Social Work, B.S.W.
Program Description
The B.S.W. program prepares social workers who are committed to addressing a broad range of social challenges, enhancing individual, family, group, organization and community well-being, and advocating for empowerment of diverse and vulnerable populations. The B.S.W. program graduates competent social workers who are highly prepared for generalist professional practice as well as graduate education through exemplary commitment to ethical practice; engagement and belonging; human rights; and social progress.
Admission and Retention Requirements
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 and SOWK 288. For unconditional admittance, students must have a minimum 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.
Following review, the student will be notified of the application 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 eligible for the field 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, SOWK 493 and IPE 415, who have an overall minimum GPA of 2.0, and who have completed 50 community service hours related to human services after SOWK 287.
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 and SOWK 482 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.
Degree Requirements
| Degree Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education courses 1 | 41 |
| Major requirements | 50 |
| Electives | 29 |
| Total | 120 |
- 1
The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some credits may be fulfilled by courses required within the major.
Major Requirements
The minimum requirement for the B.S.W. degree is completion of the General Education requirements, 44 credit hours of core social work courses, prerequisite courses as specified in course descriptions and at least six credit hours of electives in social work at the 300/400 level, for a total of 120 credit hours. If a grade of "C" (2.0) or above is not achieved the first time a social work course is taken, the student may repeat the course only once. All social work majors are expected to abide by the NASW Code of Ethics. Additionally, all majors participate in social work student outcome assessment measures.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SOWK 287 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| SOWK 288 | Human Rights and Social Progress | 3 |
| SOWK 305 | Social Work Research Methods | 3 |
| SOWK 317 | Skills for Generalist Social Work | 3 |
| SOWK 320 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SOWK 335 | Social Policy | 3 |
| SOWK 465 | Social Work Practice in Mezzo Systems | 3 |
| SOWK 466 | Social Work Practice in Micro Systems | 3 |
| SOWK 467 | Social Work Practice in Macro Systems | 3 |
| SOWK 481 | Social Work Field Practicum I | 6 |
| SOWK 482 | Social Work Field Practicum II | 6 |
| SOWK 493 | Professional Forum I: Preparation for Field | 1 |
| SOWK 494 | Professional Forum II: Transition to Professional Practice | 3 |
| IPE 415 | Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare: An Interprofessional Approach | 1 |
| Subtotal | 44 | |
| Electives | ||
| Choose six credit hours of SOWK electives at the 300/400 level. Elective courses are offered on a rotating basis. | 6 | |
| Workshops in Social Work | ||
| Workshops in Social Work | ||
| Rural Health: An Interprofessional Approach | ||
| Parent-Child Relationships Across the Lifespan | ||
| Substance Use Interventions | ||
| Community Mental Health Practice | ||
| Issues and Policies in Family Services | ||
| Violence in Families | ||
| Child Welfare Services | ||
| Issues Affecting LGBTQIAP+ Individuals and Their Families | ||
| Social Work with Immigrants and Refugees | ||
| Programs and Services for Older Adults | ||
| Grant Writing for Agencies | ||
| Youth Empowerment Strategies (YES) | ||
| Working with Adolescents | ||
| Palliative and Hospice Care: An Interdisciplinary Approach | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Studies in Social Work (can be taken for a total of 6.00 credits) | ||
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 50 | |
Recommended Schedule for Majors
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| General Education courses and/or university electives 1 | 30 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Second Year | ||
| SOWK 287 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| SOWK 288 | Human Rights and Social Progress | 3 |
| General Education courses and/or university electives 1 | 22 | |
| Credits | 28 | |
| Third Year | ||
| SOWK 305 | Social Work Research Methods | 3 |
| SOWK 317 | Skills for Generalist Social Work | 3 |
| SOWK 320 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SOWK 335 | Social Policy | 3 |
| SOWK elective | 3 | |
| Electives | 15 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| SOWK 465 | Social Work Practice in Mezzo Systems | 3 |
| SOWK 466 | Social Work Practice in Micro Systems | 3 |
| SOWK 467 | Social Work Practice in Macro Systems | 3 |
| IPE 415 | Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare: An Interprofessional Approach | 1 |
| SOWK 493 | Professional Forum I: Preparation for Field | 1 |
| SOWK elective | 3 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| SOWK 481 | Social Work Field Practicum I | 6 |
| SOWK 482 | Social Work Field Practicum II | 6 |
| SOWK 494 | Professional Forum II: Transition to Professional Practice | 3 |
| Credits | 32 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |