Program Requirements

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 Regional Dean/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.

Exception to an Incomplete

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