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, the social work program prepares students for beginning generalist practice with diverse client populations across systems of all sizes, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.”

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 and economic justice for diverse systems.
• Students will select and apply appropriate intervention methods to develop and enhance social 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

The social work major is a professional program and as such requires two additional admission processes following admission into the University: the first is admission into the social work program and the second is admission into the field practicum. Social work majors must be accepted into the program prior to enrolling in required 300 and 400 level social work courses.

Application forms are available in the BSW Student Handbook, on the website, or from the social work department administrative assistant on the Pueblo campus. Completed application forms are to be submitted by November 1st for the upcoming spring and summer semester, by April 1st for the upcoming summer and fall semester. Applications for admission are accepted any time during the year, but no later than the deadlines noted for each term. Faculty review applications and a decision is made regarding admission into the program. The Department Chair will notify each student in writing of his/her status:

1. admission into the program,
2. conditional admission into the program or
3. denial of admission into the program.

Reasons for conditional admission into the program will be identified in the letter, as well as corrective actions that must be taken. Students who are conditionally admitted will have their progress followed by the Department Standards and Academic Progress Committee. This committee will also receive referrals from instructors within the department and from the department chair. Such referrals may include issues of academic or behavioral nature. (See the department student handbook for a complete description of this committee and its functions.) When the requirements for admission into the program have been satisfied, the student’s status will be revised from conditional acceptance to admission into the program. If for some reason a student is not admitted to the program, the reasons for this decision will be identified in the letter to the student, along with necessary corrective actions. Reapplication may be made once corrective action has been taken.

Admission into the Social Work Field Practicum

The Field Practicum

Social work majors are required to apply for admission into the field practicum. All social work courses except SW 492 and SW 499 must be completed prior to entering field. Orientation meetings are scheduled by the Field Coordinator each fall and spring semester for all students planning to enroll in the field practicum during the following fall semester, and the orientations are mandatory for students wishing to enter field. Information on application to field and information on the admission process and placement is provided. Students unable to attend are required to meet with the Field 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 Field Coordinator. The application will be reviewed and the student will be notified of acceptance into the field practicum by the Field Coordinator. Late submission of the application may delay both placement into the practicum and graduation since most field 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 Field 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 Field 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 field work in an approved community social service agency.

Retention in the Social Work Major

Students may be denied acceptance or withdrawn from the major or field placement for either academic or behavioral reasons.

Academic Requirements

Students must maintain specific academic standards for admission into the major, continuation in the program, and field practicum for graduation. By University policy, students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for graduation. In the social work major, a minimum GPA of 2.5 is required (professional foundation and professional practice courses). All courses designated with a SW prefix and the non-social work foundation courses must be completed with grades no lower than a C. Students may take a course up to three times to earn a C or better.  If an individual does not receive a C or higher grade after the third attempt, the individual is advised into a different major.  

Behavioral Requirements

Behaviors which may result in non-acceptance into the major, field practicum, or withdrawal from the social work major may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Serious or repeated violation of the NASW Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice;
2. Violation of CSU Pueblo’s academic misconduct policy or Student Code of Conduct;
3. Unprofessional social work conduct;
4. Demonstrated unwillingness or inability to use supervision;
5. Personal problems that seriously and consistently interfere with the conscious and professional use of self in a helping relationship;
6. Inability to accept appropriate evaluation from superiors or to modify one’s professional behaviors as requested;
7. Inappropriate or disruptive behavior toward colleagues, faculty, staff or peers; and/or
8. Consistent failure to demonstrate interpersonal skills necessary to form effective professional relationships.

See student handbook for more information.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Baccalaureate Social Work Program, students will

• Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior;
• Engage diversity and difference in practice;
• Advance human rights and social, economic and environmental justice;
• Engage is 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 field placement consisting of 448 clock hours under the supervision of a task/field supervisor and with a faculty liaison. An assessment of the field experience completed by the field supervisor is a direct measure. During the field 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.

There are no test out exams for social work courses. SW 301 Professional Writing in Social Work (3 c.h.) may be waived with an appropriate score on the waiver exam and an additional appropriate upper division social work class may be taken in its place.

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.

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.