Admission Requirements

To be formally admitted to the social work program, a student must:

• Meet with an assigned social work advisor.
• Complete a minimum of 36 hours of Core Curriculum Requirements that include ENGL 101/101E - Writing Rhetorically , ENGL 102 - Writing Rhetorically with Sources , COMM 102 - Introduction to Public Speaking , SOCI 102 - Introduction to Sociology , and a biology course (see list under Required Cognates). PSYC 100 - Introductory Psychology  is also required.
• Have completed 60 hours of course work with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 and a minimum GPA of 2.8 in social work. (Students with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.5 may petition the social work program admissions committee that they be accepted into the major due to special circumstances. If the decision of the committee is favorable, such students will be granted conditional acceptance only to the program.)
  Have completed SCWK 250  and SCWK 270  with a social work course GPA (not including cognates) of 2.8 and no social work course grades below “C”.
• Demonstrate competency in oral and written communication since such skills are fundamental to and utilized in everyday social work practice. 
• Complete an application for admission to the social work program. This application includes basic biographical data, information on employment and volunteer experiences, and a two-to-four-page self-evaluation of the student’s interest, readiness and suitability for a career in social work. The purpose of the self-evaluation is to reflect the applicant’s commitment to the goals and purposes of social work. The application is available through the School of Social Work website.
• Submit a copy of their degree audit that provides an up-to-date indication of cumulative and social work GPAs.
• Be successfully reviewed by the social work faculty. All information obtained through the admission process will be held in confidence. Knowingly making a false oral or written statement during the admission process could result in denial of admission to the program.
• Sign a statement indicating that they have read and will follow the BSW Behavioral Standards and National Association of Social Worker’s Code of Ethics. This code is printed in the Encyclopedia of Social Work and is available through the NASW website (www.naswdc.org).

Applicants are notified by the social work program admissions committee through email about the outcome of the admission process. Applicants are expected to check their email frequently.

Only social work courses from four-year colleges accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) will be granted equivalency credit with the possible exception of SCWK 250  and SCWK 270 . Transfer students must provide evidence that these courses sufficiently correspond with the goals and objectives specified in courses within the School of Social Work curriculum. Performance evaluations of any fieldwork courses completed are also required. The only other course exception would be below 300-level required social work course offered on an off-campus site by a Bridgewater State University social work faculty person or other CSWE qualified social work faculty, provided the course is fully duplicative of the same course in the School of Social Work’s curriculum as determined through the official articulated agreement by the faculty after review.

Admission to SCWK 338 Introduction to Social Work Practice

Students are eligible for admission to SCWK 338 , the combined initial practice course and service learning experience, after being formally admitted into practice and field sequence of the social work program. They should have completed SCWK 320  or be taking it concurrently. A GPA of 2.8 in social work courses and 2.5 overall must be achieved prior to admission to SCWK 338 . Once accepted into SCWK 338, students locate a 45 hour service learning experience of their choice with a related professional program or organization. Students may be asked to interview with the admissions committee to further discuss the student’s application.

Admission to SCWK 498 Field Experience in Social Work

A student is eligible for placement in SCWK 498 , the 464+ clock hour senior year fieldwork experience, after being formally admitted into the social work program and after completing SCWK 320 , SCWK 338  and SCWK 380 . In the spring semester, each student applying for senior field placement is required to make an appointment with the field coordinator to discuss options and procedures. Applications are due no later than February 15 for placement in the following fall. Placements are from September to May and are not available during the summer. Evening and weekend placements are not available.

All applications for field placement are reviewed by the social work field education review committee. The needs, strengths and interests of the students, as well as availability of agency and program placement resources, are discussed. Additionally, each applicant is interviewed by the social work field coordinator. Issues of concern that may have been identified during the applicant’s program admission interview, if needed, are to be addressed with the applicant. Goals for the student and possible agency options are explored. A particular setting will be recommended on the basis of these variables.

The field education coordinator discusses the placement with the student and arranges for an agency contact. The student then meets with the agency supervisor to discuss the placement, mutual expectations and available learning opportunities. A final decision is reached by the field education coordinator after consultation with the student and the agency supervisor. Suggested readings and preplacement contacts are worked out on an individual basis.

It is recommended that each student join the National Association of Social Workers during the semester prior to field placement.

Retention in the Social Work Major

Students must remain in full compliance with all requirements, policies and procedures of the School of Social Work, the university and the Council on Social Work Education. Students may be terminated from the social work program if, in the professional judgment of the social work faculty, violations of professional and/or ethical codes have occurred. These violations are discussed in detail in the department’s admission, termination and appeals policies and procedures. Dismissal from two field placements due to unacceptable performance and/or two or more failures in any social work course may result in the termination of the student from the social work program. All students wishing to pursue a major in social work are strongly urged to obtain a copy of this document from the School of Social Work. Course work with a grade lower than “C” must be repeated prior to graduation.

Grade Requirement

A minimum grade of “C” is required in all social work (SCWK) courses required in the major. Course work with a grade lower than “C” in these requirements must be repeated prior to graduation or before advancing to upper-level courses where the course is a prerequisite. Please see “Repeat Courses” in the Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures  section of this catalog. Additionally, if PSYC 201 is completed as an alternative to SCWK 375, the grade earned in that course will be included in the major GPA, along with all SCWK courses.

Course Requirements

Core Curriculum Requirements

A minimum of 120 earned credit hours is required for graduation. These earned hours include the Core Curriculum Requirements as specified in the Core Curriculum section of this catalog and at the Core Curriculum website, www.bridgew.edu/corecurriculum. For additional graduation requirements, see the Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.