Social Work (B.A.)

Social Workers assist people to change themselves and their environments. The Social Work Program prepares its students for generalist practice through mastery of nine core competencies provided by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Students in the Social Work Program develop professional knowledge, skills, and values, and cognitive and affective processes needed to successfully practice generalist social work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities through courses in theory, practice, policy, and research. Classroom coursework is accompanied by practice in the field, the signature pedagogy of social work education. Students complete a 120-hour field observation and a 480-hour field practicum in social work agencies as part of their education.

Students who graduate with a degree in social work may find careers working in many areas. These areas include child welfare, community and residential care with children and adolescents, older adults, people with developmental disabilities, mental health disorders, substance use disorders, in-home family services, juvenile and adult probation, hospital social work, hospice, case management, policy development and advocacy, community organization, administration, and research.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredits the Baccalaureate Social Work Program at Buena Vista University. Upon graduation with a B.A. in Social Work, the student is prepared for entry-level generalist social work practice, state licensure as a social worker, and advanced standing in CSWE accredited graduate schools of social work. Students should be aware that a degree from an accredited social work program is necessary for certain positions within the social welfare field. Note that if a student chooses an academic minor in social work, the minor does not result in any licensure or certification.

Admissions Policy and Procedure:

Students may declare a major in social work at any time. Students must apply for formal admission in the fall of their junior year. Students may be admitted conditionally if they have not completed a full semester at Buena Vista University or have not achieved the required grade point averages and have a plan to correct the problem.

Students should plan their social work courses with social work faculty. The social work program manual describes the social work program and is available from the director of the Social Work Program.

Admission Requirements:

1. Social work majors should have completed SCWK 200, 211, and 235 prior to admission.*
2. Social work majors must have and maintain a 2.0 GPA in all university coursework and the major.
3. Social work majors must obtain a minimum grade of “C-” or Pass (when pass/fail is the only option) in all required social work courses. Social work majors must take social work courses for a letter grade unless the only option offered is Pass/Fail.
4. Social work majors must abide by the NASW Code of Ethics throughout their social work education at Buena Vista University. A violation of the ethical principles of professional social work could result in removal from the Social Work Program and the major.
5. Admission to the Social Work Program is based on academic preparation. Criteria include academic achievement, knowledge of and adherence to the National Association of Social Worker Code of Ethics, and the development of the knowledge, skills, values, and cognitive and affective processes that provide the foundation for professional social work competence.
6. Social work majors must be able to perform the duties of a social work student with or without reasonable accommodations.

* Transfer students will not have had the opportunity to complete these courses before applying for admission. Assuming they meet other criteria, students will be admitted conditionally and admission will be changed to full acceptance upon successful completion of all requirements.

Note: The CSWE accredited degree program is offered at the Storm Lake campus only.

Social work courses must have been taken within a CSWE accredited social work program, or from a community college that has a transfer agreement with Buena Vista University’s Social Work Program, in order to be considered for transfer into the social work major. The Social Work Program will consider transfer social work courses from community colleges that have transfer agreements with other CSWE accredited social work programs on a case-by-case basis. In order to have the course considered, the student must submit a copy of the syllabus to the director of the Social Work Program to be reviewed for: 1) equivalence to Buena Vista University’s program; and 2) completion in a CSWE accredited social work program, or from a community college that has a transfer agreement with Buena Vista University’s Social Work Program.

Students who have not been accepted into the social work major may not take the social work practice classes (SCWK 390  and SCWK 410 ). Students must satisfactorily complete all social work major courses prior to taking Field Practicum (SCWK 440 ,SCWK 441 ,SCWK 442 ) and Senior Seminar (SCWK 443 ).

No special admission is needed for students who choose to minor in social work.

Application Process:

1. Students must complete and submit the following to the director of the Social Work Program by the due date:
   1. Social Work Program application form
   2. Unofficial transcript from Buena Vista University
   3. Two letters of reference
   4. Application essay
   5. Social work student self-assessment scale
   6. Signed statement asserting that they have reviewed and agree to adhere to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics
2. Students will complete an interview with social work faculty.
3. Admission to the program is decided by the social work faculty.
4. Students may be accepted, accepted with conditions, or not accepted and will be notified of the decision in writing.
5. Decisions may be appealed by following the appeals process outlined in the Social Work Handbook. Appeals must be made in writing.