Siena Heights’ Social Work program has earned nationally recognized accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through 2017. Although requirements vary by state, most require a degree from a CSWE-accredited Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) program to be licensed to practice social work http://www.allpsychologycareers.com/social-work-license.html. To be accepted into the Social Work Program and major, students must apply for admittance, generally in their sophomore year with a minimum GPA of 2.0 and overall 2.5 in Social Work courses. To obtain the BSW degree students must meet all academic graduation requirements for the degree.

Educational Goals

• Prepare BSW students to be knowledgeable, competent, skilled generalist social work practitioners with individuals, families; groups, communities and organizations.
• Provide a social work education program that incorporates content about and commitment to, social work ethics and values, knowledge and skills, social justice, and enhancing the well-being of vulnerable and oppressed people.
• Prepare graduates to assume responsibility for continuing their professional social education development.

The Social Work program curriculum combines liberal arts courses, three required sociology courses that include community-based learning experiences, and two semesters of Spanish language courses, with personal social work courses that focus on:

• Social welfare services and policy
• Human behavior and the social environment
• Populations-at-risk
• Human and cultural diversity
• Social science research
• Social work with
  • individuals
  • families
  • groups
  • children
  • youth
  • the elderly
  • Gay/lesbian/bisexual
  • immigrants and refugees
  • Disabled
  • Veterans
  • Criminal justice
• Domestic and gender-based violence
• Domestic and global social work
• Substance abuse treatment
• Two semesters of field practice
• Social justice issues
• Social work ethics and values
• Social work practice preparation

Graduates of our program have proven themselves to be well-prepared for immediate employment in public and private social service positions, to contribute to the well-being of individuals, families, groups and communities and/or to successful complete graduate work at the Master’s degree level.

Core Values

• Service
• Social justice
• Dignity and worth of the person
• Importance of Human Relationships
• Integrity
• Competence