Social Work, B.S.W.

Associate Professor Cathy Scott, Program Director

 

The UTC-BSW program is an undergraduate social work program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education Board of Accreditation (BOA).

The mission of the Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) degree program at UTC is to prepare students for competent, generalist, evidence-based practice. As generalists, BSW graduates will be equipped with a common body of social work knowledge and skills informed by the social work profession’s core values and ethics as outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics; skills that are globally transferable across diverse human service settings and population groups. The BSW program is committed to mentoring and empowering students to engage in interprofessional practice experiences, scholarly research, and community service partnerships with the goal of enhancing the well-being of individuals, groups, and organizations from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds, reflecting the UTC mission as an engaged metropolitan university.

Social work faculty and students are committed to working together to engage in scholarship, continued learning, and community service partnerships with individuals, groups, and organizations from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds reflecting the UTC mission as an engaged metropolitan university.

Prior to Admission to the Social Work (BSW) Program

Undergraduate students (i.e. freshman, sophomore, transfer) seeking the social work (BSW) degree must declare social work as their major and complete general education and pre-social work required courses. Academic advising for freshman students is provided through the Center for Academic Advising. Sophomore students and freshman students who have accrued dual enrollment and advance placement credits are advised by a social work faculty.

Admission to the university does not ensure acceptance into the social work major.

Admission to the Social Work Major

Most students apply for formal admission to the program in the spring of their sophomore year or when they have completed their general education and pre-Social Work requirements. Eligible social work majors seeking admission to the Social Work program must complete the following admission process by the priority deadline set by the program which is typically by the first week of March.

• Complete the Application to the UTC Social Work Program through the REACH portal where access is available on the program website.
• Have a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 point scale.
• Have a social work major Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.50 or higher on a 4.0 point scale in all pre-Social Work courses (SOCW 1100 and SOCW 2070 or THSP 1090).
• Complete the following cognate courses with a passing grade: PSPS 1010, PSY 1010, and ANTH 1200 or ECON 1010 or ECON 1020.
• Favorable recommendation from two professional references

After a review of the applications by the BSW Faculty Admissions committee, students are notified of their acceptance status electronically through the REACH portal. There are two levels of acceptance:

1. Full Acceptance: The applicant met the eligibility requirements and is accepted into the Social Work program in good standing.
2. Conditional Acceptance: Upon the comprehensive review of the application, the review committee offers admission on the condition that the student successfully completes the first semester in the program and agrees to a plan to satisfy the unmet criteria. If, at the end of the semester, the admission requirements are not satisfied, the student will be able to proceed in the program. If the student is still interested in pursuing the BSW degree, he or she may reapply the next year or discuss another degree option that allows students to take Social Work courses.

BSW Program Continuation Standards

To maintain forward progress through the BSW program, students must maintain the following program continuation standards:

1. Be formally admitted to the BSW program to enroll in most of the 3000 and 4000-level Social Work core courses.

1. Students are required to:
   
   (a)  Achieve grade of C or higher in all Social Work courses other than the Field Education courses that require the minimum grade of a “B”
   
   (b)  Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00;
   
   (c)  Maintain a Social Work major grade point average of 2.50 or higher on a 4.0 scale in all Social Work courses.

Admission to Field Education

Students wishing to enter field education must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete all prerequisites for Field Education I (SOCW 4120) as listed in the university catalog.
2. Achieve a 2.50 overall grade point average.
3.  Schedule an advisement meeting with the Director of Field Education to develop a plan for Field Readiness.
4. Satisfactorily complete any incomplete(I) grades.
5. Students entering Field Education should not have any current or ongoing professional fitness issues at the time of the Field Education application.
6. Submit the following to the Field Education Director: 1) Field Education which includes the completion of an essay as outlined in the Field Education manual, 2) a recent transcript, and 3) a current résumé
7. Participate in the annual Field Fair, and
8. Complete a criminal background check process

NOTE: Some field agencies may have a separate application and background check process that is required. Students must complete these agency processes in addition to the UTC Admission to Field Education requirements.

Expenses and Transportation

In addition to regular education costs, social work students must meet the following expenses: liability and insurance for field education, background check expenses and others specific to their placement site. Since field experiences in social work are obtained in a variety of health care and social service settings in local and remote areas, students are individually responsible for transportation to these sites.