Social Work Major (B.S.W.)
Program Overview
The undergraduate program in social work prepares students for beginning generalist social work practice at the undergraduate level, which involves the capacity to apply knowledge, skills, and values to assess a range of situations, as well as the ability to work with individuals, groups, larger organizations, and communities from a wide variety of perspectives. Students will complete course work in human behavior and the social environment, social welfare history and policy, research, social work practice methods, and field instruction. As students progress, they will develop the skills for intervening at a generalist level with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Upon graduation, students will be prepared as a baccalaureate-level social work practitioner with a strong foundation in liberal arts. The program has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1974.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program:
- The student will be able to demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- The student will be able to engage diversity and difference in practice.
- The student will be able to advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
- The student will be able to engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- The student will be able to engage in policy practice.
- The student will be able to engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- The student will be able to assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- The student will be able to intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- The student will be able to evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
Students may designate the "Pre-Social Work" major within the College of Health Sciences and Professions in their application to Ohio University. This allows the student to be assigned an advisor within the Social Work program during their first semester at Ohio University. There are no additional selective or limited admissions requirements to be admitted as a Pre-Social Work student beyond those required by the University and the College of Health Sciences and Professions.
Change of Program Policy
Admission to the major is divided into two stages: pre-major and major. First year students may be admitted as pre-majors; other Ohio University students and transfer students from other institutions are required to submit a fully completed "Application for Major Status" online which includes a personal essay, and docmentation of human service experience by the Friday of the second full week of Fall or Spring semester. To be considered for admission, students are required to have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5. In addition, they must have completed the following:
- SW 1000 and SW 2601C with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in both courses,
- BIOS 1030 or BIOS 1300, MATH 1200 or math placement 2, PSY 1010, PSY 1110 or 2110, and PSY 2410 or EDEC 1600, as well as one of the following areas NOT used to fulfill the pre-major requirement: Economics, Political Science, or Sociology,
- Written Communication (ENG 1510) and quantitative reasoning requirements, and
- A paid or volunteer experience in the area of social work (20 hours).
The director of the undergraduate program will review applications during the third full week of each semester. Notification of acceptance/rejection will be emailed to a student's OHIO email address by the fifth week of the semester. Meeting minimal requirements does not insure admission to the major. Acceptance is determined based on consideration of the following: academic GPA, hours completed, courses completed, experience in human services, and a personal statement.
A student seeking to enroll in the senior-level practice sequence (SW 4801, SW 4802, SW 4921, SW 4922, SW 4923, and SW 4924) must have been admitted to the major by Spring semester of the junior year. In addition, the student is expected to:
- have maintained an overall GPA of 2.5. If a student has not maintained a GPA of 2.5, he or she will NOT be permitted to enter the senior-level practice sequences including field placement, regardless of admission status.
- have completed the junior sequence (SW 3602, SW 3701, SW 3801, SW 3870) to be eligible for the senior placement.
If not accepted during the initial application process, a student may reapply online at the next application date. A student may reapply only twice.
External Transfer Admission
For students applying to the College of Health Sciences and Professions as pre-majors, no requirements beyond University/College of Health Sciences and Professions admission requirements are necessary. However, if a student is applying to social work as a major, at the same time they apply for admission to the University, they must follow guidelines as set out in the "Change of Major" policy stated above.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
A bachelor's degree in social work allows the graduate to pursue employment in many different fields, including child welfare, mental health services, residential treatment, foster care and adoption services, as well as in nursing homes, schools, governmental agencies, and medical facilities. Social workers at the bachelor's level may work with many different populations, including children, adolescents, families, adults, and elderly person. People with mental health/behavioral health issues, developmental disabilities, veterans, individuals experiencing domestic violence and chronic illness, and many other individuals and groups frequently seek services from agencies where social workers are employed. Additionally, social workers may be employed in agencies that advocate for clients and develop and implement social policy based on client and case needs. Social workers are also employed as administrators in many social service agencies and organizations. Surveys of graduates show high levels of satisfaction with the educational program and high employment rates in the field of social work and human services.