Bachelor of Social Work

Students majoring in social work learn about the theoretical foundations, practice skills and ethical principles of generalist social work practice. Students study the causes of individual, family and community problems and strategies that have been found to be effective means of preventing and responding to these problems. Students graduating with a degree in social work are qualified to pursue graduate education in social work or a related field, or seek employment with social services, child welfare, criminal justice, mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence programs as well as in schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and other human services settings.

Mission of the Bachelor of Social Work

The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work Program is to prepare competent generalist social workers adept in employing a person and environment approach and evidence-informed practice knowledge, skills, and values to facilitate the improvement of the quality of life for individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.

The Goals and Learning Outcomes of the BSW Program

Goals:

1. To prepare graduates for positions as competent generalist social workers with the evidence-informed practical knowledge, skills, and values base needed to improve the quality of life for individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations in culturally diverse communities in the United States and other countries, and for ongoing professional development

2. To prepare graduates with the ability to understand and critically apply knowledge and skills that reflect the capacity to practice without discrimination with clients who vary in terms of their race, color, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexual orientation, class, age, disability, marital status, family structure, national origin, cultural background, immigration status, and religion

3. To prepare graduates who understand and critically apply evidence-informed theoretical person and environment frameworks of human development and behavior as well as those relevant to interactions among and between individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

4. To prepare graduates who understand the theoretical frameworks that explain the presence and impact of political, social, and economic oppression and discrimination on individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations; appreciate the social work profession’s historical commitment to addressing societal inequities; and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and values needed to assume leadership in influencing social policies and empowering at-risk individuals, families, groups, and communities.

5. To prepare graduates to be able to engage in self-reflective, self-critical generalist practice with multiple-level client systems in a range of organizational settings, effectively using professional supervision and consultation

Learning Outcomes:

Graduating social work students will demonstrate the following learning outcomes/competencies:

1. Identify themselves as professional social workers and conduct themselves accordingly
2. Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice
3. Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments
4. Engage diversity and difference in practice
5. Advance human rights and social and economic justice
6. Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research
7. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment
8. Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services
9. Respond to contexts that shape practice
10. Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Admission to the Bachelor in Social Work Program

The curriculum for the Bachelor in Social Work major is designed to be fulfilled in approximately two years after completion of the general education program for social work majors required by Florida Memorial University and completion of SOW. 300, Introduction to Social Work.

Although students may declare social work as a major upon admission to the University, students are not fully admitted into the program until they have submitted a formal application and have been formally accepted into the program. The applicant must demonstrate the characteristics or potential required for competent social work practice as defined in the mission statement of the program and the standards of the profession. The following are the minimum requirements for admission to the program:
1. Completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
2. Satisfactory completion of SOW 300, Introduction to Social Work with a grade of “C” or higher.
3. Attainment of a minimum grade of “C” in all social work courses completed.
4. Satisfactory completion of the Social Work Major Application Form, accompanied by a personal essay, a resume as well as two reference letters from faculty with whom the student has completed at least one course, with a completed copy of the Social Work Major Application Reference form attached to each reference letter.
5. Satisfactory completion of the Social Work Program Admissions Interview.
The Social Work Admissions Committee reviews applications, conducts an interview with each applicant, and subsequently determines acceptance into the major. Provisional status for admittance into the program may be granted for one academic semester to any student who has not met all the requirements for full admission. Provisional status will be granted at the discretion of the Social Work Admissions Committee.

Admission to Field Practicum

The culmination of the Bachelor in Social Work Program concludes with the Field Practicum. The practicum provides the vehicle for social work students to integrate theory and practice and apply this knowledge while demonstrating professional competencies. The field practicum is a year-long experience. The application for the field practicum must be completed by the announced deadline one semester prior to the scheduled beginning of the field practicum experience. The field practicum is completed during the senior year. Before applying for the field practicum, students must have successfully completed all required social work courses. Acceptance into the field practicum is granted after a student has attended the pre-practicum seminar, has completed the application for a field placement, and has been interviewed by the Coordinator of Field Education. Additionally, to qualify for acceptance into the field practicum, students must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Students must have senior standing
2. Students must have an overall cumulative GPA 2.5 or higher
3. Students must have completed the following courses with a minimum overall average of 2.5: SOW 301 Human Behavior and Dynamics, SOW 302 Human Behavior and the Social Environment, SOW 303 Research Methods, SOW 405 Social Policy, SOW 408 Social Work Writing Techniques, and SOW 409 Social Work Practice 1.
4. Students must have a grade of ”C” in all social work courses
Social work majors must obtain a copy of the Field Practicum Manual from the Social Work Program’s Coordinator of Field Education for further information about the field practicum.

Graduation Requirements

The student must complete all requirements for the social work major and submit all appropriate materials for graduation with the Registrar. Specifically,
1. Students must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours.
2. Students must maintain an overall G.P.A. of 2.5 or better.
3. Students must receive a minimum grade of “C” in each social work course.
4. Graduating seniors must complete all required social work courses which include completion of 10 credit hours of practice courses, 400 hours of the field practicum, and a senior project.

This degree program requires a minimum of 120 semester hours for completion. In order to complete the degree in four years, students must either take 15-16 credits a semester or attend at least one summer session.