Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work
(181 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 (CSWE) 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 assist people to 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 in Montana as of March 25, 2024 is $64,824 a year. 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.
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 Year 3 and Year 4 of the Social Work Program.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
- Well-developed writing and language skills.
Applicants who do not demonstrate well-developed writing and language skills may be required to participate in a Writing Improvement Plan as a condition of acceptance. 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 who took MATH 103 and/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.
Social Work professional core courses that were completed more than five (5) 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, 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 checks will be coordinated through the Internship Field Director prior to 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 Committee 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.
Bachelor of Social Work Pathways and Transfer Curriculum
Students who have completed an AA degree as identified through approved articulation agreements will meet the requirements for the first two years of the Bachelor degree. The program outlined below – in addition to coursework done through the agreement – will result in these students earning a Bachelor Degree in Social Work from Salish Kootenai College.
Bachelor of Social Work transfer student coursework would require the following courses unless met in the AA degree of the 2+2 articulation agreement. Credit load varies per institution; therefore, students will be provided with a degree plan specific to their course of study.
Students will be advised quarterly regarding degree plan progress. Salish Kootenai College students who have earned an AA degree in Liberal Arts, Chemical Dependency, Health Promotions Practice, and Psychology who meet the requirements for the first two years are eligible to apply for admission to year 3 and year 4.
B.S.W. Curriculum Years 1 and 2
Please note that no course credit will be given for previous life and work experience.
All courses require a minimum grade of C.
The first two years of the B.S.W. curriculum contain required courses and emphasis-specific electives. Students will choose an emphasis track listed below. Each emphasis track has an additional set of required courses. Students are required to have 43 credits of emphasis electives.Students not meeting the 43 credits in their respective emphasis track will choose courses from the elective list of other tracks to meet the 43 credit elective requirement. Advisors will consult with students to assist in planning their schedules.
Note that courses may not be counted as fulfilling two requirements, e.g. one course may not be used to fulfill a general education requirement and an emphasis requirement.
Fall (First Year)
Winter (First Year)
| ENGL202 | English Composition II | 3 |
| NASD101 | History of Indians in the United States | 3 |
| ELECTIVE | Emphasis Electives | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring (First Year)
| SCWK160 | Introduction to Addiction Studies | 3 |
| SCID272 | Introduction to the Science of Indigenous Health and Well-Being | 5 |
| OR | |
| ELECTIVE | Natural Science General Education 5 cr | 5 |
| ELECTIVE | Emphasis Electives | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Fall (Second Year)
| SCWK201 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| MATH103 | Contemporary Math | 5 |
| ELECTIVE | Native American Studies General Education Open | 3 |
| ELECTIVE | Emphasis Electives 6 credits | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Winter (Second Year)
Spring (Second Year)
| ELECTIVE | Open 3 cr | 3 |
| ELECTIVE | Emphasis Electives 13 credits | 13 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Chemical Dependency Emphasis Electives
| CDAR245 | Multicultural Competency and Ethics in CD | 3 |
| CDAR251 | Co-Occurring Disorders in CD | 3 |
| CDAR259 | Chemical Dependency Assessment and Case Management I | 3 |
| CDAR260 | Chemical Dependency Assessment and Case Management II | 3 |
| CDAR261 | Treatment Planning & Documentation in CD | 3 |
| CDAR262 | Chemical Dependency Counseling I | 3 |
| CDAR263 | Chemical Dependency Counseling II | 3 |
| CDAR264 | Chemical Dependency Counseling III | 3 |
| CDAR270 | Gambling and Gaming Disorders Assessment and Counseling in CD | 3 |
| SCWK263 | Pharmacology of Psychoactive Substances | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 30 |
The Chemical Dependency Emphasis Track has 30 required credits. Students must choose an additional 13 credits from courses listed in other emphases to total 43 credits from emphasis electives.
Health Promotion Practice Emphasis Electives
| HLTH102 | Foundations of Health and Wellness | 3 |
| HLTH170 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| HLTH172 | Exercise Prescription and Health | 3 |
| HLTH184 | HPP Practicum I | 1 |
| HLTH210 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| HLTH221 | Human Nutrition | 3 |
| HLTH240 | Health Promotion Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| HLTH245 | Health Education | 3 |
| HLTH274 | HPP Clinical Lab | 2 |
| HLTH284 | HPP Practicum II | 2 |
| HLTH291 | Theories of Health Change: Behaviors and Coaching | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 29 |
The Health Promotion Emphasis Track has 29 required credits. Students must choose an additional 14 credits from courses listed in other emphases to total 43 credits from emphasis electives.
Liberal Arts Emphasis Electives
Students in the Liberal Arts Emphasis must take two of the listed history courses.
The Liberal Arts Emphasis Track has 29 required credits. Students must choose an additional 14 credits from courses listed in other emphases to total 43 credits from emphasis electives.
Psychology Emphasis Electives
| PSYC105 | Human Potential Seminar | 2 |
| PSYC120 | Research Methods in Psychology | 5 |
| PSYC230 | Developmental Psychology | 5 |
| PSYC240 | Trauma, Stress, Coping and Health | 3 |
| PSYC320 | Cross-Cultural Issues in Psychology | 5 |
| PSYC341 | Gender Differences | 5 |
| PSYC351 | Introduction to Personality | 5 |
| PSYC361 | Abnormal Psychology | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 35 |
The Psychology Emphasis Track has 35 required credits. Students must choose an additional 8 credits from courses listed in other emphases.
Trauma Certification Emphasis Electives
| BUMG160 | Personal Finance | 3 |
| SCWK120 | Introduction to Trauma and Care | 3 |
| SCWK160 | Introduction to Addiction Studies | 3 |
| SCWK170 | Adventure Based Counseling | 2 |
| SCWK140 | Suicide Awareness: Risk and Resiliency Factors | 2 |
| SCWK181 | Trauma-Based Expressive Arts | 3 |
| SCWK203 | Domestic Violence: Breaking the Cycle of Abuse | 2 |
| SCWK210 | Working with Families and Children | 3 |
| SCWK240 | Historical Trauma and Resiliency | 3 |
| SCWK271 | Trauma Sensitive Teaching and Practice | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
The Trauma Emphasis Track has 27 required credits. Students must choose an additional 16 credits from courses listed in other emphases.
Total Credit Hours: 90
B.S.W. Curriculum
Students must be admitted into the B.S.W. Program or have instructor and department approval before they can enroll in 300 and 400 level SCWK core professional courses.
Fall (Third Year)
| SCWK304 | APA Writing Style | 3 |
| SCWK310 | Social Work Practice I (Individuals) | 3 |
| SCWK320 | Social Work Values and Ethics | 3 |
| SCWK355 | Technical Writing for Social Work | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Winter (Third Year)
| SCWK300 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SCWK307 | Social Work Writing Lab I | 2 |
| SCWK311 | Social Work Practice II (Families) | 3 |
| SCWK330 | Race, Gender, Ethnicity and Class | 5 |
ELECTIVE
| Open Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring (Third Year)
| SCWK312 | Social Work Practices III (Communities & Organizations) | 3 |
| SCWK352 | Internship Seminar | 3 |
| SCWK301 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 |
| OR | |
| CDAR or Social Work Elective | 3 |
ELECTIVE
| Open Elective | 3 |
| ENGL306 | Writing Research Papers | 3 |
Fall (Fourth Year)
| SCWK400 | Internship I | 5 |
| SCWK420 | Advanced Research Methods in Social Work | 3 |
| SCWK440 | Advanced Counseling Methods for the Native American Client | 3 |
| OR | |
| ELECTIVE | Chemical Dependency Focus | 3 |
| GNSD350 | Introduction to Grant Writing | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16-17 |
Winter (Fourth Year)
Spring (Fourth Year)
| SCWK402 | Internship III | 5 |
| SCWK471 | Foster Care/Child Abuse and Neglect | 5 |
| OR | |
| ELECTIVE | Social Work Emphasis | 3 |
ELECTIVE
| Open Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Total Credit Hours: 181