Social Work

Bethel’s Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education as an undergraduate-level program preparing students for generalist entry-level professional social work practice. Graduates from this program are eligible to be licensed as social workers. While preparation for practice is the program’s primary objective, academically qualified graduates are prepared to pursue graduate-level social work education. (A number of graduate schools offer advanced standing.) The 63-credit major includes a core of Department of Social Work requirements in classroom and field-based courses, and select biological, social, and behavioral science support courses.

A student must apply and be accepted for candidacy to the Social Work Program. Candidacy indicates your intention to apply for full admission to the program the fall of your junior year. To progress in the program, a student must meet the departmental and Bethel University requirements for academic progress.

Application for Candidacy for the Social Work Program

A. At the time of application for admission, the student must:

Have second semester sophomore standing;
Be enrolled in or have completed SOW200Z Introduction to Helping Relationships, with a grade of “C” or better;
Provide a copy of unofficial transcript which documents a current GPA of 2.25 or greater;
Provide summary of progress towards 50 hours of voluntary or paid experience involving direct services to people;
Sign the Statement of Understanding and Agreement form after thoroughly examining all listed documents including the Code of Ethics and the Social Work Program Policy Handbook;
Examine and sign the Academic Performance Standards Checklist;
Meet with instructor during the last week of the semester of SOW200Z to review and complete Academic Performance Standards Checklist. This signed form will be placed in student candidacy file; and

B. The social work department will give written notification to the applicant concerning candidacy status.

Application for Full Admission to the Social Work Program

A. To be formally accepted into the Social Work Program, the student must:

Complete SOW200Z Introduction to Helping Relationships, with a grade of C or better;
Have a cumulative GPA of 2.25 at time of admission to the program;
Give evidence of ability to meet Academic Performance Standards (cognitive skills, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, professional commitments, communication skills, professional behaviors, and self-awareness.) These standards are consistent with the role and responsibilities of the social work professional (note: a criminal history may preclude one’s ability to become licensed as a social worker upon graduation);
Complete an application for admission to the Social Work Program that includes the following steps: a. Document at least 50 hours of voluntary or paid experience involving direct services to people; b. Write a self-assessment of readiness to become a social work professional; c. Provide two letters of reference from qualified individuals to assess applicant’s aptitude to pursue social work as a profession; d. Submit a resume; and e. Request an official transcript from the Office of the Registrar.
Interview with social work faculty to discuss application and readiness to enter Social Work Program.

B. The full-time faculty assess the application. Written notification of decision will be given to the applicant.

Field Program Admission

Student applies for admission to Field Program during fall of junior year. Acceptance into Social Work Program and Field Program must be finalized before student begins SOW334. Field courses require student to spend time in off-campus field settings. Student must furnish their own transportation to and from field settings. Student may be required to complete criminal background check, at student cost, as part of agency requirements.

International Field Practicum

Junior level student may fulfill SOW334 Social Work Field Experience in a social work approved international semester program. Student must work with the Office of International Studies and obtain approval from the field director of the Social Work Program. Student must also meet the Bethel requirements to study abroad and be accepted into a study abroad program.

Standards for Continuance and Graduation

In order to remain in the program, student must:

Earn a grade of C or better in each social work course (courses with a grade of C- or lower must be repeated);
Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25;
Demonstrate understanding of the NASW Code of Ethics and a consistent and growing commitment to ethical practice in accordance with this code;
Obtain an evaluation from junior-level (SOW334) field instructor and faculty liaison confirming that satisfactory progress is evident and the student is ready for senior-level field practice (SOW432, 433, 434). Application process, field expectations, and standards are detailed in the Social Work Program Policy Handbook and the Social Work Program Field Practicum Manual;
Obtain evaluations during senior-level field practicum (SOW432, 433, 434) from the field instructor and the faculty liaison confirming that satisfactory progress is being made toward competent, ethical, and professional social work practice. Application process, field expectations, and standards are detailed in the Social Work Program Policy Handbook and the Social Work Program Field Practicum Manual;
Obtain a final (SOW 432, 433, 434) evaluation from the field instructor and the faculty liaison confirming that the student is adequately prepared to graduate as a professional social worker. Application process, field expectations, and standards are detailed in the Social Work Program Policy Handbook and the Social Work Program Field Practicum Manual;
Maintain ongoing evidence of meeting standards of professional conduct and emotional maturity requisite for professional practice as outlined in the Academic Performance Standards which includes: cognitive skills, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, professional commitments, communication skills, professional behaviors, and self- awareness; and
Demonstrate continued development of professional knowledge, values, skills, ethics, and conduct expected of a generalist social work practitioner as presented throughout the Social Work Program.

Note: Students who request to resume their involvement with the Social Work Program after dropping out of the program or withdrawing from Bethel University for any reason must apply for readmission into the program. Issues that led to the decision to drop out (whether voluntary of involuntary) must be addressed prior to being readmitted to the Social Work Program. Being readmitted to Bethel University does not constitute readmission into the Social Work Program.

Courses

Social Work Courses

SOW200Z • Introduction to Helping Relationships (fall, spring) 4 credits

Overview of social work mission, core values, history, and fields of practice. Understanding dimensions of diversity, cultures, and structures that may oppress and marginalize people groups. Significant cross-cultural, community-based service learning in which students communicate and collaborate with diverse individuals. Consideration of social work as career choice. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing.

SOW250 • Social Welfare in America (spring) 3 credits

Development of the welfare state in America from colonial period to the present, with a brief examination of European roots and influences. Historical context, reform movements, and resultant legislation, including that which emphasizes the roles of minorities and women. (Carries cross-credit in history.)

SOW304 • Social Work Practice I (fall) 3 credits

Generalist social work theory and practice with organizations and communities. Application of human behavior in the social environment. Research-based knowledge emphasized. Assignments in community settings focus on engagement and assessment; dimensions of diversity; interaction of social systems; and strategies to promote human and civil rights. Must be taken concurrently with SOW330; SOW313. Prerequisites: SOW200Z; major in social work.

SOW305 • Social Policy Practice (spring) 4 credits

Interrelationship of social problems, social welfare policies, and service delivery from historical, economic, political, and program perspectives. Social systems content applied to social policy analysis. Students develop, analyze, advocate, and provide leadership for policy and service delivery that promote economic and social justice through community-based projects. Prerequisites: Major in social work. (Non-majors may take course only with consent of instructor.)

SOW313 • Social Work Practice II (fall) 3 credits

Generalist social work theory and practice with individuals and families. Beginning professional development, communication skills and social change skills emphasized. Video assignment provides application of the helping process: engagement, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, and termination. Must be taken concurrently with SOW330; SOW304. Prerequisites: SOW200Z; major in social work.

SOW327G • Social Relations: (spring) 3 credits Issues of Power and Privilege in the U.S.

Using minority/majority as sociological concepts to analyze individual behavior and group relationships, the distribution of power and privilege between minority and majority groups is studied. Issues of ethnicity, race, gender, faith perspectives, physical and mental attributes, and social class are examined. Includes social justice theories and applications. Prerequisites: GES130 or GES145, 146; Contemporary Western Life and Thought (L) course or GES245; World Cultures (U) course.

SOW330 • Social Work Field Experience I (fall) 2 credits

Introductory field experience where students apply and integrate beginning knowledge, values, skills, and ethics for social work practice with an emphasis on preparing for professional role. Weekly on-campus field seminar supports integration while students work a minimum of 80 hours in a field setting under agency supervision. Must be taken concurrently with SOW304; SOW313. Prerequisites: SOW200Z; major in social work.

SOW331 • Social Work Field Experience II (spring) 2 credits

Field experience where students apply and integrate beginning knowledge, values, skills, and ethics for social work practice with an emphasis on diversity and policy practice. Weekly on-campus field seminar supports integration while students work a minimum of 80 hours in field setting under agency supervision. Prerequisites: SOW304; SOW313; SOW330; major in social work; admission to the Social Work Program; admission to the Social Work Field Program.

SOW351 • Methods of Applied Social Research and Statistics (fall) 4 credits

Social research methods, including an emphasis on becoming proficient and critical consumers of research-based data, for the purposes of knowledge advancement, informed practice, and program and practice effectiveness evaluation. Prerequisites: Mathematics (M) course; introductory course in the social and behavioral sciences.

SOW405 • Social Work Practice III (fall) 4 credits

Generalist social work theory and practice with systems of all sizes. Emphasis on groups including task and treatment, group dynamics, leadership and development of group work model. Case studies promote application of critical thinking; cultural competency skills; and research-informed practice. Must be taken concurrently with SOW432. Prerequisites: SOW200Z; SOW304; SOW313; SOW330; SOW331; admission to the Social Work Program.

SOW432 • Social Work Field Instruction I (fall) 3 credits

Field practicum in a practice setting where students perform the role of a professional social worker under supervision of a qualified field instructor. Weekly on-campus filed seminar supports integration of theory with social work practice. Students work a minimum of 135 hours in field. Structured learning plan provides application of social work knowledge, values and skills. Must be taken concurrently with SOW405. Prerequisite: Admission to the Social Work Program; admission to the Social Work Field Program.

SOW433 • Social Work Field Instruction II (spring) 3 credits

A continuation of SOW432. Time involvement must total a minimum of 135 hours in the field. Satisfactory progress must be made toward competence in professional social work practice. Prerequisite: SOW432.

SOW434 • Social Work Field Instruction III (spring) 3 credits

A continuation of SOW433. Time involvement must total a minimum of 135 hours in the field. Satisfactory progress in SOW432/433/434 indicates completion of students readiness to perform the role of a generalist social work practitioner. Must be taken concurrently with SOW433; SOW499. Prerequisite: SOW432.

SOW499 • Senior Integrative Seminar (spring) 3 credits

Integration of generalist social work knowledge, values, and skills through ethics-based case studies; professional portfolio; and practice/program evaluation assignment applied to field practicum setting. Critical thinking, leadership, and scholarship emphasized. Must be taken concurrently with SOW433/434. Prerequisites: SOW405; SOW432.

Programs

In this section, semester credit hours will be shown after the course number and description.

Major in Social Work (B.A.)

SOW200Z*	Introduction to Helping Relationships and Services	4
SOW250	Social Welfare in America	3
SOW304	Social Work Practice I	3
SOW305	Social Policy Change Strategies	4
SOW313	Social Work Practice II	3
SOW330	Social Work Field Experience I	2
SOW331	Social Work Field Experience II	2
SOW351	Methods of Applied Social Research and Statistics	4
SOW327G*	Social Relations: Issues of Power and Privilege in the U.S	3
SOW405	Social Work Practice III	4
SOW432	Social Work Field Instruction I	3
SOW433	Social Work Field Instruction II	3
SOW434	Social Work Field Instruction III	3
SOW499	Senior Integrative Seminar	3
BIO103D*	Human Biology	4
ECO200	Economics of Public Policy Analysis	3
POS100	American Politics and Government	3
PSY100	Introduction to Psychology	3
PSY203	Lifespan Development	3
SOC101	Introduction to Sociology	3
	Total	63
General Education		51-52
Electives		7-8**
	TOTAL	122

* A student may also choose to use this course to meet a General Education requirement.

** Because of possible double counting between General Education and the major, more than 7 elective credits may be available.

Students planning on graduate school should choose MAT131M or PSY230M to satisfy the mathematics (M) course requirement.

Minor in Social Welfare Studies

SOW200Z*	Introduction to Helping Relationships and Services	4
SOW250	Social Welfare in America	3
SOW305	Social Policy Change Strategies	4
SOW351	Methods of Applied Social Research and Statistics	4
Choose from:		3
ECO200	Economics of Public Policy Analysis
POS100	American Politics and Government
Elective from	introductory course in the social and behavioral sciences	3
	TOTAL	21