| Department: | Behavioral and Social Sciences / College of Liberal and Performing Arts |
| Hours Required: | 120 |
| Categories: | Major, Minor, Undergraduate |
| Delivery: | Hybrid, On-Campus |
The bachelor of social work degree is the entry-level professional degree, and the SAU Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. It enables the undergraduate professional to practice social work in a variety of settings. These settings include hospitals, schools, mental health centers, and other public and private human service agencies. The degree allows the practicing social worker to become eligible for professional licensing in Arkansas. As well as being the entry-level professional degree, the social work major offers a good foundation for students who seek graduate-level professional education. The social work major can prepare students for advanced degrees in disciplines such as social work, psychology, counseling, and other helping fields. The social work program at SAU is grounded in the generalist practice model and works within a multidisciplinary department. It allows the student preparing for a professional practice the exposure to varied disciplines as well as the preparation in social work education.
Social Work Program Mission
The mission of the Social Work program at Southern Arkansas University is to prepare students for fulfilling careers as knowledgeable, competent, and effective social workers in generalist practice at all systems levels, with a specific emphasis on meeting people’s needs in the context of our rural and varied service area, but with an understanding of how their work fits into the global quest for social justice, child welfare, and human rights. Grounded in the liberal arts, the program integrates critical thinking, scientific inquiry, experiential learning, and a deep understanding of the history and current literature of the field to instill in students an identification with the social work profession; a respect for the value and dignity of each individual and a recognition of human resiliency; a thirst for championing social justice, alleviating poverty, and fostering healthy human relationships based on parity and productive citizenship; an adherence to the highest ethical standards in practice and in life; and an appreciation for all dimensions of multiculturalism. The program cultivates connection between students and the broader community by providing excellence in instruction over a range of prevention and intervention methods, partnering with practicing social workers in the region, and remaining current in research developments and best practices within the profession.
Criteria for Admission to the Social Work Program
When applying to the Social Work Program, a student must have completed the following:
- At least 30 hours of the general education requirements.
- The Social Work Program application located on the SAU webpage under LPA/BSS.
- An earned overall GPA of at least 2.5 and a social work major GPA of at least 3.0.
- A grade of C or higher in Introduction to Social Work, Social Policy, Multiculturalism, and Human Behavior in the Social Environment I or II.
Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in their social work courses to remain in good standing in the social work program.
Transfer Credit: Students may not transfer any social work course credits other than Introduction to Social Work unless they are transferring from a CSWE accredited program. If the student is transferring from an accredited BSW program and the required courses in that program differ from those required at Southern Arkansas University, the student must take the required course(s) at SAU in order to complete the program. Neither practice nor field practicum courses will be accepted for transfer credit. Students may transfer a total of twelve hours in the major from an accredited social work program. The course syllabi for these requested transfer credits must be submitted to the program to determine if the course is comparable before credit can be allowed. If the courses are not comparable, the course may be used to fulfill the requirement for a social work elective. The social work program does not use proficiency exams and does not allow students to test out of a social work course.
Criteria for Admission to the Social Work Field Practicum
When applying to the Social Work Field Practicum, a student must have completed the following:
- Student must have been accepted into the Social Work Program.
- Social work major GPA of at least 3.2.
- Complete the Social Work Field application (contact Social Work Field Director).
Note: Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all Social Work courses.
CSWE Social Work Competencies
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
- Engage diversity and difference in practice
- Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice
- Engage in policy practice
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
University Requirement (2 hours)
GSTD 1002 – Freshman Seminar
General Education (32 hours)
Note: 3 hours of social science requirements are included in the major.
Social Work (53 hours)
SWK 2043 – Introduction to Social Work
SWK 3003 – Multiculturalism
SWK 3023 – Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
SWK 3033 – Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
SWK 3113 – Social Policy
SWK 3123 – Social Work Practice I
SWK 3133 – Ethics
SWK 3153 – Research Methods
SWK 3183 – Statistics
SWK 4121 – Social Work Field Practicum Seminar I
SWK 4123 – Social Work Practice II
SWK 4141 – Senior Seminar
SWK 4221 – Social Work Field Practicum Seminar II
SWK 4223 – Social Work Practice III
SWK 4844 – Social Work Field Practicum I
SWK 4854 – Social Work Field Practicum II
9 hours of Social Work electives
Other Requirements (20-21 hours)
PSCI 2003 – American Government: National
SOC 2003 – Introduction to Sociology
SOC 3013 – Social Problems
SPCH 1113 – Introduction to Public Speaking
PSYC 3223 – Developmental Psychology or PSYC 4033 – Abnormal Psychology
3 hours of Information Systems or Computer Science electives
3 hours of Foreign Language or 2 hours of American Sign Language
International Elective (3 hours)
Select 3 hours from the following:
GEOG 2003 – Introduction to Geography
PSCI 3003 – International Relations
PSCI 3193 – Political Geography
PSCI 4203 – Comparative Politics
PSCI 4213 – International Law
3 hours of Foreign Language
Cultural Diversity Electives (5-6 hours)
3 hours of Foreign Language or 2 hours of American Sign Language
Select 3 hours from the following:
HIST 4093 – African American History
HIST 3143 – The North American Indian
MCUL 4993 – Hispanic Life and Culture
PSCI 4043 – African American Politics
Electives (3-5 hours)
3-5 hours of unrestricted electives
Minor Requirements:
Minor in Social Work (18 hours)
SWK 2043 – Introduction to Social Work
15 hours of Social Work electives (excluding practice or practicum courses)
An accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education ensures that your education will be of the highest quality.
