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Social Work – BS

Program Overview:

The Social Work major prepares students for beginning generalist social work practice. Through academic study and agency field work, students become social workers qualified for entry-level professional positions. Graduates accept positions which serve people of all ages in settings such as schools, hospitals, residential treatment centers, mental health, substance abuse and alcohol treatment clinics, probation offices, long term care facilities such as nursing homes and daycare centers. Students gain skills in interviewing, assessing, problem-solving, researching, organizing, and many other facets of this helping profession. Clients include individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Since the preparation for the social work profession demands a study in various academic fields such as political science, sociology, and biology, as well as a strong background in liberal arts, Social Work majors are well prepared to pursue graduate study degrees in Social Work or related fields such as counseling, community psychology or law. Upon acceptance to the College, students must apply for admission to the Social Work major. Applications may be made any time after the first semester of the freshman year, but no later than the semester prior to taking SWK 378. Acceptance requires that the student must have a cumulative average of 2.5 at either the college or the community college from which the applicant has transferred; likewise, in order to be accepted into SWK 378 (pre-field), a student must have achieved a cumulative average of 2.5 overall and 2.5 in the major with a grade of “C” or higher in every course with an SOC or SWK prefix required of the major. Students may review “Admissions Policies for the Major in Social Work” for procedures.

In its policies and practices, the Social Work program shall not discriminate against persons on the basis of their age, race, gender, creed, religion, ethnicity, social class, political beliefs, handicap, or sexual orientation.

Program Mission:

The Mission of the Bachelor of Social Work Program is to prepare students to serve as generalist social work practitioners who, having learned a body of knowledge and skills, promote change and the well-functioning of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Grounded in scientific inquiry, person in environment perspective, and using generalist skills and interdisciplinary knowledge, graduates will be prepared to practice with a commitment to social work values.  The program will promote justice, respect for diversity and ethical decision making in practice, policy making and service delivery in order to improve the well-being of the greater community and its diverse members and constituencies. Committed to lifelong learning and to the ongoing evolution and improvement of practice throughout one’s career, the program also offers learning opportunities for the professionals in the community and trains students to develop and impart the profession’s knowledge base.  Through academic study and agency field work, students become social workers qualified for entry-level professional positions.

Program Contacts:

 

Maureen Rotondi

Chair, Social Work Department

Email: rotondim@strose.edu

Program Webpage: Social Work, BS

Program Requirements:

Major in Social Work (64-65 credits)

BIO 127Human Biology

3
BIO 127LHuman Biology Lab

1
POS 111Introduction to US Politics

3
SOC 111Intro to Sociology

3
SOC 358Social Theory

4
SOC 360Power, Privilege & Inequality

3
SWK 114Intro to SWK:Self-Awar & Soc R

3
SWK 213Soc Chg & Soc Ser

3
or
SWK 212Societies/Social Welfare

2
SWK 215Hum Behv Soc Envi

3
SWK 315Human Behav Soc Env 2

3
SWK 322Community Practice

3
SWK 375Diversity Workshop

3
SWK 378Pre-Field Experience

3
SWK 379Soc Wrk Pract III

3
SWK 451Social Work Research Methods

3
SWK 480Field Practicum

4
SWK 481SWK Pract w/Indiv & Families

4
SWK 482Field Practicum continued

4
SWK 483SWK Practice w/Groups

3
SWK 489Understand Policy

3
Social Work Elective

3

Other Requirements and Recommendations:

Students must attend all sessions of the orientation to pre-field during the fall semester prior to entering SWK 378 the following spring. Students who earn a grade below C or its equivalent in SWK 378, SWK 480, and SWK 482 may retake any of these field placements only upon permission of the Social Work faculty. Social Work majors may apply BIO 127 and POS 111 to their Liberal Education requirements. Social Work majors may wish to pursue proficiency in Spanish. Seniors must pass integrative exams in SWK 481 and SWK 483.

 

For those interested in honors-level undergraduate research, please refer to the Honors Research section.

Internship/Field Experiences/Service:

Student gain field experience in SWK 378, SWK 480, and SWK 482. SWK 114 and SWK 322 both have service learning requirements as well.

Culminating Academic Experiences:

Required Courses:

SWK 451Social Work Research Methods

3
SWK 481SWK Pract w/Indiv & Families

4
SWK 483SWK Practice w/Groups

3


Suggested 4 Year Course Plan:

This suggested plan is designed to give students an idea of how to balance their coursework over 8 semesters and to graduate within 4 years. Most students will need to take a minimum of 30 credits each year in order to meet the graduation requirement of a minimum of 122 overall credits.  It should be used along with your Degree Works worksheet and in consultation with your faculty advisor. It is meant as a guide, not a definitive list of courses that must be taken as written. Your faculty advisor will help you make any necessary adjustments during advisement.

Year 1

Fall (17 credits)

SWK 114--3

SOC 111 (L11)--3

ENG 105 (L01)--4

Lib Ed requirement (L02)--3

Lib Ed requirement (L04)--4

Spring (15 credits)

POS 111 (L10)--3

Lib Ed requirement (L07)--3

General Electives--6


Year 2

Fall (16 credits)

BIO 127 and BIO 127L (L09)--4

Lib Ed requirement (L03)--3

General electives--9

Spring (15 credits)

SOC 360--3

Lib Ed requirement (L08)--3

General electives--12


Year 3

Fall (16-19 credits)

SWK 215--3

SWK 212 or SWK 213--2 or 3

SOC 358--4

Lib Ed requirement (L05)--3

Lib Ed requirement (L12)--1

Lib Ed requirement (L06)--3

Spring (15 credits)

SWK 315--3

SWK 322--3

SWK 375--3

SWK 378--3

SWK 379--3


Year 4

Fall (15 credits)

SWK 451--3

SWK 480--4

SWK 481--4

Lib Ed requirement (Further Disciplinary Study)--3

Lib Ed requirement (L12)--1

Spring (16 credits)

SWk 482--4

SWK 483--3

SWK 489--3

General electives--6

Career Opportunities and Graduate Study:

Social Work Careers

Your social work degree from Saint Rose will provide you with the knowledge and flexibility to serve populations spanning all ages and backgrounds. Some of the career opportunities available to you with a bachelor's degree in social work include:

  • Probation and parole officer
  • Hospital social worker
  • Case worker
  • Drug and alcohol counselor
  • Youth worker
  • Various positions within the field of geriatrics

Graduate Study

Saint Rose social work graduates have pursued master's degrees in social work, sociology, counseling, community psychology, political science, and educational psychology and have successfully attended law schools. By engaging in advanced study in social work or related fields, students can focus more clearly on their particular interests and gain specialized skills within specific populations. In addition, a master's degree in social work is required for social workers wishing to engage in private practice and in many professional positions. Saint Rose social work graduates have completed advanced degrees at many prestigious schools including:

  • Fordham University
  • Springfield College
  • University at Albany

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