Department of Social Work

Dr. Lisa E. McGuire, Department Head
Phone: (540) 568-6980
Email: mcguirle@jmu.edu
Location: Health and Behavioral Studies Building, Room 2084
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/socwork

Professors
B.J. Bryson, C. Hunter, L. McGuire, H. Yeom

Associate Professors
N. Poe, K. Myers, L. Trull

Assistant Professors
S. Isom

Mission Statement

The Department of Social Work prepares generalist social workers committed to strengthening community life for diverse individuals, families and organizations and promoting social justice through advocacy and action. It offers a program, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, which leads to the B.S.W. degree. In addition, the department offers minors in family studies, with family ecology or gerontology foci, and nonprofit studies.

The Department of Social Work is committed to the following:

Preparing students to work effectively in a broad spectrum of social service agencies by providing an environment geared to addressing poverty, multiple forms of oppression, social injustice and other human rights violations.
Preparing students for advanced academic study by providing an environment geared toward achieving academic excellence.
Advancing excellence and integrity through the development of high-quality academic programs as well as contributions to professional knowledge and service.
Responding to the professional and the university’s service region by providing supportive services and continuing education opportunities.

Career Opportunities and Marketable Skills

Career Opportunities

Aging services
Child and adult day care centers
Children and youth services
Community action agencies
Criminal justice agencies
Domestic violence programs
Family service agencies
Homeless shelters
Hospitals/home health programs/hospices
Income maintenance programs
Legal services agencies
Behavioral and mental health services
Services to people with developmental disabilities
Nursing homes and residential communities
Public child welfare/child protection services
Residential treatment facilities
School programs
Substance abuse programs
Vocational rehabilitation services

Marketable Skills

Advocacy
Assessment
Case management/brokering
Communication
Community outreach
Crisis intervention
Group facilitation
Intake/referral
Intervention/service planning
Interviewing
Networking
Policy analysis
Problem solving
Program development/evaluation
Recording/writing
Relationship-building/interpersonal
Research
Service provision
Team/group/collaborative

Co-curricular Activities and Organizations

The Social Work Organization (SWO) offers the opportunity to socialize, meet professionals and volunteer in the community. Membership in SWO is open to any student interested in a career in the helping professions.

Phi Alpha Honor Society for Social Work’s purpose is to promote academic excellence among social work students. Membership in Phi Alpha is by invitation to students with a minimum of nine credit hours in required social work course holding a major grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 and a cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Admission Requirements

Social Work Program

Students may declare a major in social work at any time; however, they must apply for admission to the social work program the semester following completion of SOWK 287. Intro to Social Work and SOWK 288. Human Rights, Social, Economic and Environmental Justice . For unconditional admittance, students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 with no single grade lower than a “C” (2.0) in SOWK 287 and SOWK 288 , and have completed the 20 hours of community service work required in SOWK 287 . Students are evaluated on the basis of community service and life experiences, academic performance, communication skills, work related habits, ability to work with others, motivation, value orientation and career plans. Students must complete this process or admission to upper-level courses will be restricted. See the Social Work Handbook or the social work website for guidelines.

Applications are reviewed by two or more social work faculty members who make a recommendation to the head of the social work department. The student will be notified of the decision in writing. Decisions are to admit, to admit conditionally, not to admit or to defer decision. You will have one opportunity per semester to resubmit the application. If you fail to submit or resubmit a document that is still incorrect, you will be required to wait until the next semester deadline to resubmit. While this could potentially slow your progression in the major, it acknowledges your role of accountability in the process, a quality that will be essential for professional practice.

If admitted conditionally, the conditions for acceptance will be described. If the decision is deferred, the student will be notified in writing as to why. If not admitted, the student may appeal the decision to the head of the Department of Social Work.

Field Practicum Application

Students admitted into the social work practicum are seniors who have completed the core social work requirements, with no grade lower than a “C” (2.0) in SOWK 287 , SOWK 288 , SOWK 305 , SOWK 317 , SOWK 320 , SOWK 335 , SOWK 465 , SOWK 466 , SOWK 467 and SOWK 493 have an overall GPA of 2.0, and who have completed 50 community service hours related to human services after SOWK 287 , are eligible for field practicum.

During the field practicum, students spend four days a week for one semester completing a minimum of 472 hours of directed field practice. Students seeking admission to SOWK 481. Social Work Field Practicum I and SOWK 482. Social Work Field Practicum II must complete a field placement application and interview with the director of field placement. The field placement director, with the assistance of social work faculty members, will determine the acceptance and placement of students.

See the Social Work Student Handbook or the social work website for the field application, documentation of community service guidelines and guidelines for the placement process. Students must have no grade lower than a “C” (2.0) in SOWK 481 , SOWK 482 and SOWK 494 , which is taken concurrently with the field practicum.

Programs

Social Work, B.S.W.