Social Work
Undergraduate Programs
Description
The BSSW Program is built on a strong liberal arts program. Graduates are prepared for generalist social work practice with individuals, families, organizations, and communities. The program’s graduates are committed to ethical and professional practice that enhances human well-being and supports social, economic, and environmental justice for all members of our diverse and global society.
This major prepares students for graduate education in social work and related fields. This nationally accredited major meets licensure requirement to practice social work in most settings in Minnesota. A major in social work does not required that students purse a minor degree. However, students can choose to complete a minor, add a second major, or pursue certification programs; most of which will require additional coursework and semester(s).
Majors |
Program | Locations | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Work BSSW | BSSW - Bachelor of Science in Social Work |
|
120 |
Minors |
Program | Locations | Total Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Welfare Minor | 19 |
Policies & Faculty
Policies
Admission to Major. Students should request that they be assigned to a social work advisor as early as possible. Admission to the major is not necessary for enrollment in 100 and 200 level courses. Formal admission to the practice sequence (SOWK 441, SOWK 443, SOWK 446, SOWK 450 and SOWK 455) occurs during the student’s junior year. An application for admission is required. To be eligible for admission at that time, students must have a 2.8 GPA and a minimum grade of “C-” in all required courses.
GPA Policy. Formal admission to the Social Work major requires that applicants have achieved a 2.8 GPA in the required pre-major courses, including those taken in other departments, and a 2.8 cumulative GPA. A minimum grade of “C-” is required in Social Work and supporting courses. Under some circumstances exceptions are made based on evidence of explanatory factors, strong academic performance in recent semesters and good results in courses within the major. Once formally admitted, students are expected to demonstrate continued satisfactory academic performance by earning a minimum grade of “C-“ in required courses. No formal additional requirements are applied to acceptance for the Social Work Practicum in the final semester of the program, other than successful completion of course requirements, including Junior Field Experience and practice sequence courses.
P/N Grading Policy. SOWK 450 and SOWK 455 (Social Work Practicum and Practicum Seminar, taken in the Senior Year), are offered only on a P/N basis. All other required major and pre-major courses must be taken for grade and must be passed with a minimum grade of “C-”.
Residency and Transfer Requirements. Transfer students are expected to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at Minnesota State Mankato. Students who wish to transfer credits in Social Work from another university must have been honorably dismissed from the previous school(s). Students transferring Social Work credits must complete at least 24 credits from within the department.
Credit for classroom courses in Social Work taken at other institutions will be evaluated on an individual basis by the student’s faculty advisor or by the department chairperson. The student will be expected to present course syllabi including assignments and texts used. All transfer students must see a department advisor for guidance and transcript evaluation before attempting to register for upper division courses.
Criminal Background Check. A criminal back ground check may be required prior to admission and fieldwork/practicum.
Minor in Social Welfare
All courses in the Minor must be for letter grade (no P/N).
If students change from a Social Welfare minor to BSSW major, they must retake social work courses that they have earned less than a grade of C-.
Social Welfare minors cannot enroll in upper-division practice sequence courses (SOWK 441, 443 or 446) or take the Senior Practicum and Integrative Seminar (SOWK 450 & 455).
Students cannot graduate with a Social Work major and Social Welfare minor.
Contact Information
358 Trafton Science Center N
(507) 389-6504Fax (507) 389-6769
MRS/TTY (800) 627-3529
Website: www.sbs.mnsu.edu/socialwork
Faculty
BSSW Program Director
- Paul Mackie
Chair
- Debra Gohagan
Faculty
000 Level
Below 100-level courses are remedial courses and do not apply to a major or minor.
Credits: 1
LEAD (Learn, Explore, Access and Develop) is designed to support the wellbeing of students through practicing skills and strategies for stress hardiness and academic success.Prerequisites: none
200 Level
Credits: 4
An introduction to social work as a profession including the history of the profession, professional behaviors, values and Codes of Ethics, fields of practice, roles and tasks, and core theories and social work skills required for generalist social work practice. Students will develop skills in critical thinking, professional communication and behaviors, demonstrate self-awareness as they prepare to work in a diverse society, and apply values, ethics, and theories through group-based projects. Students are provided with information about the BSSW curriculum.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
he objective of this course is to explore social welfare as a social institution. Consideration will be given to formal and informal efforts to meet common social needs of diverse populations. This course emphasizes social challenges and impact of oppression facing American society and the program and policy prescriptions designed to minimize or eliminate these problems.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-09
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 4
The objective of this course is to explore social welfare as a social institution. Consideration will be given to formal and informal efforts to meet common social needs of diverse populations. This course emphasizes social challenges and impact of oppression facing American society and the program and policy prescriptions designed to minimize or eliminate these problems.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-09
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 3
This course exposes students to some of the major realities of life among the poor and socially deprived in all parts of the world, primarily developing countries. Students will confront conditions that impede development and keep people locked into poverty and despair, and will discuss how a person who sees her/himself as a global citizen can act in tangible ways to make that citizenship more meaningful.Prerequisites: none
Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-08
Diverse Cultures: Purple
Credits: 1-3
Under faculty mentorship, students can pursue subjects of individual interest related to social work and social welfare.Prerequisites: none
300 Level
Credits: 4
Applies theoretical frameworks for assessing and organizing knowledge of human behavior and the social environment in conjunction with social systems, to understand individual, family, group, organizational, and community systems. Attention is paid to human diversity, discrimination, and oppression.Prerequisites: SOWK 212 AND SOWK 215 OR SOWK 215W
Credits: 4
Applies theoretical frameworks for assessing and organizing knowledge of human behavior and the social environment in conjunction with social systems, to understand individual, family, group, organizational, and community systems. Attention is paid to human diversity, discrimination, and oppression.Prerequisites: SOWK 212 AND SOWK 215 OR SOWK 215W
Credits: 4
Beginning level supervised field experience with a social service agency. Students complete 120 hours of observation and agency service and attend a seminar which integrates the field experience and social work values, knowledge and practice skills. Application required during the semester before registration.Prerequisites: SOWK 212. Select one course from SOWK 215 or SOWK 215W
400 Level
Credits: 4
Exploration of the interrelatedness of social services, social policy formulation and analysis, and generalist social work practice. Presentation of contemporary social issues and social welfare policies, the introduction of a framework for policy analysis, and an overview of policy, practice, advocacy and action skills. Critical analysis of issues and policy from a social work perspective, drawing from the values and ethics of the profession, with examination of how issues differentially impact groups within our diverse society.Prerequisites: SOWK 212, SOWK 310. Select one course from SOWK 215 or SOWK 215W.
Credits: 3
This course provides an overview of social services that support the well-being of children and families in a diverse society. Students, regardless of disciplinary affiliation, identify personal and professional values, develop a working knowledge of the theories that inform practice with children and families, and understand the roles and legal responsibilities of child welfare workers and professionals from multiple disciplines in the delivery of child welfare services.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Co-morbid substance abuse and mental health disorders will be encountered by social workers in all areas of practice. Current research on dual diagnosis indicates integrated treatment of substance misuse and mental illness is the most effective approach to treatment. This course will provide an understanding of the intersection of multiple diagnoses, and enable social worker professionals to effectively treat multiple diagnoses in their area of practice. This course examines the interaction of addictive and other mental health disorders. Particular focus is placed on case-conceptualization, assessment, and intervention with multiply diagnosed clients in specific populations.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Service delivery issues and social work practice with older persons, their families and communities.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
This course is designed to provide upper level (junior and senior) undergraduate social work students with a comprehensive introduction to the epidemiology (scientific study of disease), etiology (cause of disease), history, policy, and treatment modalities of substance abuse from a person-in-environment and systems theory social work perspective.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Service delivery issues and skills for working in hospitals, nursing homes, and community programs.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Course provides an overview of intimate partner violence from a theoretical and evidence-based, social work perspective. Students learn about intervention strategies from direct practice to advocacy and policy change. Multiple systems are explored. The intersection of gender, class, sexual orientation, age, and culture with intimate partner violence is covered.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Service delivery issues, knowledge and skills for providing social services within school settings.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 3
Course focuses on service delivery issues and skills, using a strengths-based, family systems, and empowerment approach for working with individuals with developmental and other disabilities and their families across the life span. Students hoping to do a practicum in a disability services setting should complete this course prior to beginning the practicum.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 4
Explores research issues and techniques, needs assessments, and program and practice evaluations. In addition, there is a lab designed to supplement class discussions and to assist students in understanding some of the technical details and specific skills associated with conducting research and writing a research proposal. The lab enhances skills in developing questionnaires, reviewing previous studies, using American Psychological Association (APA) citations and data analysis using SPSS. Another Statistics course may meet the course prerequisite with approval of the BSSW Program Advisor.Prerequisites: Select one course from STAT 154, PSYC 201, SPC 202, ECON 207, HLTH 475. Or other statistics course as approved by BSSW Program Advisor.
Credits: 4
Overview of generalist social work practice including assessment and intervention methodology and strategies; social work with diverse populations; ethical issues/dilemmas; importance of social work research. Admission to the BSSW Program/Major required. Permission to register given by BSSW Program.Prerequisites: Admission to the BSSW Program/major. Permission to register given by BSSW Program.
Credits: 4
Intervention skills for working with individuals, families, and groups. Permission to register given by BSSW Program.Prerequisites: SOWK 441. Permission to register given by BSSW Program.
Credits: 4
This course prepares students for direct and indirect macro generalist social work practice in organizations and communities. Students will learn: 1) to recognize characteristics and assets of organizations and communities, 2) to identify and respond to changing community and organizational needs, and 3) strategies for planned change process in organizations and communities. Emphasis is placed on engaging, assessment, intervening and evaluating consumer services across mezzo and macro systems through the process of participating in task-oriented groups. Permission to register given by BSSW Program.Prerequisites: SOWK 441. Permission to register given by BSSW Program.
Credits: 4
Integration of senior field practicum with academic content and concepts. Serves as the capstone experience. Taken with SOWK 455. Prereq: SOWK Foundation, Practice Sequence, and permissionPrerequisites: SOWK Foundation, Practice Sequence, and permission
Credits: 8
Culminating practicum experience with 32 hour per week placement in a social service setting with supervision provided by a degreed social worker. Taken with SOWK 450. Prereq: SOWK Foundation, Practice Sequence, and permissionPrerequisites: SOWK Foundation, Practice Sequence, and permission
Credits: 1-6
Topics announced when offeredPrerequisites: none
Credits: 1-3
.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-3
.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-3
This elective is for those students who desire to complete an advanced writing assignment in preparation for employment or graduate education.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-10
Additional field experience in approved social agency.Prerequisites: none
Credits: 1-6
Under faculty mentorship, students may pursue in-depth library or field research on topics of their choice.Prerequisites: none
