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Social work is a helping profession which aims to improve the well-being and quality of life of people from diverse demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.Ìý

Social workers work with different populations, social problems and levels of practice and are employed in a variety of settings, including social service agencies and programs, healthcare institutions and services, communities, correctional systems, schools and government.

The social work program at the Ã山ǿ¼éÌýprepares students with the knowledge, skills and values for generalist practice with diverse populations and emerging social issues.

Information for Out-of-State Students

Majoring in social work at Ã山ǿ¼é will provide you with a competency-based education. Built on a liberal arts foundation, you are encouraged to explore many areas of knowledge. You will gain insight about working with others from a biological, psychological and sociological perspective. Ã山ǿ¼é's curriculum offers groups of courses that encourage you to get to know your classmates and the faculty. You will be trained to be prepared to assess, intervene and assist clients in solving problems and setting goals for life challenges. A strengths-based model encourages you to help others develop adequate support networks. Students learn methods of how to organize communities and advocate for resource and systems change. Using classroom instruction, case models, service learning, and field internships, you are encouraged to critically analyze and apply knowledge gained. You’ll have the opportunity to select internships from over 175 different agency settings. Leadership and instruction for the Ã山ǿ¼é social work program is provided by world-class faculty members engaged in ongoing practice, who are recognized at local, national and international levels.

The Social Work Department places an emphasis on advising to encourage you to explore your interest in social work and complete your course of study in a timely manner. The program can be completed in four years with an opportunity to complete the master’s degree in an accelerated one-year program.

54 hours;Ìý2.75 cumulative GPA and 2.75 major GPA required

The Bachelor of Social Work program prepares students for entry into social work positions within local, state, and federal social service agencies and programs. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Students graduating from the program possess a solid liberal arts foundation through Core 39 integrated with professional social work knowledge. The principal educational objective of the program is to prepare students for beginning competency-based social work practice. The focus of the program is to prepare generalist bachelor’s level practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and ethical principles needed for work with diverse populations. Students will be prepared to work with a variety of client systems including individuals, families, groups, organizations, institutions, communities, and society in general.

A carefully constructed curriculum exposes students to the following core knowledge areas:

  • social welfare issues and policies
  • human behavior in the social environment
  • social systems theory
  • knowledge and skills in conducting social work research
  • problem-solving theory and methodology
  • generalist intervention model
  • knowledge of client populations
  • knowledge of social service programs and agencies
  • human diversity
  • oppression and discrimination
  • at-risk populations
  • promotion of social and economic justice
  • professional social work values and ethics
  • practice/intervention skills and integrative field experience

There is a secondary application process to be accepted into the Social Work Program.ÌýCertain pre-requisites, GPA requirements, references and a personal statement are required for the application process to the Social Work (BSW) program. Students may declare a major in pre-Social Work upon entering the university or complete a change of major form at any point in time.

The students must satisfy the following requirements for admission:

  • Students are required to review and update their student academic file in the Social Work department at the start of the application process. Included in the file should be a current copy of all college and university transcripts for each institution the student has attended.
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale is required for admission to the social work program. The prerequisite courses must be completed by the beginning of the semester the student plans to enroll in courses identified for majors only.
  • Completion of the following 9 hours of social work prerequisite courses with a grade no lower than C+ in each class (at least two of the courses must have an official grade at the time of application submission):
    • Ìý
    • ÌýÌý
    • Ìý
  • Completion of 30 hours of Core 39 coursework, including the following courses with a minimum grade of C in each course:
    • Composition –Ìý
      Ìý
    • Mathematics –Ìý,Ìý,Ìý, orÌýÌý
    • Natural Science with Lab -Ìý
      , orÌýÌýorÌýÌý
    • Social Inquiry and Embedded Experience-Diversity -ÌýÌý
    • Social Science -ÌýÌýÌý
  • For program admission, students must have a 2.75 GPA or higher in the following pre-requisite courses:
    • Ìý(C+ or better)
    • Ìý(C+ or better)
    • Ìý(C+ or better)
    • Ìý(C or better)
    • ,Ìý,Ìý, orÌýÌý(C or better)
    • ,Ìý, orÌýÌý(C or better)
    • Ìý(C or better)
    • Ìý(C or better)

To learn more about the Social Work Program requirements, click below:

Current Ã山ǿ¼é Student Admission Process

Transfer Admission Process

Social Work Major (54 hours)


Required Pre-Admission Courses (9 hours)


A grade of C+ or better is required in the following courses:

  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3

Required Courses (45 hours)


Students must be admitted to the social work program before enrolling in the following courses. A grade of C+ or better is required in:

  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý6
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3

Optional Addictions Counseling Concentration (9 hours)


The optional concentration in addictions counseling will prepare students to work with clients and agencies that provide services for substance abuse and other addictive disorders. The course work and internship requirements are designed to meet the educational requirements for addictions counseling in Indiana.

  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3
  • Credits:Ìý3

78%
of BSW graduates go to Grad School

Careers

There are a wide variety of career/practice areas for Bachelor's of Social Work (BSW) and Master's of Social Work (MSW) degree graduates. Ìýlists social work as having faster than average job growth. Professional social workers work to assist clients in solving human problems.

Graduates work in a variety of settings including social services agencies and programs, health care institutions and services, communities, correctional systems, schools and government (at all levels).

Social workers work with different populations (children, adolescents, adults, elderly), social problems (substance abuse, mental and emotional problems, corrections, child maltreatment), and levels of practice (individuals, families, communities).Ìý

Many agencies, programs and health care institutions require licensed professional social workers due to accreditation, licensing, certification and governmental requirements. Detailed information is available in the Social Work Department or by going to theÌýÌýwebsite.Ìý

Program Information

Social Work Department

College of Liberal Arts

The Ã山ǿ¼é is committed to making college accessible to those wishing to further their education by providing numerous scholarships, grants, and financial aid options to assist students in managing tuition expenses.

Bachelor of Social WorkÌý(BSW) andÌýMaster of Social WorkÌý(MSW) Programs at the Ã山ǿ¼é are fully accredited by theÌý.