Human Services Department
Carla Mueller, EdD, Chair
The Social Work program offers a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) that prepares graduates for generalist (entry level) social work practice, helping people help themselves. The degree focuses on social work values and ethics, diversity, social and economic justice, populations-at-risk, and practice at the individual, group, family, organizational, community, and societal levels (micro, mezzo, and macro levels).
A social work degree program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for advanced standing into CSWE-accredited graduate schools. Leadership, integrity, cultural humility, critical thinking, effective communication skills, and a concern for the welfare and well-being of others are core values in the social work profession, with a primary goal of serving marginalized populations in need of social services. Social workers provide support, resource development, and guidance for vulnerable people across the life span. Social workers advocate for change in families, groups, communities, and societies. Students will develop their skills in providing a wide range of services in a wide range of fields of practice. Upon completion of the social work degree, students are prepared for generalist social work employment and advanced standing in CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work programs.
The social work program does not grant academic credit for life experience or previous work experience.
The social work program has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 2005.
Formal admission to the social work program is required in order to enroll in courses in the practice sequence: SW 41000, SW 41100, and SW 41200, and the field practicum, SW 45000.
Students are formally admitted to the major in social work through an application procedure available from the social work program chair. Students intending to become fully admitted into the social work major should contact the social work program chair to obtain complete information regarding admission to the program.