Social Work, B.S.W. - Major Code 9815

Print Plan of Study (opens a new window) |

Mission Statement

The mission of Northeastern State University’s (NSU) Department of Social Work is to academically prepare competent and effective professionals; particularly first generation college students who desire to enter generalist social work practice. Along with our academic program’s accessibility, our curriculum is designed to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills, and values of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) competencies and behavioral indicators with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. These key foundations prepare our graduates to practice social work in a wide range of agencies and allied settings with diverse client systems and people. Our academic program has a unique focus in its integration of addressing social work practice with Native American populations, and the option to specialize in child welfare leadership.

SOCIAL WORK GOALS

In keeping with our mission, the goals of the social work program are:

To educate diverse social workers for beginning generalist social work practice.
To provide an accessible social work academic program.
To prepare social workers to practice with diverse populations and systems, including Native American populations.
To develop social work leaders in child welfare social delivery systems.

Curriculum Policy Statement and Curriculum Design

The NSU Bachelor of Social Work Program curriculum is based upon the accreditation standards set forth by our accrediting professional body, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). These standards, along with their accompanying behavioral indicators, are integrated throughout our core and elective course offerings; conclude with all components being demonstrated in the student field education experience: the program’s signature pedagogy.

Program Outcome Evaluation

Program outcomes are assessed on a bi-annual basis per a formally designed assessment plan. The plan is comprised of student course evaluations addressing the competency standards and behavioral indicators, faculty committee evaluations, qualitative/quantitative exit interviews of graduating seniors, and the Baccalaureate Education Assessment Project (BEAP).

Requirements

SOWK 2013 - Introduction to Social Work #
SOC 3323 - Social Statistics # *
SOWK 3013 - Interviewing Skills for Generalist Practice *
SOWK 3873 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment I # *
SOWK 3953 - Practice I *
SOWK 4313 - Social Work Research # *
SOWK 4613 - Human Diversity and Social Work #
SOWK 4673 - Practice II *
SOWK 4733 - Practice III *
SOWK 4863 - Social Policy # *
SOWK 4873 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment II # *
SOWK 4643 - Case Management #
SOWK 4962 - Senior Seminar *
SOWK 4984 - Social Work Practicum I & Seminar *
SOWK 4994 - Social Work Practicum II & Seminar *
Eleven hours of approved electives (Six hours of advanced electives (3000/4000 level) must be in SOWK and five hours may be in SOWK, Soc Sci, PSYC, AIS).
* = Prerequisites

Total 57 hours

Admission to Social Work

A student qualifies to be a social work major when the following requirements are completed:

General Education Language Arts - 9 hours
General Social Science - 9 hours
2.5 Graduation/Retention GPA
University requirements for English Proficiency
Completion of application packet
Approval by the social work faculty
Obtain an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) Criminal History background check – this must also include the Sex Offender check and Violent Offender check (No more than 3 months old). Go to: www.ok.gov/osbi/Criminal_History/

Completion of the following courses:
MATH 1473 - Applied Mathematics # or
MATH 1513 - College Algebra #
BIOL 1114 - General Biological Science #
PSYC 1113 - Introduction to Psychology #
SOWK 2013 - Introduction to Social Work # (minimum “C” grade)
SOC 1113 - Introduction to Sociology #
SOC 3323 - Social Statistics #

Note

Admission to the Social Work Program is a prerequisite for enrollment in SOWK 3953, Practice I and SOWK 4873, Human Behavior in the Social Environment II, and other courses restricted to Social Work majors.

Admission to Practicum

88 semester hours
2.5 Graduation/Retention GPA
2.5 GPA in all Social Work courses
Proof of Field Practicum Liability Insurance
Approval of the Social Work Faculty
Obtain an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) Criminal History background check – this must also include the Sex Offender check and Violent Offender check (No more than 3 months old). Go to: www.ok.gov/osbi/Criminal_History/

Graduation Requirements

2.5 Graduation/Retention GPA
2.5 GPA in all Social Work courses
A total of 124 credit hours must be completed for a BSW degree. This includes a minimum of 40 hours general education and 57 hours in the major. A maximum of 3 credit hours of independent studies and 6 credit hours of 1-hour workshops will count toward the 57 hour Social Work major. The remaining hours to complete the 124 credit hours for graduation may be taken as free electives campus-wide.
At least 29 hours of advanced (3000/4000) courses are required on a Social Work major; 29 hours of this major must be earned at NSU.
At least 40 semester credit hours are required in the Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Policies of the College of Liberal Arts

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY:	English proficiency is a graduation requirement. Components I and II of English proficiency should be met with grades of “C” or better prior to the completion of 60 credit hours.
UPPER DIVISION CREDIT:	Total hours must include at least 40 hours of credit in courses number 3000 and above.
LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES:	At least 80 semester credit hours are required in the Liberal Arts and Sciences for BA/BAED/BFA degrees and 55 semester credit hours of Liberal Arts and Sciences for BS/BSED degrees and 40 semester credit hours of Liberal Arts and Sciences for specialty degrees (BGS, BSW). Liberal Arts and Science courses are designated by a “#” after the course title.