Social Work - B.S.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Social Work program is to prepare social work students for generalist entry-level practice and provide opportunities for students to become world changers who have a desire to integrate personal faith and learning to maximize one's ability to be of service to one's fellow human beings.
Core Competencies
Upon completion of the Social Work program at Indiana Wesleyan University, students will be able to demonstrate the following core competencies within the framework of the generalist model of social work practice:
- Provide opportunities for the integration of Christian principles within the context of professional social work values and ethics.
- Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
- Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
- Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
- Engage diversity and difference in practice.
- Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
- Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
- Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
- Respond to context that shape practice.
- Engage, assess, intervene and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
Students wishing to continue graduate education may be eligible for advanced standing at many graduate schools of social work. Graduates of the Social Work program are eligible to become full members of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and National Association of Christian Social Workers (NACSW). Indiana Wesleyan University's Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); phone 703-683-8080.
Throughout the curriculum, theory and practice are integrated through a variety of classroom experiences and agency settings. Students are required to become active within the community in a variety of capacities throughout the program. Students are required to complete 90 volunteer hours prior to field placement. The senior field placement involves working 32 hours per week in a social service agency under the supervision of a professional social worker. According to CSWE the field placement is the signature pedagogy of Social Work program professional development.
General Education Competencies
Students in this major meet the general education competencies by taking the approved standard courses.
Requirements (70 credits)
Required Courses
| BIO-106 | Environment and Society | 4 |
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| or | |
| BIO-111 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| ECO-211 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| POL-200 | State and Local Government and Politics | 3 |
| PSY-150 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOC-150 | Principles of Sociology | 3 |
| SOC-152 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC-210 | Minority Group Relations | 3 |
| SOC-482 | Social Research | 3 |
| SWK-170 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| SWK-335 | Social Welfare Organization | 3 |
| SWK-336 | Social Policy | 3 |
| SWK-342 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SWK-343 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 |
| MAT-305 | Statistics for Social Sciences | 3 |
| SWK-355 | Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SWK-356 | Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SWK-357 | Social Work Practice III | 3 |
| SWK-366 | Social Work Field Placement I | 3 |
| SWK-370 | Social Work Field Placement Seminar I | 3 |
| SWK-466 | Social Work Field Placement II | 9 |
| SWK-470 | Social Work Field Placement Seminar II | 3 |
MAT-305: Counts as general education math course for Social Work majors with a grade of "C" or above.
BIO-106, ECO-211, POL-200, PSY-150, SOC-150 and SOC-152: Counts as required general education courses for Social Work majors with a grade of "C" or above.
BIO-111: Students with a double major in Psychology should choose this option.
Entrance Requirements
Along with submission of an application and SAT or ACT scores to the director of admissions, the student must declare social work as his or her choice of major. High school courses which provide a good foundation for the study of social work include social studies, sociology, psychology, American government, economics, English, writing, and communications.
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 Introduction to Social Work course and completion of 45 credit hours with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 at the time of application to the program. Each student must submit to the Social Work program an initial portfolio after completing the Introduction to Social Work course. The student will then present his or her portfolio along with being interviewed by the Social Work Admissions Committee. Based on the portfolio presentation, interview, letters of reference, and other application materials, the committee decides whether to grant admission into the program. Any unfavorable decision may be appealed by following the grievance procedures on file in the department and student handbook.
Admission to Field Placement Internships
During the second semester of the junior year, each student is required to complete a Social Work Field Practicum Application along with updated portfolio. Students will present their portfolio along with being interviewed by the Director of Field Instruction and committee. Students are required to complete 90 hours of volunteer experience prior to being accepted into the Field Placement experience. This documentation is submitted along with the Field Practicum Application. Field Placement options are discussed and a tentative plan is created for Field Placement based on the student's interest and needs.
Continuation in the Social Work Program
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 Admissions Committee.
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. Most social work courses are offered only one semester a year, so a delay in graduation of one or two semesters may occur. A senior must present a grade-point average of 2.7 in the field placement experience and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 in order to graduate. Juniors or seniors who fall below this grade-point average will be placed on probation for the following semester. Failure to raise the grade-point average to 2.5 could then result in dismissal from the program.
In order to graduate, students must pass their final portfolio presentation given their spring semester of their senior year.
