Winona State University-Rochester Center offers the Social Work major which is an in-depth major requiring no minor.  This BSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. In most states employment as a professional social worker following graduation with a BSW will require the graduate to take the State Board Licensing Examination.

Through the “2+2 Program,” students can complete this Bachelor of Science degree in its entirety in Rochester by completing lower division credits at Rochester Community and Technical College and the major's upper division credits at WSU-Rochester Center. 

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, a total of 128 credits are required.  Normally, 64 credits can be transferred from a two-year institution and the remaining credits can be taken from Winona State University (some of these remaining credits may be transferred from another four-year institution).  Students who earn an A.A. from R.C.T.C. may be able to transfer in up to 72 credits from R.C.T.C. (please consult your advisor).  At least 30 semester hours must be taken from WSU.   

THE B.S. DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK

• Prepares students in both the scientific and intuitive art of knowing.
• Prepares students to work at the entry level in human services fields, such as mental health, aging, health, employment, education, and child protection.
• Prepares students for state licensure as a professional social worker.

Admission and Academic Standards

Admission to the Bachelor of Social Work program is a separate application process that takes place once each year.  Specific eligibility requirements (in addition to standard academic requirements) must be met for both program admission and retention.  A program admission packet is included in the “Social Work Student Handbook” which can be obtained from the University Center Rochester Bookstore.  Below are select highlights of the admission and retention policies:

• Students must have a "C" or better in each of the foundation courses (see other side); a satisfactory, passing evaluation is required for SW 350.
• Students must have a "C" or better and an overall GPA of 2.5 in all courses considered for admission.  In addition, students must also have a 2.5 GPA and a "C" or better in all courses required by the Social Work Department.
• Required foundation courses are to be completed (or in progress) when applying for admission to the Rochester Social Work Program. 
• Applications to the Rochester Social Work Program are reviewed once each year, and the application deadline is the third Tuesday of February (e.g., February 21, 2006).  Students generally apply for admission to the professional Social Work program during their enrollment in SOCW 340.  (Students transferring to the Rochester Social Work Program from a community college are advised to apply for admission to the program in the Spring preceding their desired entry into the program.  For instance, if one wants to enroll in “Practice I, SW Research and Human Behavior . . .” in the Fall 2006 semester, one would need to apply and be accepted into the program during the Spring 2006 semester.)  A maximum of twenty-five students are accepted into the program each year; admissions are competitive.
• Students who have not met the program requirements may be informed that they will be accepted pending their timely completion of certain requirements, but students may not participate in the program’s core courses until all requirements are met and full acceptance into the program has been granted
• Students are responsible for fulfilling all WSU graduation requirements.

Contact:

Faculty Support:          

Trisha Babcock           

ST 128                  

285-7486             

tbabcock@winona.edu

Faculty:                         

Arlen Carey                  

ST 129                  

280-5049             

acarey@winona.edu