Social Work Major (M)
Mission
The Concordia University BSW mission is to prepare graduates for baccalaureate-level, generalist social work practice and graduate-level education. Our program is delivered within the context of Christian faith, in which we hold all people to be created equally in the image of God, while honoring our professional social work values of advocacy, service, justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.
Graduates will be prepared to work inter-professionally with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels from an anti-oppressive and person-in-environment framework. Our graduates will be strengths-based, ethically-grounded, culturally-responsive, equity-driven, and human rights-centered.
Program Options
The BSW program at Concordia University is housed within the School of Health Professions (SHP) and is designed for undergraduates, leading to a Bachelor of Social Work Degree (BSW). There are currently two BSW program options, including:
- A traditional BSW program on the Mequon (CUW) campus
- A fully online BSW program
Accreditation
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) provides accreditation for Social Work programs at the bachelor's and graduate levels of education. Graduating from an accredited program is important for BSW students. An accredited program offers BSW graduates the opportunity to request advanced standing for an MSW degree at any university. The BSW program at CUW has been fully accredited by CSWE since 1997.
Social Work Values
- Service
- Social justice
- Dignity and worth of the person
- Importance of human relationships
- Integrity
- Competence
Social Work Program Goals
The goals of the CUW BSW Program are to:
- Prepare students for professional generalist practice.
- Prepare students who have developed the behaviors associated with the nine (9) competencies established by CSWE.
- Encourage students to draw on the foundations of Christianity in faith, service, and social justice and to provide leadership in the provision of service and solidarity for all persons, especially marginalized or oppressed groups.
- Develop students with strong practice skills built on the knowledge base of the profession.
- Support students in their understanding of and ability to apply the NASW Code of Ethics when practicing and in their understanding of the relationship between the code of ethics and Christianity.
- Prepare students who can apply research and/or evidence-based practice in practice settings, and in evaluating the effectiveness of practice and programs.
Generalist Practice
All social work programs prepare students in generalist practice, which establishes a comprehensive professional foundation based on nine core competencies. Undergraduate students develop this foundation throughout their junior and senior years.
Definition of Generalist Practice
Generalist social work practitioners work with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations across a variety of social work and host settings. They approach clients and client systems from a strengths-based perspective, recognizing, supporting, and building upon the inherent capacities of all individuals. Generalist practitioners use a professional problem-solving process to engage, assess, broker services, advocate, counsel, educate, and organize with and on behalf of clients and client systems. They also participate in community and organizational development and evaluate service outcomes to enhance the effectiveness and quality of services in response to client needs.
Application Process
Students may declare a Social Work major as arriving freshmen or anytime while in good standing at Concordia University. They cannot enroll in upper-level Social Work courses or begin a field placement until they have completed the application process to Upper Division Status and have been officially accepted by the BSW Admissions Committee.
Students interested in the Social Work major should complete the two introductory Social Work courses, SW 1110 Social Work & Social Welfare and SW 1200 Introduction to Child Welfare, the prerequisites, Math 2050 Statistics, and the majority of the core curriculum prior to beginning the upper-level (3000/4000) Social Work courses. For traditional students, the upper-level courses start in the fall semester of their junior year, so the requirements above should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. Students in the online BSW program must complete the core and prerequisites before beginning the Upper Division courses.
This planning is necessary so students can matriculate through the program and take courses in sequence, beginning with their junior year and graduate at the completion of their senior year.
Field Education
Students begin the field instruction sequence in the first semester of the senior year and spend both fall and spring semesters of the senior year in one field placement. During both semesters, a student will spend an average of 14-16 hours per week at the placement agency, for a total of at least 400 clock hours of field instruction. Students commit to remain with the agency for two semesters, until the end of the academic year. During the spring semester, students must remain in their field placement until at least May 1st.
Service Learning and IPE Hour Requirements
Social Work students will complete the Service Learning and IPE requirements:
- Twenty (20) hours of Service Learning activities
- Twenty (20) hours of IPE activities.
Service learning and IPE have multiple functions. 1) Provide unique experiences that prepare you for the field internship; 2) Provide experiences that build your résumé and strengthen your competitiveness for employment; 3) Increase confidence in your ability to be a Social Worker; 4) Fulfill the Christian mission of developing in mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the church and the world.
Service Learning
Service learning provides students with an opportunity to engage with the social work community through participation in social service organizations, allowing them to gain first-hand exposure to social work practice. Service learning is a required component of the program because it enables students to interact with professional agencies and develop a clearer understanding of the roles and responsibilities of social workers. This experience helps students identify and narrow their areas of interest in preparation for their internship.
Students may begin accumulating service-learning hours as freshmen at CUW and must complete the required hours prior to entering their senior year and internship. It is strongly recommended that students complete service-learning hours during their freshman and sophomore years so they may focus on completing Interprofessional Education (IPE) hours during their junior and senior years.
Service-learning activities may include a wide range of volunteer opportunities aligned with students’ interests. Examples include volunteering with homeless shelters, food pantries, Habitat for Humanity, social service agencies, and other organizations that serve vulnerable populations. Students may also participate in mission trips through their church or CUW, serve as camp counselors, Bible school teachers, tutors, or pursue other approved activities. Because not all volunteer experiences qualify, students are encouraged to consult with the BSW Program to confirm whether an activity meets service-learning requirements.
Interprofessional Education (IPE)
Interprofessional Education (IPE) is essential for students preparing for careers in the health and social care fields, as well as healthcare administration. IPE gives Social Work students an opportunity to expand their education and learn how Social Workers interface with other professionals, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, physician’s assistants, pharmacists, nurses, and more. Students obtain IPE experience by attending mandatory events in their junior and senior years and through other activities coordinated by the BSW Program.
Program Learning Outcomes
By fulfilling all of the course requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior.
- Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice.
- Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, 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.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 45 | |
| Major Requirements | 45 | |
| Electives / Minor - A Minor is required (Min 18 credits) | 30 | |
Minor: Required | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| Statistics I (Counts as university core) 1 | ||
| All required Social Work (SW) courses require a grade of B- or better | ||
| SW 1110 | Social Work & Social Welfare | 3 |
| SW 1200 | Introduction to Child Welfare | 3 |
| SW 3100 | Research Methods I | 3 |
| SW 3110 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SW 3120 | Skills & Methods of Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SW 3200 | Research Methods II | 3 |
| SW 3210 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SW 3220 | Skills & Methods of Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SW 3230 | Social Welfare Policy and Programs | 3 |
| SW 4100 | Field Education I | 3 |
| SW 4110 | Field Seminar I | 3 |
| SW 4120 | Skills & Methods of Social Work Practice III | 3 |
| SW 4200 | Field Education II | 3 |
| SW 4210 | Field Seminar II | 3 |
| SW 4230 | Senior Integrative Seminar | 3 |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
- 1
Must receive a "C" or better
Program Admission
Application to the Social Work Major
Students may declare a Social Work major as an arriving freshman or anytime while in good standing at Concordia University. They cannot enroll in upper-level Social Work courses or begin a field placement until they have completed the application process to Upper Division Status and have been officially accepted by the BSW Program.
Traditional Students
Students interested in the Social Work major should complete the two introductory Social Work courses, SW 1110 Social Work & Social Welfare and SW 1200 Introduction to Child Welfare, the prerequisite, Math 2050 Statistics, and the core curriculum prior to beginning the upper-level Social Work courses. The upper-level courses start in the fall semester of their junior year, so the requirements above should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
This planning is necessary so students can matriculate through the program and take courses in sequence, beginning with the Junior year, and graduate at the completion of the Senior year. Completing the core by the end of the sophomore year is critical to completing the social work program as planned.
Double Majors. Students who choose a double major may take longer to complete the program due to additional course requirements from other majors. Students should seek advisement from their social work advisor to ensure graduation in a reasonable time frame.
The process and criteria for admission to Upper Division Status in the Social Work major is outlined below:
- Complete SW 1110 Social Work & Social Welfare and SW 1200 Introduction to Child Welfare and have a minimum of a “B-“ or better in both courses.
- Complete MATH 2050 Statistics with a minimum grade of “C”.
- Under no circumstances will credit be given for prior work or life experience.
- Students must be on track to complete the core curriculum by the end of their sophomore year.
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 overall and a B- or better in all Social Work classes.
- Ability to demonstrate effective verbal and written communication.
- Students of sophomore status who have completed SW 1100 and SW 1200 can apply for upper-division status. They should request an application from the BSW Program office prior to or during the month of January.
- To complete timely advising for fall course planning, all application materials from traditional students should be received by the first week in February.
- Complete an application for acceptance into the Upper Division Status in the Social Work major. A completed application includes:
- A completed Application for Admission Form
- A completed Upper Division Narrative
- Submitting a copy of a current academic transcript
- A completed resume
- An interview with the BSW Program Director and/or Admissions Committee if needed.
- The BSW Program Director will send a letter informing students of their acceptance status. This letter will be sent when the acceptance decision is made; however, acceptance is conditional until final grades are posted from the spring semester. When students are accepted into the major, their application materials become a part of their academic file.
Online Students
Online students must complete the core and prerequisites before beginning the Upper Division courses. Online students will apply to the Social Work major when applying to CUW and follow the procedure below:
- Submit the online application.
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 GPA overall and a B- or better in any Social Work courses.
- Completion of an entrance essay (Personal Narrative)
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended must be sent directly to CUW. In cases where the student has less than 60 transferable credits, an official high school transcript or proof of GED must also be submitted.
- Under no circumstances will credit be given for prior work or life experience.
Transfer Students
Students who are transferring from another institution should discuss their earned credits with Admissions. If a student wants to transfer into the Social Work major, the registrar’s office will review core requirements in comparison with transfer credits and the BSW Program Director will review Social Work credits for acceptability of transfer. The Council on Social Work Education requires that only those Social Work courses taken at a CSWE-accredited institution are eligible for transfer. Only those social work courses in which the student earned a B- or better will be considered. Under no circumstances will credit be given for prior work or life experience. Current CU transfer students will also need to apply for upper division status and follow the required procedures for admission to the major and/or upper division status.
Plan
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| SW 1200 | Introduction to Child Welfare | 3 |
| ENG 1040 | Introduction to Writing | 3 |
| CCE 1010 | Christian Citizen | 3 |
| COMMUNICATION & LANGUAGE | 3 | |
| CREATIVE EXPRESSION | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SW 1110 | Social Work & Social Welfare | 3 |
| REL 1100 | Christian Faith | 3 |
| CCE 1020 | Western Culture & Worldview | 3 |
| NATURAL WORLD - SCIENCE | 4 | |
| HUMAN CREATIVITY & EXPRESSION | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| MATH 2050 | Statistics I | 3 |
| CCE 1040 | Science & Humanity | 3 |
| REL 1000 | The Bible | 3 |
| HHP 1100 | Stewardship of the Body | 1 |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| SW ELECTIVE | 3 | |
| CCE 1030 | Western Thought & Worldview | 3 |
| FAITH & LIFE | 3 | |
| HHP ACTIVITY | 1 | |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| SW 3100 | Research Methods I | 3 |
| SW 3110 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SW 3120 | Skills & Methods of Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SW ELECTIVE | 3 | |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| SW 3200 | Research Methods II | 3 |
| SW 3210 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SW 3220 | Skills & Methods of Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SW 3230 | Social Welfare Policy and Programs | 3 |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| SW 4100 | Field Education I | 3 |
| SW 4110 | Field Seminar I | 3 |
| SW 4120 | Skills & Methods of Social Work Practice III | 3 |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| SW 4200 | Field Education II | 3 |
| SW 4210 | Field Seminar II | 3 |
| SW 4230 | Senior Integrative Seminar | 3 |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Course options and schedule are subject to change.