Social Work Major (B.A.)

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Major code BA6601

College of Health Sciences and Professions
Social and Public Health
Morton Hall 416
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.597.1602
Fax: 740.593.0427
www.ohio.edu/chsp/sph

Warren Galbreath, contact person

Program Overview

The undergraduate program in social work prepares students for beginning generalist social work practice at the undergraduate level which involves the capacity to apply knowledge, skills and values to assess a range of situations and the ability to work with individuals, groups, larger organizations, and communities from a wide variety of perspectives. Students will complete course work in human behavior and the social environment, social welfare history and policy, research, social work practice methods, and field instruction. As students progress, they will develop the skills for intervening at a generalist level with individuals, groups, organizations, families and communities. Upon graduation, students will be prepared as a baccalaureate-level social work practitioner with a strong foundation in liberal arts. Our program has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1974. Over hundreds of students have graduated from the program since initial accreditation.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

Students may designate “presocial work” major (ND6603) within the College of Health Sciences and Professions in their application to Ohio University. This allows the student to be assigned an advisor within the Department of Social and Public Health during their first semester at Ohio University. There are no additional selective or limited admissions requirements to be admitted as a presocial work major beyond those required by the University and the College of Health Sciences and Professions.

Change of Program Policy

Admission to the major is divided into two stages: premajor and major. First year students may be admitted as premajors (ND6603) to work on first year and sophomore level requirements. To be admitted to the social work program as a major, all prospective students, including premajors, other Ohio University students and transfer students from other institutions, are required to submit fully completed “Application for Major Status” including a personal essay, documentation of human service experience and two letters of reference to the department administrator in 416 Morton Hall by the end of the second full week of fall or spring semester. To be considered for admission, students are required to have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5. In addition, they must have completed the following:

SW 1000 and SW 2601 with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in both courses
BIOS 1030 , PSY 1010 , PSY 2110 , and PSY 2410 , as well as one course in any two of these areas: anthropology, economics, political science, or sociology
Tier I composition (ENG 1510 ) and quantitative skills requirements
At least two semesters of the foreign language requirement other than high school
A paid or volunteer experience in the area of social work (20 hours)

The undergraduate admissions committee, consisting of three faculty members from the social work program, will review applications during the third full week of each semester. Notification of acceptance/rejection will be mailed by the fifth week of the semester. Meeting minimal requirements does not insure admission to the major. Acceptance is determined based on consideration of the following: academic GPA, hours completed, courses completed, reference letters, experience in human services, and personal statement. A student seeking to enroll in the senior-level practice sequence (SW 4921 , SW 4923 , SW 4923 and SW 4924 , SW 4801 , and SW 4802 ) must have been admitted to the major by spring semester of the junior year. In addition the student is expected to:

have maintained an overall GPA of 2.5
have completed the junior sequence (SW 3602 , SW 3701 , SW 3801 , SW 3940 ) to be eligible for the senior placement

If not accepted at initial application, a student may reapply in writing at the next application date. A student must submit the Reapplication Form, available in the department office, 416 Morton Hall, to be reconsidered. A student may reapply only twice. Students may add a social work minor by meeting with an advisor in the social work program to plan required course work and by notifying the College of Health Science and Professions.

External Transfer Admission

For students applying to the College of Health Science and Professions as premajors, no requirements beyond University/College of Health Sciences and Professions admission requirements are necessary. However, if a student is applying to social work as a major, at the same time they apply for admission to the University, they must follow guidelines as set out in the “Change of Major” policy.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

A bachelors degree in social work allows the graduate to pursue employment in many different fields, including child welfare, mental health services, foster care and residential treatment, adoption services, and in nursing homes, schools, governmental agencies and medial facilities. Social workers at the bachelors level may work with many different populations, including children, adolescents, families, adults, and elderly persons. People with mental health/behavioral health issues, developmental disabilities, veterans, individuals experiencing domestic violence and chronic illness and many other individuals and groups frequently seek services from agencies where social workers are employed. Additionally, social workers may be employed in agencies that advocate for clients, and develop and implement social policy based on client and case needs. Social workers are also employed as administrators in many social service agencies and organizations. Surveys of graduates show high levels of satisfaction with the educational program and high employment rates in the field of social work and human services.