The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at CSU Pueblo prepares students to excel in the field of social work. Our program was created for students looking to help individuals, families, groups, and communities across all racial, cultural, and economic demography. Our social work program has been continuously accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 1982. CSWE is the premier organization for accreditation of social work programs. CSU Pueblo faculty and staff are dedicated towards providing a rich and interacting learning experience where our students get to work hands-on with a local agency that helps them collaborate with individuals, families, and communities in need. Our graduates are highly regarded by the social service community. They are sought after to fill social work staffing needs in the surrounding urban and rural communities in this region. Many graduates from this program are administrators and practitioners in social service agencies throughout Southern Colorado.

Mission Statement

“As part of Colorado State University-Pueblo, a regional comprehensive university, "As part of Colorado State University-Pueblo, a regional comprehensive university, the Department of Social Work at CSU Pueblo prepares BSW generalist practitioners to engage in a global society across diverse systems of all sizes, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities with interventions grounded in scientific inquiry.  Students will utilize an anti-racist, anti-oppressive perspective to enhance life and dignity for all people in a rapidly changing world.”

Program Goals & Objectives

Goal 1 – Provide BSW students with a range of skills, attitudes, and knowledge grounded in social work values and ethics.
Objectives:

• Students will apply social work values and ethics to social work practice with diverse systems.
• Students will evaluate the professional use of self in interactions with diverse systems.

Goal 2 – Develop culturally competent professionals who can intervene appropriately in systems of all sizes with emphasis on regional populations.
Objectives:

• Students will develop culturally competent knowledge, values and skills for beginning level social work practice with diverse systems.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to practice with diverse populations in a multicultural environment including Chicanos, Mexicans, and American Indians.

Goal 3 – Develop the ability of BSW students to advocate for social economic justice with systems of all sizes.
Objectives:

• Students will identify factors which impact the attainment of social, environmental and economic justice for diverse systems.
• Students will select and apply appropriate intervention methods to develop and enhance social, environmental, and economic justice across diverse systems.

Goal 4 – Engage BSW students in a process of practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
Objectives:

• Students will use critical thinking skills to develop knowledge and understanding of research relevant to beginning social work practice with diverse systems.
• Students will interpret, evaluate and implement relevant research, linking theory to practice, as they engage in beginning level social work practice with diverse systems.

Specific Admission Requirements

Admission into the Social Work Program

Students in the Social Work major are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA in all required social work courses.  Admission into the upper division courses requires that students either have completed or be enrolled the previous semester for the following courses:

• Introduction to Sociology
• Introduction to Psychology
• A course in Human Biology
• A political science or economics course

Admission into the Social Work Placement Practicum

The Placement Practicum

Social work majors are required to apply for admission into the placement practicum. All social work courses except SW 492 and SW 499 must be completed prior to entering placement. Orientation meetings are scheduled by the Placement Coordinator each fall and spring semester for all students planning to enroll in the placement practicum during the following fall semester, and the orientations are mandatory for students wishing to enter placement. Information on application to placement and information on the admission process is provided at the orientation. Students unable to attend are required to meet with the Placement Coordinator to obtain the forms and receive pertinent information to proceed with the practicum placement process.

Applications must be completed before the time of your interview with the Placement Coordinator. The application will be reviewed and the student will be notified of acceptance into the placement practicum by the Placement Coordinator. Late submission of the application may delay both placement into the practicum and graduation since most placement practicum agencies require background checks and/or drug and alcohol testing. Students need to be aware that a criminal history may affect eligibility for placement based on agency policy, not University policy or the Department of Social Work polices.

The Placement Coordinator is required to make a reasonable effort to assist a student in securing a placement. The social work student, however, not the University, is ultimately responsible for being eligible and retaining a placement under the direction of the Placement Coordinator. Students unable to obtain acceptance into an approved placement after three attempts, or to successfully complete a practicum, will not be awarded the BSW degree and are advised to change to a major in which they can meet degree requirements.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 448 clock hours of professionally supervised placement work in an approved community social service agency.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Baccalaureate Social Work Program, students will

• Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior;
• Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice;
• Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice;
• Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice;
• Engage in policy practice;
• Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
• Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
• Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; and
• Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Outcomes Assessment Activities

The faculty of the Department of Social Work uses a variety of methods for evaluating the student learning outcomes. These include a senior placement practicum consisting of 448 clock hours under the supervision of a task/placement supervisor and with a faculty liaison. An assessment of the placement experience completed by the placement supervisor is a direct measure. During the placement seminar, students will complete the Social Work Assessment test. The final evaluation of student placement will also be used to assess student learning. In addition, employer and alumni surveys are systematically administered as part of assessment. The results of these assessment activities are used to improve the program and student learning.

Specific Program Requirements

General Education Foundation Courses

General Education: 35 credit hours

As a base for professional intervention, social work practice requires mastery of knowledge and skills commonly taught in the liberal arts. Students planning to major in social work should select general education courses that develop proficiency in verbal and written communication, competency in problem solving, and promote critical and analytical thinking. Courses that incorporate human growth and behavior, diversity, and the interaction of individuals, groups, neighborhoods, communities and society, within the context of social, economic, political, and governmental systems, provide a substantive base for majors. Students should complete the University’s general education requirements prior to enrollment in upper division social work courses.

Professional Foundation Courses: 34 credit hours

Specified courses: 21
Basic social work courses: 13

Other Related Requirements

No academic credit is awarded for life experiences in this program.

Transfer students may be required to submit a copy of course descriptions and/or course syllabi for review to determine acceptance of credits for social work and related courses.

Social work majors may not test out of any social work classes.

Independent study courses with SW prefix may not be substituted for required courses.

Social Work Foundation Courses

A grade of C or above must be earned in all courses required by the major.

Courses in the social work curriculum are provided in the areas of human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, social research, social work practice and field practicum. Learning takes place in the classroom and in approved agency settings under supervision. Some courses in the major must be taken in sequence because knowledge in higher level courses is built on the mastery of information in previous courses.

Social Work Professional Practice Courses

Students must earn a grade of C or above in all social work professional practice courses. The following upper division social work courses are mandatory for completion of the BSW degree and require acceptance into the major prior to enrollment.

Electives

A minimum of 120 semester credit hours are required for the BSW degree. At least 40 hours must be taken in upper division (300-400 level) courses. Social work is exempt from obtaining a minor or 18 credits outside the major. Students may use elective courses to achieve the total credit hours required. Social work faculty advisers can assist in the selection of electives.

Specific Graduation Requirements

Must have 2.5 GPA in social work and social work other required courses.

Planning Sheet

Disclaimer: The Planning Sheet is designed as a guide for student's planning their course selections. The information on this page provides only a suggested schedule. Actual course selections should be made with the advice and consent of an academic advisor. While accurately portraying the information contained in the college catalog, this form is not considered a legal substitute for that document. Students should become familiar with the catalog in effect at the time in which they entered the institution.