Admission Requirements for the B.S. in Social Work

Declaration of Major

Students interested in pursuing a degree in social work may contact the Department of Social Work to declare the major anytime after being admitted to the University.  Upon completion of the declaration of major form, the student is classified as a pre-social work major and assigned a faculty advisor from within the department.

Students wishing to be formally admitted into the Social Work major must meet the following requirements:

1. Completion of 45 semester hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25.
   
2. Completion of the following basic knowledge and professional foundation course work with a minimum grade of "C":
   • PY 101   Psychological Perspectives on Human Behavior
   • SW 110   Introduction to Social Work*
   • SW 201   Social and Economic Justice*
   • SW 207   Understanding Cultural & Social Diversity*
   • SW 221   Interviewing Skills for Generalist Practice*
   • SW 222   Case Management
   • SW 242   Statistics for Social Scientists
     
3. Completion of all developmental courses (if applicable) and CL001, CL002.
   
4. Completion of economic system, living system, political system, and written expression.

*SW110, SW201, SW207, SW221, SW222, and SW242 may NOT be repeated for admission to the Social Work major without written permission from the Chair of the Department of Social Work.

Retention Criteria

Students will be retained as social work majors providing the following retention criteria are met:

1. Completion of the following foundation courses with a minimum grade of "C".
   • SW 307   Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
   • SW 308   Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
   • SW 310   Social Welfare Policy
   • SW 321   Generalist Practice I
   • SW 322   Generalist Practice II
   • SW 323   Generalist Practice III
   • SW 342   Social Research
     
2. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.25 each semester. (Once a student's cumulative GPA has fallen below 2.25 the student will not be allowed to enroll in any remaining social work course until the GPA requirement is met.)
   
3. None of the foundation courses can be retaken more than once without written approval from the Chair of the Department of Social Work. 

Core courses may be reapeated to raise grades below "C" with written approval from the student's faculty advisor and the Chair.  The student's faculty advisor will monitor compliance with all requirements listed above.

Degree Criteria

The Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work is awarded to studnets who satisfactorily meet the following requirements:

1. Completion of all University graduation requirements listed in the Southeast Missouri State University Undergraduate Bulletin.
2. A cumulative GPA of 2.25.
3. Completion of integrated seminar and field education, i.e., SW449 with a minimum grade of 'C'.
4. Completion of 448 hours of field education, i.e., SW 450 (Credit/ No Credit).

Social Work majors are not required to complete a minor.

The faculty of the Department of Social Work have a duty to the social work profession to make reasonable efforts to ensure that its graduates are not only academically prepared but are also emotionally and ethically prepared for the demands of professional practice. Students are expected to demonstrate the following qualities:

• Adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics
• Self Awareness (knowledge of self - personally and professionally)
• Professional Commitment and Behavior
• Objectivity
• Empathy
• Acceptance of Diversity
• Freedom from Chemical Dependency
• Emotional and Mental Stability