Social Work: Degree completion program

The Goshen College social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and has, as its primary objective, the preparation of students for professional social work practice. Students are also prepared for graduate social work education and receive advanced standing in many Master of Social Work programs.

Social Work: two tracks

The social work program has both a four-year bachelor of arts track (described earlier in this catalog) and a 20-month bachelor of science degree completion track. Both tracks follow the same social work curriculum. Students who start college immediately after graduating from high school follow the four-year track and earn a B.A. in social work. Students who have graduated with an associate degree in human services and have related work experience follow the degree completion track, earning a B.S. in social work. The program outcomes for graduates are the same for students enrolled in either track.

Admission to the Social Work professional program

Social work is a professional program that requires an admission process separate from admission to the college. Students apply for admission to the social work education program during SoWk 322 Social Welfare Policy & Program I, the first social work course taken in the degree completion program. Written applications are accepted in December each year. Admission criteria include academic and personal qualifications with a value orientation necessary for the professional practice of social work. The admission process is directed toward furthering students’ personal growth as they explore vocational interests and abilities. Specific information about criteria and process is found in the Social Work Student Handbook. This may be obtained from the director of baccalaureate social work education.

Minimum pre-requisite Core requirements (15 credit hours) for students without an A.A. or A.S. degree

English composition II3
Literature, fine arts or foreign language 3
Natural science (biology, chemistry, or physics) 3
Social science (anthropology, economics, psychology, or sociology) 3
History or political science 3

Major in social work (B.S. degree completion)

63 credit hours

Pre-requisites for degree-completion program (24 credits)

Psyc 306, Abnormal Psychology 3
Soc 200, Principles of Sociology 3
Soc 210, Sociology of the Family 3
Soc 334, Race, Class and Ethnic Relations 3
SoWk 200, Introduction to Social Work 3
SoWk 209, Social Service Field Experience 3
SoWk 221, Human Behavior 3
One of the following courses: 3
- SoWk 229, Child Welfare
- SoWk 231, Aging in US Society
- SoWk 245, Women’s Concerns
- SoWk 250, Human Services: Special Topics

Degree completion courses at Goshen College (39 credits)

Soc/SoWk 391, Methods of Social Research 3
SoWk 322, Social Welfare Policy & Program I 3
SoWk 323, Social Welfare Policy & Program II 4
SoWk 325, Social Work Practice Theory I 4
SoWk 409, Field Instruction 10
SoWk 410, Social Work Senior Seminar 2
SoWk 425, Social Work Practice Theory II 3
PJCS 210 PX, Transforming Conflict & Violence 3
Core 210, Professional Communication Skills 4
Core 309, Leading & Serving in a Multicultural World 3

Student learning outcomes

Graduates in social work will demonstrate in measurable ways achievement of the ten core competencies articulated by the Council on Social Work Education. Graduates will:

Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
Engage diversity and difference in practice.
Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
Engage in 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.
Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Academic requirements

The professional practice of social work requires acquisition of knowledge, specific skills,
a firm identification with specified values and ethics and a high degree of social and
personal responsibility. Graduates must earn a total of 120 credit hours with a 2.5 grade point average for courses completed at Goshen College. A grade of C or above in all social work required courses and a college GPA of 2.5 or higher is required for continuation in the social work major. Any social work required course in which a student earns a grade of C- or below must be repeated with a grade of C or better in order to successfully complete the social work major. Students whose college GPA falls below a 2.5, or whose personal or professional behavior is inconsistent with the above requirements, may be asked to leave the program. Students who are denied admission or dismissed from the program, and believe relevant policies were unfairly administered, have the right to initiate the Goshen College grievance procedure.