Associate Dean: Dr. Jacqueline Garrison
BSW Program Director: Mr. Xavier Henson
Director of Field Education: Mrs. Cassandria Peoples
Assistant Professors: Dr. Jacqueline Garrison, Dr. Carolyn Hester, Mrs. Cassandria Peoples, Dr. Elise Reed, Dr. Gayberyl Wesley
Lecturers: Mr. Xavier Henson, Ms. Patricia Williams, and Ms. Evelyn Jenkins, Title IV-E Child Welfare Coordinator
The Bachelor of Social Work program prepares students for beginning generalist practice. The purpose of the BSW Program is to provide the knowledge, values, and skills needed to be a competent and effective social worker at the beginning generalist level. It is the mission of the Baccalaureate Social Work Program to prepare students for entry level practice as beginning generalist, to foster an environment which is fertile with opportunities for student learning and leadership, to cultivate a learning environment that affirms diversity and respect for differences, and to offer a program of study that is aligned with the purposes and values of the profession of social work.
The goals of the Bachelor of Social Work program are:
The ten core competencies espoused by the Council on Social Work Education 2008 provide a framework for programs to develop a curriculum and related program activities. The competencies are utilized for measuring student performance and learning outcomes. The Competencies of Bachelor of Social Work are to:
Graduates of the undergraduate program are prepared to work in agencies dealing with various populations and social issues such as child abuse, aging, mental health, probation and parole, adoptions, foster care, older adults and other diversity-related issues. Graduates are prepared for work in community service organizations, correction facilities, hospices, hospitals, schools, and other public and private human service agencies. The program focuses on services to rural communities and African Americans in particular. Social Work faculty members cross teach undergraduate and graduate courses to give students the full benefit of their expertise.
The social work programs seek to develop culturally sensitive students who appreciate human diversity and the global perspective. The students are grounded in social work knowledge, values, skills, and philosophy in preparation for competent generalist social work practice and admission to graduate school.
Application for formal admission to the professional undergraduate program in the School of Social Work can begin after the completion of 60 semester hours (end of sophomore year) of course work. Students with less than 60 hours are considered pre-social work students and must complete a pre-social work application. Admission requirements include:
The above stated criteria are the basis for formal admission to the major. Once admitted, any student falling below a 2.3 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) could be dismissed from the Social Work major. This dismissal would be subject to a corrective plan. Students have the right to appeal an adverse decision to the Associate Dean of the School of Social Work.
In situations where a student is denied admission, the student has the right to appeal. The student is informed of his or her right for a hearing before the Admissions Committee if the student feels the denial was not justified. The BSW Director and Chair of the Admissions Committee arrange and set dates for these hearings. The outcome of the hearing is submitted to the Associate Dean for review. At the conclusion of the hearing, the student is informed by the Associate Dean of their right to appeal to the Dean of the College of Professional & Graduate Studies if the outcome of the hearing is unsatisfactory for the student.
The baccalaureate degree program in Social Work requires the completion of 120 hours of course work, 60 in general education, and 60 in social work major. Other requirements include general education courses, graduation with a 2.3 cumulative average GPA and retake any courses receiving a “D” grade.
One component of the undergraduate social work program is an intensive field practicum. The School uses over 109 social services agencies in the northern region of Louisiana to allow students to integrate theory and practice, under supervision, in a social service setting. Students must complete a minimum of 400 hours in the practicum and must remain in field, actively participating for the duration of the semester. Under most circumstances, students will complete in excess of 400 hours. Field education is conducted at pre-approved sites, and students must arrange their own transportation. A Field Education Fee of $50.00 is required for each field education course.
| English 101 & 102 | 6 |
| First Year Experience 101 & 102 | 2 |
| Foreign Language | 6 |
| History 103 OR 201 | 3 |
| History 104 OR 202 | 3 |
| Mathematics 131 & 132 OR 147 & 148 | 6 |
| Biology 103 & 104 | 6 |
| Total Hours | 32 |
| Social Work 200 | 3 |
| Political Science 201 | 3 |
| Sociology 201 | 3 |
| Psychology 200 | 3 |
| English 200 OR 201 OR 203 OR 205 | 3 |
| Theatre 212 | 3 |
| Science 105 | 3 |
| Sociology 200 OR 203 | 3 |
| Economics 201 | 3 |
| Art 105 OR Art 219 OR Theatre 100 | 3 |
| General Education Testing | 0 |
| Total Hours | 30 |
| Social Work 301 | 3 |
| Psychology 302 OR 304 OR 210 | 3 |
| Social Work 420 | 3 |
| Social Work 305 & 306 | 6 |
| Social Work 400 & 401 | 6 |
| Social Work 402 | 3 |
| Social Work 304 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 |
| Social Work 403 | 3 |
| Social Work 405 | 3 |
| Social Work 414 | 3 |
| Social Work 417 | 8 |
| Social Work 418 | 2 |
| Social Work Electives | 9 |
| Total Hours | 28 |
| TOTAL | 120 |