Social Work, BSW

Social Work, BSW Degree Plan   

The bachelor of social work degree is the entry-level professional degree, and the SAU Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. It enables the undergraduate professional to practice social work in a variety of settings. These settings include hospitals, schools, mental health centers, and other public and private human service agencies. The degree allows the practicing social worker to become eligible for professional licensing in Arkansas. As well as being the entry-level professional degree, the social work major offers a good foundation for students who seek graduate-level professional education. The social work major can prepare students for advanced degrees in disciplines such as social work, psychology, counseling, and other helping fields. The social work program at SAU is grounded in the generalist practice model and works within a multidisciplinary department. It allows the student preparing for a professional practice the exposure to varied disciplines as well as the preparation in social work education.

Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all Social Work courses.

Social Work Program Mission

The mission of the Social Work program at Southern Arkansas University is to prepare students for fulfilling careers as knowledgeable, competent, and effective social workers in generalist practice at all systems levels, with a specific emphasis on meeting people’s needs in the context of our rural and diverse service area, but with an understanding of how their work fits into the global quest for social justice, child welfare, and human rights. Grounded in the liberal arts, the program integrates critical thinking, scientific inquiry, experiential learning, and a deep understanding of the history and current literature of the field to instill in students an identification with the social work profession; a respect for the value and dignity of each individual and a recognition of human resiliency; a thirst for championing social justice, alleviating poverty, and fostering healthy human relationships based on equity and productive citizenship; an adherence to the highest ethical standards in practice and in life; and an appreciation for all dimensions of diversity. The program cultivates connection between students and the broader community by providing excellence in instruction over a range of prevention and intervention methods, partnering with practicing social workers in the region, and remaining current in research developments and best practices within the profession.

Criteria for Admission to the Social Work Program

When applying to the Social Work Program, a student must have completed the following:

1. At least 30 hours of the general education requirements.
2. The Social Work Program application located on the SAU webpage under LPA/BSS.
3. An earned overall GPA of at least 2.5 and a Social Work GPA of at least 3.0.
4. A C or higher in Introduction to Social Work, Social Policy, Cultural Diversity, and Human Behavior in the Social Environment I or II.

Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in their social work courses to remain in good standing in the social work program.

Transfer Credit: Students may not transfer any social work course credits other than Introduction to Social Work unless they are transferring from a CSWE accredited program. If the student is transferring from an accredited BSW program and the required courses in that program differ from those required at Southern Arkansas University, the student must take the required course(s) at SAU in order to complete the program. Neither practice nor field practicum courses will be accepted for transfer credit. Students may transfer a total of twelve hours in the major from an accredited social work program. The course syllabi for these requested transfer credits must be submitted to the program to determine if the course is comparable before credit can be allowed. If the courses are not comparable, the course may be used to fulfill the requirement for a social work elective. The social work program does not use proficiency exams and does not allow students to test out of a social work course.

Criteria for Admission to the Social Work Field Practicum

When applying to the Social Work Field Practicum, a student must have completed the following:

1. Student must have been accepted into the Social Work Program.
2. Social Work GPA of at least 3.2.
3. Complete the Social Work Field application (contact Social Work Field Director).