BECOMING A SOCIAL WORK MAJOR @

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) ProgramDepartment of Social Work

College of Health & Human Services (CHHS)Western Kentucky University (WKU)

POLL

• Who is interested in …

… the Social Work minor?… the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree?… getting a Master of Social Work (MSW)?

REMEMBER: Even non-SW majors such as Psychology, Sociology, History, and others can eventually apply to WKU’s MSW program!

SOCIAL WORK (SWRK) @

WKU

BSW program since 1974, accredited 1978• Currently >200 SWRK majors/minors• BSW @ Bowling Green, Elizabethtown,

Owensboro, and Glasgow

MSW program since 2004• Full-time, part-time, Advanced Standing

OwensboroElizabethtown

BowlingGreen

SOCIAL WORK MINOR

• SWRK 101• SWRK 205• SWRK 330: HBSE I• SWRK 331: HBSE II• SWRK 395: Policy

• SWRK elective (3-hour)• SWRK elective (3-hour)

OR: BS in Health Sciences: Social Services Concentration

21 hours

PREREQUISITES FOR SOCIAL WORK MAJOR = 9 CLASSES• (1) SWRK 101 AND (2) SWRK 205

• (3) English 100• (4) Math 116 or 117 or 118 or 119• (5) Biology 113 or 120 or 131

• (6) PSY 100 (Intro to Psych.) or PSY 199 (Develop. Psych.); AND • (7) SOCL 100 (Intro to Soc.) or AGRI 108 (Rural Soc.)

** Either (6) or (7) to be completed prior to admission; but both required completed no later than end of 1st semester of program **

• (8) PS 110 (Intro to Poli. Sci.); AND • (9) ECON 150 (Intro to Econ.) or ECON 202 (Micro. Econ.) or ECON

203 (Macro. Econ.) ** Either (8) or (9) to be completed prior to admission; but both required completed no later than end of 1st semester of program **

(1) + (2) require a “C” or higher(3) – (9) require a “D” or higher

ADVISING FOR THE MAJOR

1. Schedule a meeting with Dr. Funge to review academic progress, the application process, and determine next steps

2. Dr. Funge will complete a change of major/ minor/ advisor form on Topnet and deliver form to BSW Program Director

3. BSW Program Director will then assign Social Work advisor

Sally Student

APPLYING TO THE PROGRAM

• Completion of prerequisites (see earlier slide)• GPA 2.2 or higher (as reflected on iCAP)

• Students enrolled at WKU prior to fall 2009• GPA 2.5 or higher (as reflected on iCAP)

• Students enrolled at WKU fall 2009 or later• Submit application (available @

www.wku.edu/socialwork/bsw)• Application includes a personal essay• Cite a source in your essay; include reference

• Sign off on NASW Code of Ethics agreement• Sign off on BSW Student Handbook agreement• Informational interview with Social Work faculty

or BSW Program Director • Attain sophomore standing at time of admission

*** Item #8 ***

APPLICATION DEADLINES

• Submit completed application to Program Director no later than:• April 1/August 1 for students

seeking admission for the following Fall semester at all campuses

• November 1 for students seeking admission for the following Spring semester at WKU-Bowling Green **

** The BSW enrolls cohorts at the regional campuses in Fall semester ONLY

21

COURSE SEQUENCE: SOCIAL WORK MAJOR

First Semester

• SWRK 330: HBSE I• SWRK 344: Statistics• SWRK 375: Generalist Practice • Advisor Consent Elective (ACE #1)• Other hours as needed in Gen. Ed,

electives to meet WKU graduation requirements (120 hrs)

Second semester

• SWRK 331: HBSE II• SWRK 345: Research Methods• SWRK 379: Interviewing Skills• SWRK-prefixed elective• Other hours as needed …

5 semesters are required to complete the major * You must earn a “C” or better in ALL courses *

543Third Semester

• SWRK 378: Group Practice• SWRK 381: Community Practice• SWRK 395: Policy• Advisor Consent Elective (ACE) #2• Other hours as needed …

Fourth Semester• SWRK 480: Field Placement • SWRK 481: Field Seminar• Other hours as needed ...

Fifth Semester *• SWRK 482: Field Placement• SWRK 483: Field Seminar • Other: Gen. Eds and electives

to fulfill 120 hrs for graduation* Summer if based at a regional campus

COURSE SEQUENCE: SOCIAL WORK MAJOR

5 semesters are required to complete the major * You must earn a “C” or better in ALL courses *

TUITION RATE ESTIMATES*

• Fall and Spring semesters: • $4,361 per semester or $8,722 for the academic year (AY)

• Summer semester:• Assessed at $363.42 per credit hour for Summer 2014

• $363.42 x six credit hours for SWRK Field & Seminar = $2,180.52

• IMPORTANT: Financial Aid may not be available for Summer tuition. Therefore, students MUST plan this expense into their budgets. (e.g., some students may need to put aside some of their Spring financial aid to cover the cost of the Summer session of SWRK 482: Field Practicum and SWRK 483: Field Seminar)

* Rates based on academic year (AY) 13-14. Rates often change with each AY. More information is available on WKU’s Financial Aid web page.

WAITING FOR THE DECISION ...

• Application has been turned in by deadline• Advising has already taken place• Must register for classes for next semester• If accepted, student takes SWRK 330, 344 & 375

• Cannot enroll in these classes until acceptance is verified ... but some must be enrolled as a full-time student …

• … so, this is the time to work closely with your SW advisor so you will know how to plan for the next semester

FIELD APPLICATION PROCESS*

Student provides top 3 choices:• Field Director and student work together to find a “good fit”• Student approaches the placement process just like a job opportunity –

always professional• Student “sells themselves” to the agency during the first contact and the

interview

Prospective Agencies and Field Instructors must: • Be visited/approved by the Field Director• Sign a current Contract/MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)• Be licensed/Exempt• Have 2 years post BSW or MSW experience• Be willing to participate in teaching/learning• Abide by WKU field policy

* You MUST complete ALL SWRK courses prior to going into Field.

• Eligibility:• Cumulative GPA of 2.5• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or “B” average in all SWRK classes

• Takes at least 3 (but not more than 4) semesters of undergraduate SWRK courses to complete

• PCWCP students complete one SWRK practice course, typically SWRK 375, prior to enrolling in second of two PCWCP specialization courses, SWRK 450 (offered in Fall at BG campus) and SWRK 451 (offered in Spring at BG campus)

• PCWCP Site Coordinator, Dr. Dean May, will visit classes in Fall semester to provide information about applying to the program

PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (PCWCP)

Benefits

• Up to four semester of tuition (in-state rate)

• Stipend for four semesters• Employment with DCBS upon

completion of the BSW and PCWCP (consistent with state personnel requirements)

• Dr. Dean May, WKU Site Coordinator for PCWCP (dean.may@wku.edu)

Obligations• Enter into a contractual

agreement with the Cabinet for Health & Family Services

• List ten counties in which you are willing to become employed

• Apply for employment within specified time frame

• Failure to complete the above may lead to forfeiture of funds and reimbursement to Cabinet in one lump sum.

PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (PCWCP)

BSW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE

@

WWW.WKU.EDU/SOCIALWORK

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

GET INVOLVED

NOW

Simon Funge, Assistant Professor (GLAS 205) @ simon.funge@wku.edu

Dana Sullivan, BSW Program Director @ dana.sullivan@wku.edu

Benita Langley, SW Program Office Associate @ benita.langley@wku.edu

QUESTIONS?

Social Work Student Union – SWSU Glasgow

Join SWSU – Glasgow (Open to BSW majors and SWRK 101 and 205 students!)

BSW AND MSW FACULTY & STAFF 2014