Bachelor of Social Work Program
The undergraduate program offers a Bachelor of Social Work鈥�(BSW) degree with a major
in Social Work鈥痑s preparation for a number of careers from public service to work
in the private sector. The undergraduate Social Work Program is accredited by the Council
on Social Work Education (CSWE), and its principal educational goal is to prepare
students for beginning generalist social work practice.
A student's declaration of a major in social work does not guarantee admission to
the BSW program. Students will be invited to apply to the program once they have met
all criteria to do so. Students initially declare Pre-Social Work (PSWK) as a major
and are eligible to apply and be formally admitted to the Social Work major when they
have:
- Attained an overall 2.80 or higher GPA
- Completed a minimum of 35 credit hours including SOCW 151: Introduction to Social
Work
- Completed or are currently enrolled in SOCW 251: Social Policy and SOCW 253: Interviewing
- Acknowledged and illustrated their capacity to meet the Professional and Technical Standards of the Social Work Program
Students are required to maintain an overall GPA of 2.8 or better each semester in
order to remain in the program. See the Department of Social Work鈥檚 鈥淎dmission and
Termination Policies鈥� in the BSW Student Handbook
Curriculum
120 Hours are required for graduation. In addition to the 42 required hours of liberal
studies, the major requires鈥�63 hours as outlined below and鈥�15 hours of general electives.鈥�
Only grades of C or higher in required and elective social work courses will satisfy
requirements for the major. Only one Social Work required course may be taken for
a grade replacement.
The Child Welfare Education Collaborative (CWEC)
Participation in the Child Welfare Education Collaborative Scholars Program is available at both the BSW and MSW levels.鈥疊SW students who apply
and are accepted must take the Child Welfare elective (SOCW 426), complete an on-line
Pre-Service Training, and complete a one semester internship at a County Department
of Social Services with the Child Protective Services unit.鈥疷pon successful completion,
students will earn a Certificate which allows them a priority spot when applying for
positions with any County DSS in North Carolina. In some years, a financial scholarship
may be available to students if the State Legislature approves the funding.
Learn more about CWEC
Field Work
Field practicum is a vibrant component of professional learning and will provide students
with excellent experience through 鈥渢he signature pedagogy of Social Work Education.鈥濃�疶he
WCU Social Work Department has 125 community partners, which are agencies providing
many professional services to a wide range of clients.鈥� Students can develop and master
skills in areas of case management, individual, family and group clinical practice,
integrated health care, community advocacy and outreach, resource brokering, mediation
and research.鈥疌ommunity agencies, hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, in-patient
mental health units, homeless shelters, schools, area agencies on aging, and health
and human services with the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian are examples of the
types of settings where students will learn and practice.鈥�
LEARN MORE ABOUT FIELD WORK
bsw learning outcomes 12/2018
|
COMPETENCY
|
COMPETENCY BENCHMARK
|
PERCENT OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING BENCHMARK
|
|
1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
|
85%
|
83.6%
|
|
2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
|
85%
|
91.6%
|
|
3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
|
85%
|
91.6%
|
|
4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
|
85%
|
77%
|
|
5: Engage in Policy Practice
|
85%
|
76.3%
|
|
6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
|
85%
|
86%
|
|
7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
|
85%
|
92.6%
|
|
8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
|
85%
|
91%
|
|
9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
|
85%
|
90%
|
