Overview
The Social Work Program at Bethel University prepares students for professional generalist social work practice, equipping them to be advocates of hope and change. Students learn to practice in a diverse world through scholarship, service, justice, and leadership within the context of a Christian liberal arts learning community.
- Students will demonstrate a commitment to critical thinking, ethical social work practice, scientific inquiry, and lifelong learning.
- Students will acquire social work knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes that promote the well-being of individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.
- Students will integrate a faith and justice perspective that upholds the dignity and worth of all persons.
- Students will develop leadership abilities that promote human rights in a local and global context.
Accreditation
Bethel’s Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates are eligible to be licensed as social workers. While preparation for generalist-level professional practice is the program’s primary objective, academically qualified graduates are prepared to pursue graduate-level social work education. The students from Bethel’s social work program are eligible for advanced standing admission to CSWE accredited graduate schools. The 60-credit major includes classroom and field courses, and select biological, social, and behavioral science foundational support courses.
Program Outcomes
- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior Reflecting a Justice Informed Perspective
- Engage in Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Practice
- Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic and Environmental Justice
- Engage Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
- Engage in Policy Practice that is Justice Informed
- Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
- Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
- Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
- Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
Progression and Graduation Requirements
To progress in the social work program and meet graduation requirements, students must meet set standards at various checkpoints throughout the program as laid out in the Social Work Policy Manual and Student Handbook.
Students must maintain a minimum 2.25 GPA in all required Social Work major courses.
Admission Requirements
The social work major will consider applicants who:
- Meet the general requirements for admission to the College of Adult & Professional Studies.
- Have a combined cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on previous academic work.
- Have a transcript evaluation completed to determine which, if any, outstanding course requirements or needed credits must be fulfilled.
Students who have not achieved the minimum GPA, grade standards, or other assessment criteria may still apply to be considered for provisional acceptance. See Admission Categories.
Degree Requirements
B.A. in Social Work
The required curriculum for the social work major comprises a 60 semester credit sequence of courses to be taken consecutively throughout the calendar year.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
NASC 275 | Environmental Studies | 3 |
POLS 100 | American Government and Politics | 3 |
PSYC 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
SOWK 200 | Sociology for Social Workers | 2 |
SOWK 240 | Socioeconomic & Justice Issues | 3 |
SOWK 250 | Social Welfare History | 2 |
SOWK 270 | Social Perspective | 3 |
SOWK 300 | Intro to Social Work | 4 |
SOWK 310 | Human Behavior I | 2 |
SOWK 315 | Human Behavior II | 2 |
SOWK 320 | Experience in Anti-Racism and Justice Informed Social Work Practice I | 2 |
SOWK 325 | Experience in Anti-Racism and Justice Informed Social Work Practice II | 2 |
SOWK 330 | Social Work Practice I | 3 |
SOWK 335 | Social Work Practice II | 3 |
SOWK 340 | Environmental Justice, Health Disparities and Restorative Perspectives in Social Work Practice | 2 |
SOWK 350 | Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
SOWK 370 | Social Work Research I | 2 |
SOWK 380 | Social Work Research II | 2 |
SOWK 420 | Social Work Field Experience I * | 2 |
SOWK 425 | Social Work Experience II * | 2 |
SOWK 430 | Social Work Practice III | 3 |
SOWK 450 | Abuse,Trauma and Mental Health in Social Work Practice | 3 |
SOWK 490H | Integrative Seminar * | 4 |
Social Work Major Total | 60 | |
General Education, Core Distinctive, and Elective Courses | 62 | |
Total Credits | 122 |
- *
Course must be taken for credit at Bethel.