Bachelor of Social Work Program

Undergraduate Admission Policy

Social Work Pre-Major

     Students who want to major in social work are admitted to the School of Social Work as social work pre-majors and remain in the pre-major status until they meet the requirements for full acceptance into the social work program. This policy applies to new freshmen, transfer students, and students changing their major. In order to become a social work major, students must meet the following criteria:

• Have a 2.25 GPA overall in courses taken at SFA.
• Have completed SWK 215, SWK 300, and SWK 225 with a grade
   of C or higher in each.
• Have completed the Biology requirement with a grade of C or higher.
• Have completed ENG 131 and ENG 132 with a grade of C or higher in
   each course.
• Have completed the Math requirement.
• Have nine or less hours of Core Curriculum courses to complete.
• Meet all requirements specified by the School for demonstrating
   ethical behavior.

     After completion of all requirements the student must complete the following with their advisor:

1. Application for the Social Work Major
2. Checklist of Requirements
3. Certification of Admission

     Once the above steps have been completed, the advisor will present the application to the BSW faculty for review. The BSW faculty will determine whether or not the student will be admitted to the major. The advisor will notify the student concerning the faculty decision. When the student is accepted to the major, he/she will need to meet with the advisor to complete the required paperwork. The paperwork includes a form indicating the student's understanding of the criteria for continuation as a social work major. The criteria include the following expectations:

• Maintain a 2.25 grade point average in professional social work
   courses.
• Maintain a 2.00 grade point average in all courses taken at SFA.
• Demonstrate acceptable standards of professional conduct, personal
   integrity and emotional stability requisite for professional social work
   practice.
• Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills necessary for forming
   professional helping relationships.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the profession of social work
• Demonstrate a commitment of adhering to the codes of ethics for
   National Association of Social Workers and Texas State Board of Social
   Worker Examiners.

     Provisional status/acceptance to the major may be granted if a student appears to have the capacity to be admitted within one semester. Students will be allowed only one semester of provisional acceptance to the major. Students who have not been admitted to the major will not be file an official degree plan or to take upper level social work courses (includes but is not limited to SWK 350 and SWK 450).

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Social Work Major

     A bachelor of social work degree requires 130 credit hours. These credit hours include core curriculum requirements, professional social work courses, supportive disciplines courses, and electives. A minor is not required for students whose have selected social work as their majors.

     Students who have completed courses at other collegiate institutions may transfer credits under the policies of Stephen F. Austin State University; however, students must complete at least 9 hours of social work practice method courses and 14 hours of field practicum at Stephen F. Austin State University. The Program Director will evaluate transferred social work courses and determine which ones may be accepted as equivalent to required social work courses in the program at Stephen F. Austin. Only social work courses from a BSW program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education will be accepted as equivalent for professional social work courses.

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