Social Work, B.S.W.

The primary purpose of the BSW program is to prepare students for competent and effective generalist social work practice with knowledge, skills, and values to enhance the well-being of human systems to meet the basic needs of all people, with attention placed on the empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.

The BSW Program at JCC defines generalist social work practice, as follows:
Generalist practice serves client systems utilizing an ecological systems approach focusing on persons, families, groups, organizations, and communities. It is not confined by a narrow cadre of theories; rather it is versatile enough to allow problems and situations, as well as strengths, capacities, and resources, to determine the practice approach. Generalist practice employs a problem-solving framework and a broad knowledge, value, and skill base which demands ethical practice and on-going self-assessment. Briefly, generalist social work practice:

• Is multi-level to include individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
• Is multi-theory, allowing for the free selection of theories as appropriate
• Utilizes a problem identification and solving focus that follows a problem-solving framework
• Utilizes multiple interventions at multiple levels, as appropriate
• Addresses the complexity of individual, family, group, organizational, and community system interactions
• Requires an integration of awareness, competence, and professional response to issues of values, ethics, diversity, culture, social justice, and populations-at-risk.

The curriculum is comprised of a liberal arts base, combined with courses addressing the knowledge, skills and values of the profession. Preparation for a career as a generalist practitioner in Social Work is augmented by a supervised field practicum of 450 clock hours.

To qualify for consideration as a Provisional/Pre-major in the program, applicants must:

• Must be accepted and admitted to Jarvis Christian College

Applications for admission into the Social Work Program are accepted during the Spring (March-April) and Fall (October-November) semesters. Prospective students are assessed by the Admissions Committee of the program who makes the final decisions based on the students’ overall strength of their application materials. Students’ application materials must be submitted directly to the Social Work Program.

To qualify for consideration as a major in the Program, applicants must:

• Be admitted and enrolled at Jarvis Christian College with a completion of a minimum of 45 accumulative general studies credit hours
• Or transfer student/or returning student in the process of admission, with a minimum of 45 accumulative college credit hours
• Submit all official undergraduate transcript(s)
• Have at least a 2.00 overall GPA
• Have completed two of the following cognate courses with at least a 2.0 grade point average or better: SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology , PSYC 2301 - General Psychology , and Economics (Micro & Macro).
• Submit autobiographical essay
• Two letters of recommendation from professors, student organizations, and academic personnel that addresses student’s development.
• Successfully complete faculty interview.

Admissions Essay

Each applicant must write an autobiographical essay that meets the following guidelines:

• Typewritten, doubled space with a font size of 12
• One page or more that supports your interest in social work (e.g., special challenges/obstacles that you have met/overcome, examples of leadership, and other influences that help shaped your interest in social work)

The Admissions essay is one of the critical elements that the Admissions Committee will review for consideration into the program. Applicants must carefully follow the instructions that are given above for the essay. The essay must be as thorough as possible.

There are several attributes that are very important in students who desire to enter into the social work career. These attributes consist of good judgment, integrity, openness to new ideas, and to be receptive to the development of self-awareness, the ability or willingness to change, and to acquire a nonjudgmental attitude regarding differences in people. Other essential attributes require a dedication to values of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics such as commitment to social work’s role in institutional change and a broad-based respect for human rights and diversity.

Admissions Appeal Procedures

If students would like to appeal their admission status, they must submit a formal letter requesting an appeal. In the letter, the student must address the reason(s) for their appeal. Copies of the appeal must be sent to the Social Work Program Director, Chair of the Behavioral and Social Sciences, Dean of the Division Business and Professional Studies, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The aforementioned process must be submitted within fifteen days of receipt of their admission decision.