Social Work Certification Requirements

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The School of Social Work

Dean: Scott D. Ryan, Ph.D.

211 S. Cooper St., Social Work Complex • Box 19129 • 817-272-3647

www.uta.edu/ssw · sswbsw@uta.edu

Overview

Undergraduate social work education at The University of Texas at Arlington is based on a set of premises. Responsible citizenship and professional social work practice recognize and respond to the realities of a complex and diverse society that is in continual need of constructive social change predicated on social justice. To this end, social work students are expected to

demonstrate the capacity to critically evaluate their cultural environment and, in so doing, demonstrate analytical skills and understanding both orally and in writing. Students are

required to adhere to the Codes of Ethics as currently published by the National Association of Social Workers and the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners in their professional practice and in their course work. The faculty of the School of Social Work enhances this process through its commitment to teaching excellence, scholarly activities, research, and community and professional service.

The Bachelor of Social Work degree program of the School of Social Work is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Its primary educational objective is to prepare students for beginning professional social work practice. The sequence of courses, designed to include academic social work and field experience requirements in a liberal arts context, enables the student, upon graduation, to work in a variety of social service agencies and settings. A secondary purpose of the program is preparation for graduate study in social work or another profession or discipline for which baccalaureate social work education would be appropriate.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Social Work Degree

English Composition

ENGL 1301 and 1302.

Literature

English literature course, 2000 level or above.

Liberal Arts Elective

English literature course, 2000 level or above.

The University of Texas at Arlington 2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog

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History

HIST 1311 and 1312.

Political Science

POLS 2311 and 2312.

Mathematics

MATH 1301 or higher; and 1308.

Natural Science

BIOL 1433 and 1434

Social/Cultural Studies

ANTH 1306 or 2322.

Fine Arts

ART, DNCE, MUSI, THEA or other fine arts as approved.

Modern and Classical Languages

SPAN 1441, 1442 and 2313.

Economics

One three-hour course. ECON 2337 (suggested).

Computer

INSY 2303, CSE 1301, or PSYC 2351.

Psychology

PSYC 1315, and an upper division course such as 3318 (or some other), but not 3310.

Speech

COMS 1301 or approved substitute.

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Sociology

SOCI 1311

Social Work

SOCW 2311, 2313, 3301, 3302, 3303, 3304, 3305, 3306, 3317, 4251, 4451, 4252, 4452.

Electives

Sufficient to give the 120 hours required for the degree. No more than four hours of activity (EXSA/DNCA) can be used toward a degree for either hours or GPA.

Total

120 hours, at least 36 of which must be upper division courses (3000/4000 level).

Suggested Course Sequence

Please refer to the BSW Degree Plan for more specific information. First Year

First Semester: ENGL 1301; HIST 1311; BIOL 1433; SOCI 1311; MATH 1301 or 1302 - Total Credit 15 hours.

Second Semester: ENGL 1302; HIST 1312; BIOL 1434; PSYC 1315; MATH 1308 - Total Credit 15 hours.

Second Year

First Semester: English literature, 3 hours; POLS 2311; SPAN 1441; Fine Arts, 3 hours; SOCW 2311 - Total Credit 16 hours.

Second Semester: English literature, 3 hours; POLS 2312; SPAN 1442; SOCW 2313; COMS 1301 - Total Credit 16 hours.

Third Year

First Semester: SOCW 3301; SOCW 3303; SPAN 2313; ECON 2337 (or 2305); SOCW 3317 - Total Credit 18 hours.

Second Semester: Anthropology, 3 hours; SOCW 3302; SOCW 3304; PSYC 3000+, 3 hours; SOCW 3305 - Total Credit 18 hours.

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Fourth Year

First Semester: SOCW 4251 and 4451; SOCW 3306; CSE 1301 - Total Credit 12 hours. Second Semester: SOCW 4252 and 4452; Electives, 8 hours - Total Credit 14 hours.

Admission to the BSW Program

Admission to the BSW program requires: • Overall GPA of 2.5 or better

• Completion of 12 hours in residence at UT Arlington

• Completion of SOCW 2311 and 2313 with a grade of C or better • Completion of 40 hours of courses, including:

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o English 1301 and 1302 o Math 1301 or higher o Psychology 1315 o Sociology 1311

o Political Science 2311 (United States Government) • Completion of the BSW Admission Application Form • Submission of a personal statement

The application and personal statement are submitted to the BSW Program office. Both will be reviewed by an advisor and the program director. Students will be notified of eligibility within two weeks of submitting their application.

Transfer of Credit

BSW student transcripts are evaluated by the UT Arlington Office of Admissions. Courses that meet the liberal arts requirements of the BSW degree are applied to the degree plan. Other courses are designated as electives. The student receives credit for social work courses from CSWE accredited social work programs. The exceptions are the practicum courses, SOCW 4251, 4252, 4451, and 4452 which must be completed at UT Arlington. No credit is given for life or work experience.

Continuation Through the BSW Program

Continuation through the BSW Program and eligibility for entry into Field requires: • 2.5 average in all social work courses and no grade lower than a C

• Acceptable evaluations in all Social Work courses • 2.5 overall grade point average

• Satisfactory evaluation from the 2311 instructor and from the supervisor of the volunteer experience required for 2311.

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• Ability to qualify for state licensure in the state of Texas upon completion of the academic program (i.e., no disqualifying factors) under the Texas Professional Social Worker Act.

Field Work Requirements

The BSW Program requires two consecutive semesters of field experience in a single human-service agency. Students enroll in the field instruction course (SOCW 4451, first

semester; 4452, second semester) and complete 240 clock hours per semester in their assigned agency. Concurrent enrollment in a weekly two-hour, on-campus seminar (SOCW 4251, first semester; 4252, second semester) is also required. Field placements are arranged early in the preceding semester, after students are formally advised by BSW program advisors as to field eligibility. Eligible students may begin field any semester (see the specific requirements for CPS Field).

All social work students enrolling in Field Instruction courses will be assessed a fee in order to include them in the school's group professional liability insurance policy. Coverage is for a $1,000,000 limit each claim and $3,000,000 limit aggregate.

Volunteer Experience

A requirement of Introduction to Social Work (SOCW 2311) is completion of 25 hours of volunteer experience in a human service agency during the semester. Arrangements for these volunteer experiences are made with the course instructor. Students enrolling in SOCW 2311 are also assessed a fee for coverage by a group malpractice insurance policy while they are completing the 25 hours of required volunteer work.

Computer and Oral Competencies

Social Work students will demonstrate competence in computer usage. The requirement may be met by successful completion of a course approved by the academic advisor. Oral

communication skills will be demonstrated by successful completion of COMS 1301, or a suitable substitute.

The Diversity Certificate Program (DCP)

The Diversity Certificate Program (DCP) is a multi-faceted diversity awareness and leadership certificate program intended to prepare UTA undergraduates to live and lean in an increasingly diverse society and interconnected world. The Program demands that participants learn and think critically about racial and ethnic relations, gender and sexuality, and social and economic inequality. Drawing from existing courses, programs and associates within the university, its interdisciplinary design will enable participants to create, synthesize and integrate academic coursework with co-curricular experiences in order to demonstrate their preparedness for participation in an increasingly diverse society and interconnected world.

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The innovation Diversity Certificate Program is for undergraduates seeking a new, more critical approach toward questions of identity, equity, justice, and diversity. Specifically, the program will expand the professional profile of all students pursing any career by demonstrating to potential employers that they possess the multi-cultural skills and knowledge necessary to work in a diverse workplace, and respond to a diverse clientele and customer base.

The Certificate requires a total of 12 credit hours: 3 credit hours in each diversity domain (Race & Ethnic Relations, Gender & Sexuality, Social and Economic inequality) AND a 3 credit hour Capstone course (SOCW 3317 or MANA 4326). In additional, participants will be required to earn co-curricular credits by attending approved diversity related events, activities, and

experiences. The co-curricular requirement further differentiates this program from others, allowing participants to see the everyday need for diversity competencies and apply what they have learned to their academic or professional field of interest.

Students completing the requirement of the DCP will receive an academic certificate and an official notation on their transcript. For more information on the Diversity Certificate Program, contact the program at dcp@uta.edu.

School of Social Work Faculty

Dean

Professor Ryan

Professors

Black, Bricout, Elliott, Hegar, Hoefer, Jordan, Pillai, Popple, Ryan, Scannapieco

Associate Professors

Basham, Cobb, Danis, Lehmann, Moon, Murphy, Woody

Assistant Professors

Adorno, Aguirre, Blakey, Butler, Cronley, Finch, Hickerson, Madden, Mitschke, Sanchez, Small, Smith-Osborne

Professors Emeritus

Duehn, Gaupp, Hernandez, Lecca, Litrio, Mayadas, Mindel, Shannon

Course Descriptions

View Course Descriptions for: Social Work (SOCW)