Social Work Admission 

Admission to the Bachelor of Social Work Program is a procedure separate from WSU admission and from major declaration.  The BSW admission process takes place during the second semester of the student's sophomore year.  Specific eligibility requirements in addition to the academic requirements for both admission and retention must be met. The application materials containing the requirements, instructions, deadlines, and forms can be found in the Social Work Handbook and on the Social Work Department web page.

Required foundation courses are to be completed prior to admission to the social work program. Students will not be admitted to the program unless they satisfy the department's admission requirements by the end of the semester in which they apply.  (Spring semester applicants have until the end of the next summer session to satisfy admission requirements.)  Admission is competitive; therefore, some applicants may not be admitted.

Social work faculty members are available to assist prospective social workers with the admission process. First-year and sophomore students interested in the social work major are advised to become well informed regarding the courses required for admission to the social work program. Admission into the program is limited to a specific number of students and is based on satisfactory completion of required courses and evaluation scores obtained in the admission process.   Acceptance into the BSW program is the prerequisite for SOCW 365 and SOCW 370; it is also a prerequisite for enrollment in all required social work courses except SOCW 340 and SOCW 350.

Students must have a “C” or better and an overall GPA of 2.5 in the following courses: all five foundation courses, ENG 111, CMST 191, and a satisfactory evaluation in SOCW 350.   Admission is based on fulfillment of the course requirements specified above and the evaluation score obtained during the BSW acceptance process.  Students should contact their advisor for further information on this process.

Academic Standards

Students must have a “C” or better and an overall GPA of 2.5 in all courses considered for BSW Program admission. In addition, students must also maintain a 2.5 GPA and a “C” or better in all courses required within the major.

Student Association of Social Workers (SASW)

Membership offers students the opportunity to organize and act on social issues of concern to students at the local level as well as the state and national levels. In addition, SASW provides a social network for the students.  SASW is available to students on the Rochester and Winona campuses.  Membership is strongly encouraged.

Application Process

Complete the application packet located in the Social Work Student Handbook, available in the bookstore, Winona or Rochester. Submit the original application packet and one copy to the Social Work Department office - Minne Hall 228 in Winona or ST129 in Rochester.  Application packets should only be submitted when complete.  Incomplete applications will not be accepted. The student application should contain the following items:

1. 1. Current transcript and transcript from all schools attended.
   2. Three letters of reference using the forms attached to the application, from supervisors, teachers,
            clergy or other non-peer colleagues.
   3. Essay for application
   4. Junior Field Experience (Social Work 350) evaluation, or a letter of progress from the field instructor if  
            currently in Field Experience.
   5. Current Resume. 
      1. Admission deadlines: First Tuesday in October fall semester and third Tuesday in February for spring semester admission.
      2. Interviews are scheduled upon receipt of all materials listed above.  Incomplete applications will not be accepted and will delay consideration for admission until the next semester.  The interview will focus on the applicant's knowledge, skills, and values as they pertain to the profession of social work.
      3. An admission decision will be made by the social work faculty after the interview and a review of student's application materials. Students will be accepted, conditionally accepted, deferred, or not accepted.  The applicant will be notified of the faculty's decision within one month of the date that all interviews for the semester are completed.
      4. Appeal of the admission decision is every student's right.  See the Program Standards for Student Professional Conduct and Retention and Termination Policy.

Recommended Course Sequence For The B.S. Social Work Major

First Year

Fall- Concentrate on University Studies requirements and enroll any semester in Introduction to Sociology (Soc 150) and General Psychology (Psych 210).

Sophomore year

Fall- University Studies courses plus Developmental Psychology (Psycy 250), Human Biology (Biol 117), and Fundamentals of Statistics (Stat 110) and any remaining foundation courses.

SocWk 340, Introduction to Social Work, is taken during sophomore year; it can be taken any semester of sophomore year. SocWk 350 Field Experience can be taken before or concurrent with SocWk 340 Introduction to Social Work.

The Social Work Major has two sequences of classes - one beginning the fall semester of the junior year, the other beginning the spring semester. Both possibilities are shown below. The Rochester campus schedule sequence will vary slightly from the Winona sequences.

This sequencing is only a guide; it may vary depending on ability to get into a course, the time courses are offered, the time you entered the program, and the number of summer courses taken. One semester of flexibility in either direction is quite likely when planning course sequence. 

Winona Fall Sequence

Junior Year

Fall Semester

SocWk 365 SW Prac. I
SocWk 370, Human Beh in the Soc Environment
Electives or minor or double major courses
Completion of any University Studies courses

Spring Semester

SocWk 385 Prac. II
SocWk 380 American Social Welfare Policy 

SocWk 390 Research: Process and Skills
Completion of any University Studies courses 

The diversity course requirement should be taken sometime during junior or senior year. 

 

Senior Year

Fall Semester 

SocWk 400 Practicum Preparation 

SocWk 410 Social Welfare Policy Analysis
SocWk 415 Practice III
Electives - any final courses to meet graduation requirements 

Spring Semester

SocWk 475 Practicum
SocWk 480 Integrative SW Seminar 

Winona Spring Sequence

Junior Year

Fall Semester

Completion of any foundation courses including SocWk 340 Intro to Social Work
SocWk 350 Field Experience
**Electives or minor or double major courses

Spring Semester

SocWk 365 SW Practice I
SocWk 370 Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Electives or minor or double major courses

**The diversity course requirement should be taken sometime during junior or senior year.

Senior Year

Fall Semester

SocWk 380 American Social Welfare Policy
SocWk 385 Practice II
SocWk 390 Research: Process and Skills
**Electives or minor or double major courses

Spring Semester

SocWk 400 Practicum Preparation
SocWk 410 Social Welfare Policy Analysis
SocWk 415 SW Practice III
Electives - any others to meet graduation requirements
Practicum (SW 475) and Seminar (SW 480) can be taken during the summer or fall semester. 
 

ROCHESTER SEQUENCE

Sophomore Year

Spring Semester

Completion of any foundation courses including Intro to Social Work (SW 340)

Electives

SW 350 Social Work Field Experience

Completion of Stats, diversity course if not completed

Junior Year

Fall Semester

SW 365 Social Work Practice I
SW 370 Human Behavior in the Social Environment
SW 390 Social Work Research

Completion of Stats and diversity course if not completed

Junior Year

Spring Semester

SW 385 Social Work Practice II
SW 380 American Social Welfare Policy

Electives
Senior Year
Fall Semester

SW 410 Social Welfare Policy Analysis
SW 415 Social Work Practice III
SW 400 Practicum Preparation

Senior Year
Spring Semester

SW 480 Integrative Social Work Seminar
SW 475 Practicum

In reviewing the course descriptions regarding Austin and Rochester AA students meeting our foundation requirements, the program faculty approved the following courses for substation:

Social Work Program Transfer Policy

The purpose of this policy is to recognize the need to assure non-duplication while asserting
that the expected content within the Social Work Program and as specified by the CSWE Curriculum
Policy Statement is included in every student’s educational experience.
The acceptance of course credits outside of the program’s course offerings is the responsibility
of the registrar’s office as per its equivalency policy. Students requesting such transfer credit approval
must be referred to the University Transfer Coordinator’s office for this review.
Course credits for courses offered within the Program will only be given for substantially equivalent
courses taken in other CSWE accredited social work programs. The advisor and the Director must
sign off on the substitution forms as per university policy.
As a general rule exceptions to the above policy are not given.   However, if students believe that
they have completed a course that meets the requirements for one of the social work program courses,
they must complete the following steps:

1. Submit course syllabi and description of course requirements to their advisor.
2. Discuss with their advisor why they feel this course meets program requirements.
3. With their advisor document that the course/s submitted for substitution substantially meet all content requirements of the program course, particularly that content that is covered in relation to the CSWE
   Curriculum Policy Statement.
4. Students must also establish that the course submitted for substitution was taught by an MSW
   social worker, if the course was taken as an undergraduate course.
5. Student petitions must then be submitted for a full faculty review. A majority of the reviewing faculty must approve all petitions.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 12:59