Social Work, B.S.W.

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School of Social Work

Rhodes Tower 1417
(216) 687-4560
Web-page: https://health.csuohio.edu/social-work/bsw-program
Email: Dr. Kimberly Fuller, BSW Program Director

Description

A practical and important program that prepares individuals for the professional practice of social work. Social work is the study of organized means of providing basic support services for vulnerable individuals and groups and allows the person to be licensed as a professional (LSW) in the state of Ohio. Social work professionals work across hundreds of agencies, helping others address the myriad of challenges and problems they may encounter - for example, mental health, substance use, geriatric care, poverty, juvenile justice, schools, veterans, and many more.

What careers can this major prepare you for?

As noted, licensed social workers perform hundreds of different roles helping others in our community. Some of these include: child, family and school social workers; medical social workers; mental health and substance abuse social workers; military social workers; community social workers; and social work administrators, researchers, planners, and policymakers.

What skills are developed within this major?

Skills developed within this major include: assessment and clinical intervention skills; policy analysis skills; mental health and substance abuse training; advocacy; and community organizing.

Accreditation

The undergraduate Social Work Program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Student Groups

Students in the BSW program are eligible for student membership in the National Association of Social Workers and the National Association of Black Social Workers. Graduates of the Program are eligible for full professional membership in both organizations. Students achieving a 3.75 in their social work courses are eligible for membership in Phi Alpha, the social work honor society.

Social Work Licensure

Students graduating from the Program are eligible to take the Ohio Social Work Licensure Examination (LSW). Only students graduating from a fully accredited undergraduate program in social work are eligible to take the Ohio Social Work Licensure Examination. The LSW is required to practice social work in most health and human services organizations and agencies. Some public agencies do not presently require the licensure. Individuals who refer to themselves as social workers must hold the LSW and/or LISW.

Felony History

Students interested in the social work major should be aware that having a prior felony conviction or prior sanctions for unprofessional conduct may impact future potential for obtaining field placements, social work employment, and licensure. All applicants to social work licensure are required by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board to report all misdemeanor and felony convictions with the exception of minor traffic violations (DUI/OVI charges are not considered traffic violations and must be reported as criminal convictions) for licensure. For the licensure application, all charges and or convictions require a “yes” answer to the question, “Have you been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic violation?” even if the original charge and conviction is an expunged status. Falsification could result in delayed placement and other action, including Student Conduct Code charges up to and including dismissal from the program.

Required Core Curriculum

The department requires several courses to be taken as a part of the core foundation of social work. Students are required to take one science with a lab, PSY 101 , SOC 101 and PSC 111 .

Hours Required for Degree

Minimum hours required for the degree: 120

Minimum Hours Required for the Major: A student must satisfactorily complete 51 credit hours in core Social Work courses. This does not include the University/College’s Core Curriculum requirements.

College Requirements

See college page for college requirements.

Major Requirements

1. GPA Requirements for the Major

A Social Work major must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA in the Social Work core curriculum and a 2.0 cumulative GPA overall in the university. During the first two years at Cleveland State University, students are encouraged to focus on completing their core curriculum requirements. Transfer students may bring these requirements with them. The social work professional foundation curriculum builds vertically and horizontally on the liberal arts/general education foundation.

The practice sequence courses are restricted to social work majors. All social work majors are required to complete the prescribed curriculum. No course credit is granted by the School of Social Work for life or work experience. Additionally, no transfer credit is granted from an institution that does not have an accredited Social Work Program.

2. Social Work Core Requirements (15 Courses)

Courses Must Be Taken Concurrently

Note(s):

*Students must have completed or be taking concurrently the following Social Work courses prior to SWK 350 : SWK 200 , SWK 201 , SWK 300 , SWK 302 , SWK 303 , and SWK 304 .

**All the above requirements must be taken prior to SWK 385 , with the exception of SWK 305 , which can be taken concurrently.

The completion of a major in Social Work depends upon successful completion of two semesters of student practicum in a professional health or human services agency or organization.

Students are required to obtain a grade of “C” or better in SWK 350 - Basic Generalist Practice . Students receiving less than the required minimum grade in the aforementioned course may not proceed in the major without an assessment by the BSW Program Director and BSW Field Coordinator.

3. Elective Courses Include

Honors Program/University Scholars Requirements

The School of Social Work’s undergraduate BSW Program designates four core courses for social work majors in the Honors Program or the University Scholars Program. Students can change these courses into Honors contract courses by adding the departmentally approved Honors contract assignments to the courses to convert them to Honors contract courses, using the Honors Contract form. In addition to contract courses, students in some cases may complete an independent study to fulfill a portion of the 8 hours of Honors credits required.

1. BSW Course Contracting

Students can complete the designated courses within the major, though the course work itself would be modified to meet the more rigorous Honors/Scholars expectations. BSW Program Courses designated. These assignments are outlined in the BSW Handbook.

2. Independent Study

This option would be an individualized student plan for students interested in research. Students interested in this option must work with the BSW Program Director on their independent study project.

The student must coordinate with the BSW Program Director before the beginning of the semester to establish a plan for their independent study. Students may take two semesters of an independent study upon request. Credit hours would be commensurate with breadth and depth of the project. These credit hours would be taken as additional elective hours within the major.

SWK 496 - Independent Study in Social Work