Social Work, B.S.W. Locations  

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) prepares students for beginning professional social work practice across a wide variety of social service settings. As generalist social work practitioners, graduates will be prepared to work collaboratively from a strengths based approach with diverse populations. Ecosystems Theory, Strengths Perspective, Multicultural Competence and Social, Economic & Environmental Justice within a global perspective, all serve as overarching conceptual frameworks across the curriculum. All aspects of student learning (curricular and professional) are integrated with the senior year field education practicum experience. Note: The BSW Program at Park University was granted full re-affirmation of accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in Spring 2019. The BSW Program is accredited through Spring 2025.

BSW Program Application Criteria & Admission Guidelines

Students must complete all Liberal Education (LE) and BSW Program prerequisites prior to the senior year of the BSW Program. Application and admission to the professional undergraduate BSW Program is a separate process from application and admission to Park University. Declaring Social Work as a Major does not guarantee admission into the Program. Procedures 1-3 below must be completed before a student is eligible to apply to the BSW Program. Procedures 4 and 5 provide brief guidelines of the application submission and review process.

1. DECLARATION OF MAJOR (DOM) in Social Work (SW)
   Applicants must be admitted to Park University and have submitted a DOM in SW. A Minor is not required. Once a SW Major is declared, Park assigns the student a BSW Faculty Advisor. The student should contact this advisor and schedule an appointment. Please note: a DOM in SW does not mean the student has been admitted or in any way guarantees admission into the Program.
2. BSW PREREQUISITE
   Academic Advising with BSW Faculty is a critical component of the BSW Program. During initial advising, students share their educational goals and collaborative planning begins. The SW advisor and student will work together to ensure all required prerequisite courses are completed.
3. ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
   1. Completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours of undergraduate college coursework; including all 43 credit hours of required LE courses, with LE300*  (or equivalent or an earned AA or AS degree).
   2. A cumulative undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.50 or higher on a 4 point scale. Cumulative GPA is a calculation of all undergraduate grades shown on all transcripts; considered during the application review. A 2.50 GPA must be maintained throughout the Program. If GPA falls below 2.50, this may result in dismissal from the Program.
   3. Completion of the following courses (or equivalent), with a grade of C or better: SO141 Introduction to Sociology ; PS101 Introduction to Psychology ; MA120 Basic Concepts of Statistics ; SW205 Introduction to Social Work ; SO302 The Study of the Family ;  SW 319 Foundations of Generalist Social Work  ; EN306B Business Communications ; SW325 Human Diversity and Social Justice ; SW330 Social Welfare Policy and Programs ; and two consecutive Modern Language courses. BSW Application Packet may be submitted one term prior to completing EN306B , SO302 , SW 319  , SW325 , SW330  or 2nd modern language; but are not considered for ‘Full’ admission until all courses are completed.
   4. Integrative seminar for social work minors, requires 40 hours of service learning where students may apply skills learned in the classroom in a structured human service setting, military base, etc. This capstone course must be taken in the last semester before graduation.
4. APPLICATION SUBMISSION
   All application materials must be submitted to the Department of Social Work, no later than Fall semester of the student’s Junior year, for admission consideration for the following academic year. Once the application packet is submitted to the SW Office, it becomes the property of the Department and its content will not be returned to the applicant under any circumstances, including reference letters.
5. APPLICATION REVIEW
   The Review is conducted by the BSW Admission & Review Committee. In evaluating applicants, Committee reviewers consider the applicant’s: academic performance; GPA; participation and performance in SW courses; written and verbal communication skills; applicant’s commitment to social work and suitability for the profession; work and volunteer experiences; and references. A personal interview may be required. The Committee determines the applicant’s admission status as either: Full, Provisional, Probationary, Deferred or Denied. The BSW Program Director shares admission decision with applicant via student’s Park email. In accordance with CSWE accreditation standards, the BSW Program does not grant course credit for life experience or previous work experience. However, these experiences are carefully considered during the application review process. Therefore, make sure to clearly note these experiences on your résumé.