Social Work, B.S.W.

Purpose Statement

The Social Work program provides students the opportunity to develop foundational knowledge and skills required for ethical social work practice. Overall the BSW program will offer an education from a generalist perspective. Students will develop the skills needed to promote well-being and quality of life for individuals, groups, and communities. Our program includes 400 hours of field experience and invaluable face-to-face interaction to help students prepare for real life practice in the field of social work. Courses include but are not limited to: Social Policy, Human Diversity in Social Work, and Human Behavior in the Social Environment. The Department’s curriculum emphasizes course work that enhances self-awareness and increases understanding of personal values. Students are equipped to conduct ethical practice, establish appropriate boundaries, and apply their skills within professional environments that offer services to diverse populations of people. Students will be taught to view clients and client systems from a strengths perspective in order to recognize, support, and build upon the innate capabilities of all human beings.

Program Goals

1. To facilitate an appreciation of generalist knowledge, values, skills, and the diversity of humanity to prepare competent professionals for entry level social work practice with diverse systems across the globe.
2. To provide students with a core knowledge base in human behavior theory, research methods, and social welfare policy in preparation for a career and/or graduate study.
3. To promote understanding of the social work perspective related to individuals, groups, and communities.
4. To integrate healthy professional boundaries and best ethical practices within a social work capacity.
5. To demonstrate professional helping skills within the classroom and apply the skills within a professional environment.
6. To provide students with strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
7. To develop the student’s social work identity including professional use of supervision and consultation and self awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses.

UCumberlands Online.

Students enrolled in the online baccalaureate programs of the University’s UCumberlands Online should consult UCumberlands Online publications and their academic advisor for the availability and rotation of courses available for them in an online format.

Social Work Program Admissions Process

Applicants with a high school or GED diploma may apply for admission to University of the Cumberlands and complete the lower division courses in the Bachelor of Social Work Program.

Admission Requirements

1. Completion of at least 30 credit hours and a sophomore class standing
2. Minimum cumulative GPA of at least a 2.5
3. Complete and earn the grade of “C” or above in Introduction to Social Work and Social Justice (SOWK 131 )
4. Complete and earn the grade of “B” or above in Social Welfare (SOWK 132 )
5. Submit the Social Work admissions application and sign a statement of understanding of the NASW Code of Ethics.

Transfer Admissions

Students applying to transfer from a CSWE accredited BSW program must complete an application for admission to the social work program. Students meeting the admission criteria will initially be conditionally accepted into the social work program, pending the completion of a 1-hour BSW Bridge Course. Students must complete the BSW Bridge Course with a grade of Satisfactory to be fully accepted into the social work program. Students who do not receive a grade of Satisfactory will be required to retake the BSW Bridge Course and will be unable to enroll in further social work courses until a grade of Satisfactory is obtained. Students cannot transfer in more than 50% of their social work courses from another CSWE accredited Bachelor of Social Work program. At least 75% of the course description related to the transfer course must match University of the Cumberlands course description in order to be considered for transfer credit.

Transfer Admission Requirements

1. Completion of at least 30 credit hours and a sophomore class standing
2. Minimum cumulative GPA of at least a 2.5
3. Submit the Social Work admissions application
4. Complete the 1-hour Bridge Course (SOWK 110 ) with a grade of Satisfactory and sign a statement of understanding of the NASW Code of Ethics.

Conditional Admission

All applicants not meeting all admission requirements can be considered for conditional admission. Students will be notified of the conditions that must be met for students to have admission or full admission into the social work program through electronic communications. Once students believe they have met program requirements to be accepted into the social work program, students should re-submit their program application.

The admission process for University of the Cumberlands Social Work Program is equitable and inclusive. University of the Cumberlands Social Work Program is committed to developing and continuing to support a diverse, equitable, and inclusive program where all students feel a sense of belonging.

Students must be admitted into the BSW program and follow all other requirements to be accepted into the BSW Field Education Program. Students should see BSW student handbook for all admission requirements into the Field Education Program.

All BSW students must complete the exit exam prior to graduation. While all courses are offered in an online format, some courses require a field practice component. Students are required to complete 400 hours of field practice before graduation.