Social Work- Bachelor of Science in Social Work
For information, please contact the BSW Program Director at socialwork@MiamiOH.edu.
This Social Work major has a foundation in the liberal arts. The goal is to prepare students for generalist baccalaureate-level social work practice by integrating the knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession. Students are provided a professional foundation in social work values and ethics, diversity, social and economic justice, populations-at-risk, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, social work practice skills, social work research, and a field experience in an agency setting. The program places a strong emphasis on developing knowledge and skills to work with diverse families.
The curriculum prepares students to work with persons across the lifespan facing a diversity of issues and in a wide range of settings including nonprofits, governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Upon completion of the degree, students are eligible to take the national social work license exam and be certified as a family life educator. This program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and approved by the National Council on Family Relations.
Special Program Admission Requirements
Students may declare the social work major at any time. However, formal acceptance into the program must occur before a student is eligible to take FSW 306 and FSW 406. In order to be accepted, students must:
- Complete FSW 201 & FSW 206 with a grade of “C” or better.
- Current or transfer students seeking admission to the BSW program must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
- Read the Undergraduate Social Work Student Handbook and submit a signed acknowledgement form indicating acceptance of the policies.
- Attend one of the Undergraduate Social Work student orientation sessions (typically offered at the start of Fall and Spring terms).
Students will receive written notification of formal acceptance once these steps are completed.
You are strongly encouraged to meet with your social work academic adviser (or BSW Program Director or Lead Departmental Advisor) within one month of declaring the social work major, and each semester thereafter.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| FSW 201 | Introduction to Social Work and Family Life Education | 3 |
| FSW 206 | Social Policies & Programs to Promote Social Justice | 4 |
| FSW 245 | Children and Families: Ages Conception - 12 | 3 |
| FSW 261 | Diverse Family Systems Across the Life Cycle | 3 |
| FSW 295 | Research and Evaluation Methods | 3 |
| FSW 304 | Professionalism and Ethics for Practice | 3 |
| FSW 306 | Trauma Responsive Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| FSW 312 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| FSW 365 | Let's Talk about Sex: Families, Relationships, and Policy | 3 |
| FSW 406 | Group Theory and Practice | 3 |
| FSW 411 | Senior Field Experience I | 4 |
| FSW 412 | Senior Seminar in Social Work I | 2 |
| FSW 413 | Senior Seminar in Social Work II | 2 |
| FSW 414 | Senior Field Experience II | 4 |
| FSW 415 | Culturally-Informed Practice | 3 |
| FSW 418 | Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| FSW 442 | Family Resource Management: Education and Advocacy | 3 |
| FSW 451 | Interpersonal Violence | 3 |
| FSW 466 | Interpersonal Perspectives on Adulthood and Aging | 3 |
| FSW 475 | Family Theories | 3 |
| FSW 481 | Adolescent Development in Diverse Families: Ages 13-25 | 3 |
| Required Related Hours | ||
| STA 261 | Statistics | 3-4 |
| or CSE 243 | Problem Analysis Using Computer Tools | |
| PSY 242 | Introduction to Psychopathology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 70-71 | |
Note: A grade of "C" or better must be earned for all "Required Core Courses." Students earning lower than a "C" in a class must repeat that course.
Social Work Senior Practicum Experience (OPEN TO SOCIAL WORK MAJORS ONLY)
The Social Work Methods courses, FSW 306 (Fall semester) and FSW 406/FSW 506 (Spring semester only), is typically completed in the junior year and must be completed prior to beginning Social Work Practicum Experience. The social work practicum experience is typically taken in the senior year over two terms for a total of 450 clock hours in an agency setting (225 hours/term). Students are required to register concurrently for FSW 411 and FSW 412, and FSW 413 with FSW 414. The practicum provides an opportunity to apply generalist social work knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to working with clients in an agency setting. The Council on Social Work Education has adopted a competency-based education framework which involves assessing students' ability to demonstrate proficiency in nine areas critical to social work practice.