Social Work Major

Brittany Turner, DSW, LCSW Program Director

Pending approval - The University of Olivet is currently seeking accreditation with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). For updates on the university’s accreditation status, please see the CSWE Accreditation Directory.

The University of Olivet’s online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program aims to provide diverse academic and experiential learning to students grounded in liberal arts studies and core social work values. The purpose of the BSW program is to prepare students to become generalist social work practitioners capable of enhancing the well-being for all people by addressing social, racial, economic, and environmental injustice both locally and globally.

The BSW program prepares undergraduate students for ethical, competent, entry-level, and generalist professional practice with diverse individuals and communities. Students will be assessed based upon the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) competencies, as well as The University of Olivet learning outcomes.

Admission Criteria

Admission to the bachelor of social work degree program requires secondary admission which typically occurs in the second semester of the sophomore year. Eligible applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
• Have earned or be currently enrolled in courses to complete 60 semester hours of undergraduate-level coursework, including the BSW program perquisite courses (12 semester hours). If students are currently enrolled in required courses, any offer of secondary admission will be contingent upon the successful completion of these courses prior to the registration of BSW major courses.
• Earn a grade of C or higher in all admission prerequisite coursework (excluding liberal arts core curriculum requirement).

Application Requirements

Prospective BSW students are required to submit the following documents as part of their application package:

• A formal application through the university’s online application system.
• A letter of intent.
• Two letters of recommendation sent directly from the reviewer to The University of Olivet’s Office of Admissions discussing applicant’s ability, talent, and aptitude for study in the program.
• Admission essay questions.
• Social Work Professionalism and Ethics Agreement form.
• Criminal Background Statement of Understanding,
• Resume.
• Official transcripts from accredited institutions where applicable.

Transfer Credit Policy

The University of Olivet will accept up to 90 semester hours in transfer credit from other institutions toward graduation. To be accepted, transfer courses aligned with the liberal arts core (general education curriculum) must be 100-level classes or higher and be completed with a grade of 2.0 or higher. Social work transfer courses must be 100-level classes or higher and completed with a grade of 2.5 or higher.

The bachelor of social work program director is responsible for reviewing social work courses completed at other institutions for possible substitution. These courses can only be considered from institutions that are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Coursework from other relevant professions, such as psychology or sociology, may also be considered for substitution. The program director will consider major course substitutions if the student has coursework approved for transfer by the university’s standards, submits course catalog descriptions and syllabi for each course(s), and provides a brief justification of the connection with the correlating course at The University of Olivet including the core competencies covered in the course.

NOTES

The University of Olivet’s Bachelor of Social Work Program does not grant credit for experiential learning, life experience, or previous work experience.

Social Work Program Learning Outcomes

The Bachelor of Social Work curriculum is specifically aligned with CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards [EPAS] for Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. These standards support academic excellence by establishing thresholds for professional competence.

1. Students will demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
2. Students will engage diversity and difference in practice.
3. Students will advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
4. Students will engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
5. Students will engage in policy practice.
6. Students will engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
7. Students will assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
8. Students will intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
9. Students will evaluate practice with individuals, families, organizations, and communities.

Social Work Major Learning Outcomes

With the completion of this degree program, the following learning outcomes can be expected:

• Students will demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to engage anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to engage in policy practice.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.