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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK The Department of Social Work offers courses in Social Work (SOCW) and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Social Work. The B.A. in Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This department offers a major in Social Work and does not offer a minor in Social Work. Additionally, students pursuing the B.A. in Social Work are not required to declare a minor in a second academic discipline. The mission of the Department of Social Work is to prepare students from diverse backgrounds for entry-level generalist professional social work practice with special attention to the complexities of the urban environment. This preparation, with its foundation in professional knowledge, values, and skills, emphasizes practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, especially populations at risk. As reflected in the program goals below, these populations include, in particular, people of color (specifically African Americans) as well as other groups identified as most vulnerable to poverty, violence, disabilities, and economic and social inequities. Further emphasis is placed on the development of advocates for system and policy changes that promote social and economic justice given the challenges of urban settings and global conditions. The baccalaureate Social Work Program expresses its commitment to social work’s purpose, values and ethics throughout the various components of the curriculum wherein students are exposed to the values and ethical foundation consistent with that of the social work profession. The liberal arts perspective, social science cognates and social work courses (core and electives) provide opportunities to learn about and incorporate the ethical and value orientations necessary for effective practice. Faculty are fully aware of the necessity to introduce to students, nurture and facilitate the continual attention to the values and ethical positions of the profession to guide practice actions. Further instruction supports the professional commitment to continue contributing to the ongoing assessment of these perspectives. Each of the program goals addresses the purpose, values and ethics of the profession to some degree and is derived from its mission in order to:
The Social Work Curriculum A comprehensive accredited program at TSU has been designed to provide a generalist foundation for your future career in the social work profession. This foundation is grounded on a liberal arts base and enhanced by social work courses and content designed to provide the knowledge, values, and skills required of entry-level generalist practice social workers. Required Social Work courses are:
*In order to encourage practical experience with clients, agency-based field placements are required at various times during the freshman, sophomore, and senior years. Though final matches between students and agencies are made by the Director of Field Education and the Field Liaison, students are readily encouraged to seek these practice experiences in areas of their own choosing. Because students receive a professional degree, social work graduates do not undertake a minor area of concentration. However, Social Work majors may pursue additional special interests such as the following:
Social work majors may enroll in up to 6 hours of upper division courses in other departments. Employment Settings As a result of the growing demands of our society, there has been an increasing need for baccalaureate professional social workers. A few practice settings available to recipients of the BA in Social Work include the following:
Students wishing to pursue the undergraduate degree offered through the Department must first gain admission to the University, must satisfy ASSET requirements and eradicate identified deficiencies through the General University Academic Center (GUAC), and must petition the Department for admission as ASSET requirements are completed. No academic credit is given for prior life experiences.
Degree Requirements A total of 125 SCHs are required for completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work degree. The overall Social Work major is structured to conform to a "Curriculum Guide" that is available for reference in the Social Work Department. This guide outlines the required sequence of courses that must be completed satisfactorily through the senior year. It also assures the preparedness of students for placement in field education in various community agencies. A total of 50 credits is required in Social Work for completion of the B.A. degree in which grades of "C" or better must be earned. Grades of "C-" are unacceptable in core Social Work courses and in cognate courses taken in psychology and sociology. No more than three grades below a “C” may be earned in all other courses. Where courses are part of a liberal arts content area, students may not earn consecutive grades of C- or below in both courses. A grade of “D-” will not be accepted for credit. Courses required during the senior year are organized into two blocks: Block I and Block II. In order to proceed to Block, a minimum GPA of 2.30 must be accrued by the end of the junior year. Block I courses (SOCW 440, SOCW 440L, SOCW 443, SOCW 444, SOCW 444S, and SOCW 450) must be taken concurrently during the first half of the senior year. Block II courses (SOCW 439, SOCW 441, SOCW 441L, SOCW 446, SOCW 446S, and a SOCW elective, if applicable) must be taken concurrently during the second half of the senior year. All courses required through the junior year must be completed satisfactorily in order for students to progress to the senior year Block I and the required associated Block I Field Placement. Beyond the Block I and Block II curriculum structure, other upper level requirements include three semester credit hours in each of the following specialty areas: research, theory, and statistics. An exit examination is required of graduating seniors. Please note: Social Work graduates are required to pass the state licensing examination in order to practice social work in the state of Texas. Social Work Organizations While in the program, students are encouraged to participate in the student organizations as a way of developing their leadership and organizational skills, providing student input regarding the program, and giving back to the community through service activities. Through their participation in the Social Work Organization and the National Association of Black Social Workers - Student Chapter, and Phi Alpha Honor Society for Social Work Students, students have an opportunity to participate in a variety of community projects, events, conferences, career development workshops, humanitarian award festivities and legislative and judicial processes. For example, these student groups
The Social Work Organization, National Association of Black Social Workers - Student Chapter, Phi Alpha National Honor Society for Social Work Students, and TSU Social Work Program Alumni are active and vital parts of the socialization and networking opportunities available to our students. For more information about social work, professional social work organizations, social work licensing, please see related social work links. TSU BSW Program Advising Is Social Work for YOU? In order to learn more about social work as a profession and about what the TSU BSW program offers, prospective and current students are encouraged to speak with any Social Work Department faculty member for professional and education-related advising purposes. Faculty and staff of the Social Work Program recognize that students often come to social work with a variety of questions and expectations. With this in mind, we strongly encourage students interested in Social Work to seek program advising as early as possible during their educational career. By doing so, students will receive the benefit of programmatic specific academic advising in a manner designed to facilitate the student’s educational progress in a timely manner. Advisors are available daily in the Social Work Department. Below is a list of faculty and staff members in Social Work, their contact information, and their academic interests and research areas. Please email or call for an appointment for academic and professional advisement.
Social Work Links National Association of Black Social Workers, http://www.nabsw.org/mserver/ National Association of Social Workers Texas, http://www.naswtx.org/ National Association of Social Workers, http://www.socialworkers.org/chapters/default.asp Phi Alpha National Honor Society for Social Work Students, http://www.phialpha.org/ NASW Insurance Trust, http://www.naswinsurancetrust.org/ Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners, http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/socialwork/default.shtm Association of Social Work Boards, http://www.aswb.org/ Council on Social Work Education, http://www.cswe.org/ US Department of Labor (Social Workers), http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htm |
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