Social Work

Department Faculty

Teresa Beadlescomb, Mark Giesler, Vanessa Herd, Edward Jones, Catherine Macomber, Lucy Mercier and Matthew Mitchell.

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree is offered for those who complete the college baccalaureate degree requirements with a major in Social Work.

The social work major is designed to provide students with an introduction to the goals and processes of the social work profession. No minor is available in social work; however, a minor is available in Youth Services, as described below.

Mission

Consistent with the mission of the University and EPAS (2008) requirements for the Council on Social Work Education, the mission of the Social Work department is to promote social welfare and well being for residents of the Saginaw Valley, the state of Michigan and beyond – through advancement of knowledge about social problems, and through educating students and practitioners about effective social work practices. We seek to respond to the particular needs of oppressed people and institutions by educating ethical and effective generalist social workers who are prepared to provide services that promote human rights and social and economic justice to the diverse groups living in rural, suburban, and urban areas in this region and who are committed to empowering people/groups that experience oppression and discrimination and helping people to achieve the greatest self-sufficiency.

Goals

With the liberal arts as its foundation, BSW graduates are prepared to engage in entry-level generalist social work practice. Students are further prepared for continuing their formal education in social work or another graduate discipline. As such, it is our goal that by completion of the program, students will be prepared to:

1. Engage in evidence-based entry-level generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations within a diverse and multicultural society.
2. Practice according to the principles, values, and ethics that guide the social work profession.
3. Influence social policies with the goals of alleviating poverty, oppression, and social injustice as well as advocating for human rights.
4. Identify and affect the bio-psycho-social, spiritual, and cultural functioning of people.
5. Evidence practice from a diversity competent and culturally-sensitive perspective which recognizes and appreciates diversity and diverse cultures, particularly those that differ from ones own diversity or culture.
6. Provide the community with professional social work services in a manner that reflects a commitment to the historic mission of social work and addresses issues of social justice.

No academic credit will be given, in whole or in part, for any professional or other life experience. This applies both to experiences prior to admission to the major as well as life experiences after major admission. Only volunteer work approved by the department will be credited towards partial or complete fulfillment of the 40- credit volunteer component required in SW 215, Introduction to Social Work/Social Welfare. Only field work approved by the department and undertaken as part of SW 483-484, Field Instruction I and II, will be credited for the major.

The Department of Social Work does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, age, creed, ethnic or national origin, disability, political orientation or sexual orientation. This policy applies to students, employees, volunteers, field placement supervisors, faculty members, Community Advisory Committee members and anyone else who may have contact or business with the program on any basis.

Pre-Social Work Curriculum

Students interested in earning a degree in social work should select a “pre-social work major.” Freshmen and Sophomores should obtain advising from the Academic Advisement Center for Basic Skills and General Education courses and requirements. During the semester when pre-social work majors will be completing 40 credits, they should arrange for an interview with a member of the social work faculty. This interview is part of the formal application process for admission to the social work major. Pre-social work majors who have specific professional questions or concerns, or need advising for social work courses and requirements should see a member of the social work faculty.

The Social Work Department sponsors a number of clubs/activities and special events during each year. Pre-social work students are encouraged to participate in order to begin to develop the ethics and values of the profession.

Requirements for Admission to the Social Work Major

A minimum of a 2.5 cumulative GPA is required for application for admission to the social work major. To be eligible for admission, the student must complete a total of 40 credits, including satisfactory completion of SW 215, a 40-hour volunteer placement, and all basic skills. Preference is given to students who have completed all or most General Education requirements and Interdisciplinary Prerequisites. Admission may be limited based on program capacity. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission.

Application may be made during the semester in which the student will complete the requirements or subsequent to it, but no admission decision will be made until after the final grades are received. Students who are not formally admitted to the major will not be permitted to enroll in any of the advanced professional courses: SW 316, 318, 401, 403, 483, 484, 485.

Students may be admitted to the social work major during any semester; however, the two-semester senior sequence commences only in the fall semester.

Application Procedures

During the semester in which the admission requirements specified above will be met, the student should accomplish the following:

1. Submit a completed formal application form to the chair of the Department of Social Work.
2. Schedule and complete a formal interview with assigned faculty advisor in Social Work.
3. Submit a personal statement to the Department based on the admission and retention criteria below.
4. Have a letter filed with the Social Work Department indicating satisfactory completion of the volunteer placement as required in SW 215.
5. Sign an agreement to uphold the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.
6. Have two letters of reference submitted on the forms provided in the admissions packet. References should be from employers, volunteer experiences, former professors (outside of the Department of Social Work), or character references.
7. Students must receive a satisfactory score on their interview and personal statement.

Selection Criteria

In addition to the student’s academic achievement in college courses, completion of basics skills, and progress toward completion of General Education and Interdisciplinary Prerequisites, selection criteria  include scores on admissions interview and personal statement, GPA,  the number of credits completed, achievement of the “Admission and Retention Criteria,” which are specified in the next section, and potential for developing competence as a professional social worker.

Admission and Retention Criteria

1. Stability and autonomy: Students will demonstrate the capacity to deal effectively with emotional stress, both in themselves and in relation to others, as demonstrated through a satisfactory evaluation of the volunteer component, a grade of “C” or better in “Introduction to Social Welfare/Social Work,” and performance as a social work major in a variety of courses throughout the student’s career.
2. Verbal and writing ability: Students will be able and willing to communicate thoughts and feelings effectively, both orally and in writing, as demonstrated in part by passing the English Basic Skills examination or receiving a grade of “C” or better in English composition courses, through satisfactory performance on the writing sample required for admission to the major, and continuous satisfactory achievement of written and oral communication skills throughout the Junior and Senior year.
3. Identifying and handling conflicting values: Students will be able to function within the context of value conflict, respecting the values of others even when different from their own, as demonstrated by acceptance of others with different backgrounds in their volunteer placement and field placement.
4. Academic achievement: Student will maintain a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative GPA in all courses, a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative GPA in the interdisciplinary prerequisite courses, including SW 215 and SW 300, and a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative GPA in the professional foundation requirements. Students must have a grade of “C” or better in the interdisciplinary courses, including SW 215 and SW 300 and the professional foundation requirements.
5. Capacity for continued growth in professional education and commitment to the code of ethics of the social work profession: Students will assume increasing responsibility for their own learning and make use of educational experience oriented toward peer learning. Violations of the canons of ethical responsibility of the social work profession are unacceptable.
6. Professional choice: Students will show a growing understanding of their chosen field of social work and what is demanded of the professional, and will demonstrate a maturing interest in and commitment to their profession. Should the faculty become concerned about the student’s physical, mental or behavioral ability to perform in the program, the field placement, or in later professional practice, the student may be asked to sign a release of information form in order to assess his/her current functioning.

The faculty reserve the right to remove the status of social work major from any student who does not satisfactorily fulfill the requirements of any of these criteria; however, this procedure will require a hearing for the student and provide all the protection inherent in the rights of due process. The interests of both the student and the profession will be considered in reaching a final decision.

Field Placement Program Admission Criteria

During the Winter Semester prior to entering field placement the following Fall, students must attend several required meetings and apply for admission to the Field Placement Program. Completing required course work and meeting the criteria for admission do not guarantee admission to the Field Placement Program. Capacity in social work field placement courses is limited. When applications for field placement exceed capacity, priority will be given to students who:

1. demonstrate readiness for the responsibilities associated with field work by: (a) attending regular meetings, (b) submitting required field work documents on time, (c) having a history of good class attendance, (d) turning in assignments in a timely manner, (e) fulfilling other responsibilities in a manner similar to that expected of a professional social worker.
2. complete all basic skills and General Education requirements prior to entering field.
3. demonstrate a plan to complete all of the requirements for graduation by the end of Winter semester.
4. have a plan for completing classes that is reasonable (e.g., no more than 15 credits during Spring/Summer, Fall and Winter semesters).
5. demonstrate higher academic achievement, especially in required Social Work courses.

 If necessary, other criteria for admission to field may be used, including demonstrating behaviors that meet or exceed the Admission and Retention Criteria.

Eligibility for Social Work Registration

Upon completion of the BSW degree, students are eligible for the Limited License Bachelor of Social Work (LLBSW) license as defined in the State of Michigan Public Health Code Work Section, and conferred by the Michigan Board of Social Work, Bureau of Health Professions.

Programs

• Child Welfare Certificate
• Juvenile Delinquency Certificate

• Social Work Major (BSW)

• Youth Services Minor

Courses

• SW 215 - Introduction Social Welfare/Social Work
• SW 300 - Interviewing & the Helping Relationship
• SW 302 - Child Abuse & Neglect
• SW 303 - Child Welfare Policies & Procedures
• SW 304 - Introduction to Gerontology
• SW 305 - Understanding the DSM Through Film
• SW 311 - Chemical Dependency: Overview
• SW 313 - Social Work & Health Care
• SW 314 - Social Work and Sexual Violence
• SW 316 - Social Welfare Policy I
• SW 318 - Social Work Practice I
• SW 320 - Human Behavior in Social Environment I
• SW 329 - Social Work Research
• SW 330 - Human Behavior/Social Environment II
• SW 347 - Social Work with the Aging
• SW 390 - Special Topics in Social Work
• SW 394 - Independent Research
• SW 396 - Field Studies in Social Work
• SW 401 - Social Work Practice II
• SW 402 - Social Work Practice III
• SW 403 - Social Welfare Policy II
• SW 405 - Group Facilitation
• SW 406 - Foster Care & Adoption
• SW 410 - Diverse Youth and Families
• SW 411 - Working With Juvenile Delinquents
• SW 483 - Social Work Field Instruction I
• SW 484 - Social Work Field Instruction II
• SW 485 - Integrative Social Work Senior Seminar
• SW 490 - Selected Topics
• SW 496 - Field Placement in Gerontology

• YS 300 - Child Welfare Policies & Procedures
• YS 330 - Child Abuse & Neglect
• YS 347 - Problems of American Youth
• YS 349 - Group Work with Youth
• YS 390 - Special Topics in Social Work
• YS 405 - Group Facilitation
• YS 406 - Foster Care & Adoption
• YS 410 - Diverse Youth and Families
• YS 411 - Working With Juvenile Delinquents
• YS 490 - Selected Topics
• YS 496 - Field Work in Youth Services
• YS 497 - Field Work in Juvenile Delinquency