Bachelor of Social Work - Four Year Plan  

The BSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the national body authorized to accredit the baccalaureate and graduate-level social work programs and to assure students receive a uniform quality professional educational experience.  

 

CSWE promotes high-quality social work education through the accreditation of programs, annual conferences for social work faculty and practitioners, professional development activities, task force work on educational programming, and the publication of several journals. 

 

Accreditation is very important in social work education.  Most states require education from an accredited baccalaureate or master’s program before being eligible for licensure as a social worker.  In addition, only graduates from accredited social work programs are eligible to receive “advanced standing” in graduate-level programs. 

 

Programs seeking accreditation must comply with the Educational Policy Accreditation and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). These standards define the structure of social work education, including foundational curriculum content areas, program governance, resources, faculty and student development, and program assessment. The Southeastern Social Work Program has adopted the nine competencies required of social work graduates and added a tenth competency that addresses the unique faith orientation of the program. 

 

Programs:

1. Bachelor of Social Work

2. Bachelor of Social Work and Criminal Justice

3. Child Welfare Certificate

 

Program Description:

 The Bachelor’s degree in Social Work prepares students for basic generalist social work practice, while the Master’s degree in Social Work prepares students for more advanced practice, such as providing mental health counseling, child and family therapy, administration, and community organizing.  The BSW provides a foundational curriculum for the student who is preparing for graduate study.  MSW programs provide opportunities for students who have earned a BSW from an accredited program to enter graduate school with “advanced standing,” shortening the course of study for the MSW. 

 

The Bachelor’s in Social Work Program at Southeastern University is designed to educate the professional entry-level social worker. This means that a student graduating from Southeastern University with a Bachelor in Social Work is prepared with the knowledge, skills, values, and ethics of the profession. The BSW graduate should be able to enter any social work setting as an employee and assume beginning social work responsibilities. The knowledge and skills students learn will empower them to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the functioning of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The graduate will also be prepared to plan, formulate, and implement social welfare policies, services, resources, and programs.  

 

Minimum Grade Requirements:

As part of requirements of our discipline-specific accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the undergraduate social work program requires a separate application process, in addition to declaring the social work major.  Students typically apply to the social work program the Spring semester of their Sophomore year and must be admitted to the program in order to take Social Work Practice classes (SOWK 3133, 4023, 4123), Preparation for Field Education Seminar (SOWK 4011) or any Practicum course (SOWK  4114, 4124).  In order to apply to the social work program, students need to:

1. Demonstrate proficiency in written language (Complete English Composition I and II with a minimum grade of C-)

2. Complete College Algebra and Life Science (or equivalent approved science credit with lab) with a minimum grade of D-

3. Complete a minimum of 40 credit hours

4. Be enrolled in or have completed SOWK 2123 and SOWK 2021 with a minimum grade of C-

5. Attain a minimum overall GPA of 2.5

6. Have no less than a “C” in any Social Work class 

7. Submit a written application 

8. Complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer work in a social service agency (completed as part of SOWK 2021)

9. Have two letters of recommendation from individuals such as a volunteer agency supervisor, minister, or other organizational setting where the student has been involved in direct contact with individuals seeking services

10. Submit a personal narrative including interests, strengths, and suitability for a career in social work 

 

“Southeastern University’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The BSW program meets educational requirements to obtain an applicable level of professional licensure or certification in most states. Levels/types of licensure or certification vary. Additional general requirements may apply including practice experience, state-specific coursework and exams, applications, fees, background checks, etc. 

**Each state board, agency, and or department has the ultimate authority and discretion to determine whether professional licensure or certification will be issued. Students who are interested in practicing in this state should contact the state board before enrolling in a program. For state-specific information on social work click here.”

 

Program Objectives:

Social Work Program Goals 

The goals of the program are as follows: 

1. To equip students to engage in the planned change process with systems of all sizes within a variety of fields and practice contexts.  

2. To promote identification with the social work profession, commitment to social work values and the ability to apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.  

3. To prepare students to become change agents who think critically about social issues and policies, and are committed to advancing social justice.  

4. To encourage respect for human dignity and worth, and a commitment to strengths based practice with individuals, groups, and communities from diverse populations.  

5. To create a learning context that fosters critical thinking, and enables students to apply theoretical frameworks and research to practice. 

6. To prepare students to integrate faith and spirituality within social work practice with sensitivity to the diversity of settings and populations of practice. 

 

Social Work Program Competencies 

Graduates of the Social Work Program at Southeastern University will: 

1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior. 

2. Engage diversity and difference in practice. 

3. Advance human rights and social and economic justice. 

4. Engage in practice informed research and research informed practice. 

5. Engage in policy practice. 

6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 

7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 

8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 

9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 

10. Integrate faith and social work practice in a way that embraces diversity and is consistent with both the Christian faith and the NASW code of ethics. 

 

Potential Career Options:

 

Social Work as a Profession 

Social Work is a very diverse profession, allowing the graduate to work in a broad array of settings with many different populations.  Social workers may work in a wide variety of settings and fulfill a multiplicity of functions, roles, and responsibilities.  A few examples of professional careers in social work include school social work, child welfare, employment counseling, hospital social work, substance abuse counseling, adoptions, mental health counseling, juvenile court work, community organizing, geriatric social work, program administration, and individual, family, and group counseling.  

 

Some of the settings in which a social worker may find employment include:  

Advocacy Programs	Employee Assistance Programs	Neighborhood Coalition Programs
Aging Services	Home Care Agencies	Schools
Children and Youth Services	Homeless Shelters	Head Start Programs
Churches	Hospices	Substance Abuse Programs
Community Action Centers	Hospitals
Crisis Centers	Income Maintenance Programs
Correctional Facilities	Industry
Criminal Justice Agencies	Legal Services Agencies
Domestic Violence Centers	Mental Health Services