Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
Department
Department of Counseling and Human Development
College
College of Education and Human Development
Overview of the program
The goals of the Social Work Program include:
- To prepare competent and effective generalist social work practitioners to work effectively with diverse individuals, groups, families, organizations, and small communities in rural areas and yet assure they be well versed in global and international ramifications of contemporary social and political realities.
- To engage in on-going exploration and expansion of the social work knowledge base related to:
- Competent and effective generalist social work service and leadership in the development, provision, and evaluation of social services in a variety of organizational settings and service delivery systems within a global context; and
- Social functioning, social policy, social and economic justice, and social problems associated with rural poverty.
- To provide leadership in the development of social services through:
- Preparation of competent and effective practitioners to staff public and private social service agencies and in a variety of organizational settings and service delivery systems;
- Active interaction with area service delivery systems through the Southeastern Community Advisory Board and Field Internship Advisory Committee, the National Association of Social Work, the Social Services Council, and through participation on social service advisory boards and boards of directors, and continuing education initiatives;
- Professional consultation, advisement, research, and evaluation for and with public and private social service agencies in a variety of organizational settings and service delivery systems; and
- Professional supervision of area Louisiana Graduate Social Worker candidates for LCSW licensure.
- To ground the social work education of competent and effective generalist social work practitioners in the history, purposes and philosophy of the social work profession by:
- Preparing students to work with diverse at risk populations and to become conscious and maintain awareness of the ramifications of social and economic injustice within international and global contexts as related to social problems: e.g. poverty, gender bias, sexual orientation, and race;
- Infusing and affirming the professional history and philosophy of social work values, ethics, purpose, and goals throughout the educational curriculum, affirming and promulgating the values, standards, and principles as reflected in the National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics and the Louisiana Social Work Practice Act and their Louisiana Rules, Standards, Procedures and Practices whenever and wherever relevant throughout the curriculum; and
- Reaffirming the Social Work Program's commitment to the history and philosophy of the social work profession reflected in the Council on Social Work Education Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards through our thoughtful and responsive self-assessment, constructive change, and documentation of these processes.
- To base social work education of competent and effective generalist social work practitioners upon a body of knowledge, values and skills by:
- Promulgating a generalist practice curriculum model built upon a broad based liberal arts perspective for effective empowerment oriented social work practice with individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities;
- Utilizing theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to ensure students' understanding of individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities; and
- Preparing baccalaureate level generalist social workers to become critical thinkers and to understand and accept the responsibility to remain proficient in professional research based practice through lifelong acquisition and development of knowledge and skills toward client empowerment, advocacy, and transformation.
- To enable students in the Southeastern Social Work Program to integrate the knowledge, values and skills of the social work profession toward competent practice through:
- Maintaining and advancing teaching excellence in the Southeastern Social Work Program;
- Appropriate volunteer, service learning, and field internship practice experiences; and
- Active student interaction with area service delivery systems through participation in the Southeastern Social Work Club professional program and community services initiatives, on the Southeastern Community Advisory Board and Field Internship Advisory Committee, the National Association of Social Work, the Social Services Council, and social service advisory boards and boards of directors, and continuing education initiatives.
Strengths of the program
Strengths lie in the fact that our graduates are able to:
- Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice as demonstrated through classroom discussion, objective and subjective testing, role play, service learning, and field practice experiences, with particular emphasis on generalist practice in small towns and rural communities.
- Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles as reflected in success on objective and subjective tests, competence in evaluating case vignettes, and addressing value and ethical dilemma experienced in service learning and field practice experiences, with particular emphasis on values and ethics as they relate to generalist practice in small towns and rural communities.
- Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to client's age, class, color, culture, rurality, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation in classroom case exercises and role play, service learning and field practice settings.
- Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice as demonstrated in classroom case exercises and role play, in real time advocacy projects, in social policy analysis assignments, and in service learning and field practice settings, with particular emphasis on such conditions in rural areas.
- Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues as demonstrated through classroom discussion and presentations, presentations at local and state conferences, objective and subjective testing, role play, service learning and field practice experiences.
- Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with systems of all sizes through successful demonstration in service learning and field practice experiences.
- Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities through classroom case exercises and role play, in real time observation of social service boards, task groups, support groups; through agency visits, service learning and field practice settings.
- Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies through classroom case exercises and role play, in real time advocacy projects, in social policy analysis assignments, and in service learning and field practice settings.
- Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, and evaluate their own practice interventions as affirmed in objective testing and successful completion of research and statistical analysis courses addressing this content and in real time service learning and field practice experiences.
- Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities as demonstrated through classroom case exercises and role play, in real time participation in student projects and organizations, social service boards, task groups, support groups; through agency visits, service learning and field practice settings.
- Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice as demonstrated through appropriate and fruitful use of academic and professional advisement during acquisition of knowledge, skills and values base, and through service learning and field practice experiences.
- Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change as demonstrated through participation in projects toward organizational change and functioning as a competent beginning professional service team member in service learning and field practice experiences.
Preparing for a job in the program
Students with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work will be prepared for entry level social work positions. Additionally, students may opt to earn a master's degree, which will allow them more diverse opportunities in the social work profession, as well as higher paying jobs.
Careers in the program
Social work employment settings are not limited to, but include:
- Government agencies
- Mental health and health services
- Criminal and Delinquency services
- Community settings
- International/Global settings
- Private agencies and practice
Starting Salaries after completing the program (estimates only)
Starting salaries at the bachelor's level - $15,000 - $35,000.
Campus organizations and activities affiliated with the program
- Social Work Club - open membership to students
- Phi Alpha - National Honor Society in Social Work (requirements must be met)
Related fields that might interest you
Related fields of interest may include:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Family Consumer Science
How do I know this is the degree for me?
Common Strengths and interests of students in the program
- Empathic regard
- Genuineness
- Ability to advocate
Contact Information
Social Work Contact:
Dr. Heidi Kulkin, Social Work Program Coordinator
Telephone: 985-549-2054
Email: hkulkin@selu.edu
