Bachelor of Social Work Degree Plan of Study  

The Department of Social Work offers a four-year curriculum of study leading to a Bachelor of Social Work Degree accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). Social work education is grounded in the liberal arts and consists of a structured and integrated curriculum. Applied experiences designed to train students to competently apply social work values, theories, and methods to the various social problems encountered by individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities are also included in the curriculum. The B.S.W. degree program is designed to support the mission of the University of Arkansas at Monticello and reflects the mission and charter of the social work profession.

The B.S.W. degree curriculum is designed to prepare generalist social work practitioners to work in a variety of areas including, but not limited to: child, adolescent, and family services; health care; mental health care; criminal justice settings; geriatrics; substance abuse services; and in a variety of social service organizations in the community. An emphasis is placed on the ecological perspective, providing students with an understanding of the reciprocal relationship between the person and environment.

Generalist social work practice includes the provision of social work services to individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and/or communities. Regardless of the area of practice (e.g., children and families, criminal justice, health care, mental health care, aging, substance abuse, and so forth) or level of practice (i.e., micro, mezzo, or macro), social workers seek to promote social and economic justice and to improve the biopsychosocial functioning of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

B.S.W. Admission Requirements

Students must be formally admitted to the Social Work Program prior to entering the Social Work core curriculum. The procedure for formal admission to the B.S.W. degree program is as follows:

1. Students may apply for formal admission upon successful completion of the following courses: SWK 2123 , SWK 2143 , and SWK 3013  
2. Students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00, a “C” or better in all social work courses, and a minimum grade point average of 2.50 in social work at the time of admission.
3. Students must complete the B.S.W. degree program application form, complete 20 volunteer hours in social or human service, submit a resume and personal narrative as outlined by the B.S.W. application guidelines and have a formal interview with social work faculty.

Students who are admitted to the BSW degree program must maintain the following qualifications in order to remain in good standing with the program:

1. Receive a grade of “C” or better in each social work course taken;
2. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0;
3. Maintain a minimum Social work GPA of 2.5;
4. Join and maintain membership in any nationally recognized social work associations including, but not limited to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), National Association of Black Social Workers, National Association of Hispanic Social Workers (NAHW), or the National Association of Christian Social Workers (NACSW).

The B.S.W. degree program does not give academic credit for life experience or previous work experience toward the B.S.W. degree.