Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work

(183-184 credits)

Program Description

The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work Program is to prepare students for generalist social work practice with diverse populations and to cultivate community leaders who will implement humane social policies, services, and programs that restore social and economic justice for at-risk children and their families. The cornerstone of the program is commitment to personal and community well-being and the cultural integrity of Native American communities.

The B.S.W. curriculum has been developed according to the educational standards established by the Council on Social Work Education and is based on a strong liberal arts foundation that emphasizes cultural understanding, critical thinking, communication, and citizenship. The upper-level Social Work courses provide a foundational knowledge base for social work practice; promote growth in self-awareness, cultural competence, and professional ethics; and prepare students for graduate-level social work education. Supervised field experience in either tribal or non-tribal social service agencies is an integral part of the program.

Accreditation

The SKC Bachelor of Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the ­Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation.

Career Outlook

Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers, clinical social workers, also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues. Social workers are employed in a variety of settings, including mental health clinics, schools, child welfare and human service agencies, hospitals, and private practices. They generally work full time and may need to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Although most social workers need a bachelor’s degree in social work, clinical social workers must have a master’s ­degree and two years of post-master experience in a supervised clinical setting. Clinical social workers must also be licensed in the state in which they practice.

The median annual wage for social workers was $47,980 in 2017. Employment of social workers is projected to grow, faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be driven by increased demand for health care and social services, but will vary by specialty.

(Information retrieved on April 13, 2018 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm)

Admission Criteria

A. Application and admission to SKC is a separate process from application and admission to the Social Work Program. All applicants must be admitted to SKC and meet the admission criteria listed below prior to applying to Social Work Program.

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
• Well-developed writing and language skills as demonstrated through the Junior Writing Portfolio.

Applicants who do not demonstrate well-developed writing and language skills as specified above may be required to participate in a Writing Improvement Plan as a condition of acceptance; this may include additional courses to facilitate writing skills. Students, in conjunction with the Social Work Writing Advisor, will develop the plan, and their progress will be monitored by Social Work faculty members.

Applicants and pre-social work students who have not completed and/or took MATH 100/101and/or ENGL 202, or an equivalent course more than five (5) years ago may be required to complete the SKC placement testing in math and English and follow the placement recommendations issued by the respective departments.

Human Service and Social Work professional core courses that were completed more than eight (8) years ago will be subject to departmental review and may not be counted towards the degree.

Please note that all students, including the A.A. in Chemical Dependency Counseling or Human Service program graduates, must complete the B.S.W. course requirements as specified in the catalog for the year for which they are accepted into the program as juniors, regardless of when they started their studies at SKC. In an event that a student discontinues his or her studies for any length of time after being accepted and subsequently returns to finish the program, he/she will have to complete the graduation requirements as per catalog year in which the re-entry occurs.

Application Process

Criminal history and Child Protection Services background that may prevent a student from being admitted into the Social Work Program include:

• A felony conviction for child abuse or neglect, for a crime against children (including pornography), for spousal abuse, or for a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault, or homicide, but not including other physical assault or battery.
• A felony conviction for physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense in the past five (5) years.
• Child Protective Services history that includes substantiation of any type of child abuse and/or neglect within the past five (5) years.
• A conviction for a crime including abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elderly person or a person with a developmental disability.
• Evidence of criminal activity and/or convictions during the time of enrollment in the B.S.W. Program.
• Knowingly withholding information of prior criminal convictions.

Background check instructions will be mailed to successful applicants. Applicants must make an appointment with an Admission Coordinator to complete the online background check before September 15th. An additional background check will be required if the previous one is more than two (2) years old at the time of internship placement.

Other Behavioral Expectations

B.S.W. students are subject to all provisions of the SKC Student Handbook, Social Work Department Code of Conduct and Social Work Department Student Handbook, and Social Work Internship Manual during their program of study. They are expected to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics and to exhibit behavior appropriate to someone pursuing a career as a professional social worker. Violation of the stated codes may result in the dismissal from the B.S.W. program. Program and college personnel are available to advise students who feel they are in a situation that may require outside assistance, and designated college personnel may suggest counseling or other such assistance as deemed necessary. Problems affecting the B.S.W. candidate’s ability to perform the functions of a professional social worker may delay or terminate the student’s progression through the Social Work Program. 

Title IV-E Stipend

The Montana Child Welfare Training Program is federally funded by Title IV-E grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The program is designed to enhance social service delivery to children and families in Montana. Students who have been admitted into the Social Work Program as juniors and are committed to working in the child welfare field upon graduation are eligible to apply for the Title IV-E stipend. Please contact the SKC Title IV-E Coordinator at the Social Work Department for more information and/or an application packet.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the B.S.W. degree, the graduates are expected to:

• Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
• Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
• Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
• Engage diversity and difference in practice.
• Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
• Engage in research-informed practice and practice- informed research.
• Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
• Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
• Respond to contexts that shape practice.
• Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.