Gerontology Minor

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, L. McGuire

Associate Professors
C. Hunter, N. Poe, H. Yeom

Assistant Professor
K. Myers, L. Trull

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, gerontology 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.

National Association of Social Workers serves the critical and diverse needs of the entire social work profession. The National Association of Social Workers-Program Unit, a student unit of this nationally recognized organization, is under the auspices of the Whitney Young District, Virginia NASW. Membership is open to all social work majors and provides opportunities for both social and professional enrichment.

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. Social Welfare. 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.

Gerontology Minor

Dr. B. J. Bryson, Minor Adviser

Phone: (540) 568-6980
Email: byrsonbj@jmu.edu
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/socwork/gerontology.html

The cross disciplinary minor in gerontology is designed for undergraduate students from any major seeking a focal area of study on issues and dynamics of human aging for personal understanding or career preparation. The minor program requires 18 credit hours, nine credits of required courses and nine credits of approved electives, with no more than six credit hours in the student’s major.