APS.BSWK - Bachelor of Social Work - Major in Social Work

Admission to the Bachelor of Social Work program includes two steps. The first is being admitted as a pre-social work major. Requirements for this step are listed below. The second step is admission as a social work major, which is described in the next paragraph.

• Proof of standard high school diploma or GED certification.

• Original transcripts from all previous college or university study at college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). 

• A maximum of 40 hours of credit may be earned through the assessed learning process. (The Social Work Program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.) 

• Prior completion of at least 45 transferable credit hours is required before the student is eligible to start the major courses. 

• During the Introduction to Social Work course an Application to the Social Work Program is introduced. The application is completed in the second social work major course and an interview is completed with the Director of the BSW Program. This is followed by a formal letter of acceptance to the program. 

Admission to the Social Work Program

The admission of students to the Social Work program is a formal process separate from the initial declaration of social work as a major. The process includes successful completion of the SWK-170 Introduction to Social Work course and completion of 45 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. Admission is granted after students successfully complete an application, compile three reference letters, and complete a department interview. Any unfavorable decision may be appealed by following the grievance procedures on file in the department and student handbook.

Field Placement

After all major coursework is complete, each student is required to complete a Field Placement in a social service agency. This placement site will be arranged by the Director of Field Experience in collaboration with each student, aiming to align with the student’s professional goals and development needs. As such, each student will complete a Social Work Field Placement Application along with an updated resume and personal statement. Students will submit their field placement application to the Director of Field Experience. Field Placement options are discussed, and a tentative plan is created for Field Placement based on the student's interest and needs.

There are two Field Experience courses, SWK-366 and SWK-466, which are taken concurrently with two Field Seminar courses, SWK-370 and SWK-470. Students are to complete all foundational and core courses as pre-requisites to taking SWK-366 and SWK-370, which are pre-requisites to SWK-466 and SWK-470. While there are two field experience courses, they are completed in one agency setting over a period of approximately six months. 

Continuation in the Social Work Major

The Social Work faculty reserves the right to request the withdrawal of any student whose academic performance, social fitness, and mental or physical health make it inadvisable to continue in the program. All decisions regarding continuation in the program are based on the recommendations of the Social Work full-time faculty.

Students who receive a grade of less than a "C" in any course required for the Social Work major must repeat the course. Students must maintain an overall grade point average of 2.5 and a 2.7 in the major. To graduate, a student must maintain a grade point average of 2.7 in the major and a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. Students who fall below this grade-point average will be placed on probation per the CAPS catalog. Failure to raise the grade point average to 2.5 overall and 2.7 in the major could then result in dismissal from the program.

• A minimum grade of "C" is required in all Social Work courses.

• Students must successfully complete SWK-170 (Introduction to Social Work) and be enrolled in SWK-342 (Human Behavior and Social Environment I) before being admitted into the Social Work Program and continuing on with taking Social Work core courses. Students who fail to earn a "C" or better in a Social Work core course may not continue in the Social Work program until that course is successfully repeated.

• All courses required for the Social Work major (BSW degree) must be completed before students can take Field Placement I and II (SWK-366 and SWK-466) and Field Seminar I and II (SWK-370 and SWK-470).

• All Social Work courses must be successfully completed in the sequence prescribed by the program’s requirements. Failure to successfully complete a course will result in an administrative withdrawal from the program.

Incomplete Grades

Students are expected to complete the course requirements by the last class session. There may be instances when crisis circumstances or events prevent the student from completing the course requirements in a timely manner. However, the issuance of an incomplete cannot be given if the student fails to meet the attendance requirements. In these rare situations, a grade of "I" (incomplete) may be issued but only after completing the following process:

• The student must request an "I" from the instructor.

• The instructor must obtain approval from the appropriate Program Director/Program Chair/Division Chair.

The issuance of an incomplete, however, cannot be given if the student fails to meet the attendance requirements. Because an "incomplete" is granted only for extenuating circumstances, the student’s grade will not be penalized.

Extenuating Circumstances for Incomplete Grade Request

• Incapacitating illness which prevents a student from attending classes for a minimum period of two weeks

• A death in the immediate family

• Judicial obligations

• Other verifiable emergencies deemed appropriate by the instructor

Procedure for Requesting an Incomplete

• Request for a grade of incomplete must be initiated by the student.

• The faculty member retains the right to make the final decision on accepting a student’s request for an incomplete grade even though the student may meet eligibility requirements for an incomplete.

• Valid reasons for not completing the work within a course must be presented in writing to the professor before the last day of that course.

• Request for Incomplete Form will be submitted to the BSW Program Director for approval.

• If approved, written arrangements for completion of course work must be provided by the granting faculty member to the student along with this policy document at the time the incomplete grade is submitted (see Plan for Completion of Course Work).

• The student must have the ability to pass the class at the time of the request.

• No more than 1/3 of the work for the course may be left to be completed.

• Grades of “I” may only be awarded at the end of a course.

• Incomplete grades will not be computed into GPA.

• Incomplete grades may have an impact on Financial Aid and Scholarships.

• It is the responsibility of the student to complete and submit the remaining course work before the assigned deadline.

• Coursework must be completed and a grade submitted no later than 6 weeks from end of course.

• Any student not fulfilling the contract obligations of the Incomplete will receive a grade of “F”.

• Students who receive converted grades of “F” may appeal disputed grades as outlined in the university catalog.

• Students who receive converted grades of “F” will not be able to continue in their existing schedule or register for new courses until that course is repeated according to BSW Policy.

• A student with more than one incomplete on record is subject to academic suspension.

• Completion of 120 semester hours.

• Cumulative GPA of 2.5.

• Completion of all major courses with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher.

• Completion of a total of 400 supervised hours of field experience.

• Completion of 30 hours of general education as specified (CAPS - General Education Requirements).

• Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.