Social work is concerned with the interaction between people and their social environments. Social workers help people deal with other people, cope with the many social and environmental forces that affect and control daily life, and help solve problems that inhibit growth and development.
The undergraduate social work program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education to educate entry-level, generalist social work practitioners. The social work major is required for students who intend to pursue a career in social work in Kansas and in many other states.
The bachelor's degree in social work is recognized as a beginning-level professional degree. Students graduating from the social work program are eligible for licensure as bachelor degree social workers in Kansas and numerous other states. No other bachelor's degree is recognized, or necessary, for such eligibility. Students who wish to pursue graduate studies in social work will be eligible for advanced standing in many masters of social work programs throughout the United States.
The intervention tasks performed by social workers are derived from a common base of knowledge, values, and skills. Thus, social workers are uniquely qualified to provide resources, services, and opportunities to individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities. Students are required to complete a field practice placement during their senior year to integrate classroom material with practice experience in a professional setting.
Students wishing to declare a major in social work may enroll directly in curriculum SOCWK. This is a provisional admission to the social work program. Students must complete SOCWK 100, SOCWK 315, and SOCWK 510 before formal evaluation and admission to the program can occur. It is also recommended that students complete at least one of the two restricted Social Work electives (3 credits) prior to formal evaluation and admission to the program.
Formal evaluation occurs prior to admission to SOCWK 560 Social Work Practice I, taken during the junior year. At that time each student completes a personal statement and undergoes a formal review of academic and classroom performance by the program admissions committee. Students must have a 2.5 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in the core courses. Students successfully passing this review may enter the first course in the practice sequence, SOCWK 560. Students must maintain the admissions GPA standards throughout the three semester practice sequence and must have a C or better in core Social Work classes to move forward in each of their 3 final semesters in the program.
Failure to meet and maintain the standards of the program will result in dismissal from the social work major. A student may be allowed to remain in the major on conditional or probationary status, but he or she must meet the standards of the program to complete the major.
For complete details on the admissions requirements and procedure, see the program admissions policy and procedures in the student handbook. Appeals of program faculty decisions may be made through established departmental procedures.
A student earning a BA or BS in social work must meet the general requirements for the college and the university and must complete the following 12 credit hours of required social work foundation courses, 3 credits of required MATH, and 51 credit hours of SOCWK courses: