems including: individuals, families, groups, organizations, institutions, communities, and society in general.

Curriculum content, carefully constructed, exposes students to the following core knowledge areas:

  • social welfare issues and policies
  • human behavior in the social environment
  • social systems theory
  • knowledge and skills in conducting social work research
  • problem-solving theory and methodology
  • generalist intervention model
  • knowledge of client populations
  • knowledge of social service programs and agencies
  • human diversity
  • oppression and discrimination
  • at-risk populations
  • promotion of social and economic justice
  • professional social work values and ethics
  • practice/intervention skills and integrative field experience

Admission

The philosophy of the program prepares the highest-quality professional for the social work field. Therefore, students interested in a major in social work must be admitted into the program. The students must satisfy the following requirements for admission:

NOTE: The program does not grant academic credit for life or work experience in lieu of social work courses or field content. Students must complete all Core 39 requirements, to complete the BSW program.

The evaluation process focuses on academic standards and additional criteria, including evidence of a commitment to social work values, basic understanding of social work, professional attitude, and evidence of good writing and oral communication skills.

All eligible students are invited to apply. The program actively encourages minorities and students from diverse backgrounds to apply. The program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, political belief, or disability.

Upon completion of the application process, students receive notification of the admission decision in writing. There is a “cap” on admissions; only a limited number of qualified students are admitted each year. Students who are admitted into the program must achieve a C+ or better in all social work classes and a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Students who fail to progress in their course work for more than one semester will be required to reapply to the program. Students not enrolled for two semesters or longer will be required to graduate under the bulletin in effect at the time they re-enter.

Major – Social Work (51 hours)


Note(s):


A student must be admitted to the social work program before enrolling in courses designated for majors only.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: College of Liberal Arts