Social Work, B.A.

All undergraduate social work students are required to complete BIOLOGY (either BIO 100/101 or 201/203) as their choice of the various sciences listed under the Asbury University Core Requirements. In addition, it is highly recommended that students take a wide variety of courses in the areas of anthropology, economics, recent American history, political science, psychology, and sociology. Finally, all graduate MSW schools require applicants to have completed a satisfactory course in Statistics. Therefore students are required take PSY 315 “Statistics for Behavioral Science” or a comparable undergraduate Statistics course.

In order to provide a quality, generalist social work education, the program’s faculty has established the following goals for beginning generalist practitioners through the curriculum’s knowledge, ethics, and practice with diverse populations.

1. Provide the knowledge, values, skills, and ethics to serve diverse client systems of all sizes and types; integrating knowledge about how individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations grow and change, using a bio-psycho-social-spiritual perspective, and how these systems function together within the global context of their environment.
2. Develop generalist social work practitioners who are both knowledgeable and understanding of diverse client systems including people of diverse ethnicities, socioeconomic status, and oppressed populations.
3. Based on the historical context of social welfare rooted in the Judeo-Christian heritage, prepare graduates to work with clients by infusing throughout the curriculum social work values and ethics, as stated in the NASW Code of Ethics, for professional generalist practice.
4. Prepare graduates who think critically about social work knowledge, ethically integrate this knowledge and practice, effectively communicate with clients, colleagues, and supervisors using oral and written skills; and value life-long learning of both personal and professional development throughout their careers.
5. Develop practitioners who will use their generalist knowledge and practice base to work as advocates and change agents within diverse communities and organizations.
6. Within a professional community of academic and professional excellence, prepare graduates for generalist social work practice through supportive and sustaining relationships with fellow students, faculty and field instructors, which leads to the development of a professional identity.

1. Any student who wishes to enter the social work program will be impartially considered. Students interested in the social work major should declare their interest by Spring semester of their Sophomore year or no later than the start of the Fall semester of their Junior year. The assigned Social Work faculty advisor will then guide the student through the admission process.
2. Completion of the following criteria is necessary for admission/confirmation to the Social Work Program:
   1. Minimum GPA of 2.5 overall
   2. Completion of the program application form
   3. Recommendations by three persons familiar with the applicant, one of which must be a non-social work faculty member
   4. Submission of unofficial transcript
   5. Submission of social work essay
   6. Submission of resume
   7. Review of submitted materials by a minimum of two social work faculty members
   8. Interview by a minimum of one social work faculty member
3. Students will be considered to be confirmed to the social work program when they have completed the application process and have received a formal letter of acceptance from the Social Work Program Director.
4. Continuance in the Social Work Program is not guaranteed. Students must maintain an acceptable level of performance according to community, academic, and professional social work standards. Reviews of student performance are held prior to SW 340 Field Practicum, prior to graduation, or other times as required. Students are responsible for completing forms and scheduling performance reviews through their individual faculty advisors. Probationary status may be assigned to students not meeting program criteria. A student who is on probation will not be allowed to do field practicum until student is off probation.
5. The academic criteria that must be met for continuance in the social Work Program are as follows:
   1. Maintain academic standing according to the academic progress scale of category (2) under the academic progress scale listed under the policies section of the Asbury University catalog.
   2. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5. The semester’s GPA and cumulative grade are examined at the end of each semester.
   3. Complete all SW courses with a minimum grade of C-. A review will occur of all students at the end of each semester.
   4. At any point, if a faculty member believes a student is having difficulty with course content or requirements, the faculty member may refer the student to the department chairperson. A consultation will be held with the student to determine causes and/or remediation for the problem. Social work students should understand that the professors aim to work with each student to be knowledgeable, skilled, and competent students and emerging professionals.
   5. Violating basic rules of integrity, such as academic cheating, lying or plagiarism, may result in the assignment or class failure according to the professor’s standards. Egregious violations or failure to resolve the problem will result in dismissal from the social work program and possibly from the University.
   6. Remain in good standing in Field Practicum placements.

Field Education Practicum I and Practicum II provide an opportunity for students to apply knowledge of social work generalist practice from course work to practice experience in social service agencies.

Please visit this page for practicum information and helpful resources.