Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Course Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Social Work, B.S.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs

Also see
Social Work, M.S.W.  
Latino Community Practice Certificate  
 


 

 

The Bachelor of Science in Social Work prepares generalist social workers who, guided by a person in environment framework, professional knowledge, ethics, standards and  cultural humility, use evidence informed research and practices to improve individual functioning, strengthen families and create equitable communities and policies that advance human rights, social and economic justice, and local and global peace.

 

Social Work is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States and includes diverse and varied fields of practice. Social work students prepare for careers in child welfare, community development, criminal justice, crisis management and disaster relief, elder services, health and mental health, immigrant and refugee services, school social work and many other fields. The University of Saint Joseph Social Work graduates hold leadership positions throughout the profession.

Social Work majors enjoy small classes and caring faculty who offer personal attention, academic advising and guidance in career development. Students gain professional experience while they complete two separate yearlong field placements. Many students qualify to enter graduate school with advanced standing and complete their master’s degree in Social Work in one year rather than the usual two. More than 90% of the University of Saint Joseph Social Work graduates go on to earn their M.S.W. degree.

The baccalaureate Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

The Social Work Program does not grant Social Work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.

The department’s goals are to advance:

  1. The understanding of the interrelationships among people and their environments, including the experiences of oppression and liberation
  2. Culturally humility and conscious use of self, in generalist social work practice that partners with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities to improve well being
  3. Efforts to eliminate prejudice and discrimination, including discrimination based on age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, political ideology, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation
  4. Policies and programs that promote universal human rights, fundamental freedoms, and social and economic opportunities for all persons
  5. Scientific inquiry with the purpose of further developing and correctly applying professional knowledge
  6. Opportunities for undergraduate and graduate education, life-long learning and professional development and the adoption of ethical and professional behaviors among social workers
  7. Diversity, community relations, and the use of educational assessment strategies through the University of Saint Joseph

Suggested plan of study


Prerequisites (27 credits)


Some courses may be taken at the same time as major courses with advisor approval

Junior year (20 credits)


Fall


Senior year (23 credits)


Fall


Spring


For BSW Completion Program Only


Students in this program are responsible for all the same pre-requisites and requirements as the traditional B.S in Social Work.

The Bachelor of Science, Social Work Completion Program is designed specifically for students with work or volunteer experience (may include internship) experience in the Human Services field. The program offers qualified students, who have earned either 60 transferable credits or an Associates Degree, the opportunity to complete their Bachelor of Science, Social Work degree within two years including summers at a flat rate tuition.

Please see the Tuition and Fees section of the catalog for additional information.

Continuation requirements


To continue in the B.S.W. program, students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all upper-level required Social Work courses. Failure to earn a minimum grade of “C” in a field practice course indicates that the student has not achieved the required competencies for practice. Students earning a grade below “C” in any required Social Work courses must meet with the program director to assess their continuation in the program.

Students may withdraw from the program, or with the permission of the program director, may retake the course to improve their grade so that they demonstrate competency in that area of the curriculum. Ordinarily, students are dismissed from the program with:

  • A grade of “C-” or below in a field course
  • Two or more Social Work course grades below “C”

Students may repeat a course a maximum of two times.

Latino Community Practice Concentration


9 credits

The Latino Community Practice Concentration in Social Work is a professional distinction in culturally and linguistically competent practice with diverse Latino populations.

Prerequisite


 Intermediate-level Spanish proficiency

Requirements


 At least two semesters of Field Practice in an approved bilingual setting

Courses

Spanish (3 credits)


One of the following

Cultural Studies (6 credits)


Choose two

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs