Social Work

About the Program

Social work has a long history in the public and private sectors as an ethical and value-based profession that assists those in need, strengthens the human potential of its clients and seeks to make our society a more equitable, positive, supportive and healthy environment. It is a multi-faceted and rewarding profession that affects positive change in a nation strengthened by citizens of various racial, ethnic, religious and other backgrounds.

The Social Work Department in the College of Letters and Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in social work. Both degrees are built upon a liberal arts education. The major includes 36 credit hours of concentrated studies in social work and concludes with an in-depth training internship in a community agency. The program has more than 300 majors, and students represent all racial and ethnic backgrounds, ages, genders, religions, physical disabilities and sexual orientations. This diversity is a strength and an asset to the program.

Accreditation

The Social Work Department is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The College of Letters and Sciences is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Career Opportunities

There are multiple career paths for social work majors. The social work major is a professional program that prepares graduates for entry level, generalist social work practice. Students successfully find positions in a wide range of public and private agencies. A variety of employment settings for social workers include:

• Foster care
• Services for the aged
• Domestic violence
• Corrections
• Adoption
• Drug and alcohol counseling
• Public assistance
• Counseling
• Day care services
• Case management
• Social services
• Recreational services
• Social service/civil rights organizations
• Services for persons of color, persons with disabilities, single parents and veterans

Facilities

Students are expected to learn skills in interviewing and group work, and a videotaping lab is used as part of the learning and evaluation of these skills. Social work students also have immediate access to the social sciences computer laboratory in Salisbury Hall and other campus laboratories.

Faculty

The Social Work Department faculty have considerable experience in social work practice, teaching and research, and they are among the most published faculties in the nation.

High School Preparation

Preparation for the degree should begin in high school. High school courses that strengthen university studies can include social studies, psychology, mathematics and algebra, history, writing and composition. Courses that strengthen students' ability to write and express themselves are especially valuable.

Internship Opportunities

Students are required to complete a field internship practicum. This one- or two- semester experience provides students with the opportunity to spend time in community agencies where they expand their knowledge and skills while being supervised by practicing social workers. The hands-on approach familiarizes students who work with actual clients and fellow professionals. The field experience also assists students in making a successful transition from college to professional employment.

Placement

There are currently more employment opportunities available in social work than in many other fields, and the future looks encouraging. Careers in social work are varied, and the educational preparation is such that an individual may choose from a variety of unique and exciting career opportunities. Social work graduates are also accepted for advanced standing in graduate schools.

Student Organizations

The Social Work Student Organization (SWSO) is one of the largest student organizations on campus and one of the most active. The organization is run by students with full faculty support and engages in social and educational events, supports worthwhile community projects and encourages learning of organizational skills. All students are welcome to join this organization. Visit the Web site at: http://stdorgs.uww.edu/swso/swso1.htm

Suggested Course of Study

Prerequisites:
Human Biology
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Individual and Society
American Government

Required courses:
Introduction to Social Welfare and Social Work
Human Behavior & the Social Environment I & II
Social Work Practice I, II & III
Social Welfare Policy
Social Work Research
Social Work Experience (Internship)

Students going to graduate school are also encouraged to take a course in descriptive/ inferential statistics. Minors The social work major is a generalist program, preparing students to work in a variety of settings. Students choose a minor for concentration in an area. Two minors are offered by the social work department (a) human services foundation and (b) gerontology.