2140 School of Social Work

Peter Lyons, Interim Director
Kristie Seelman, B.S.W. Program Director

The B.S.W. program’s mission is to prepare students for generalist social work practice in a range of roles and services that deal with the existing and developing challenges that confront individuals, families, groups, and communities. The goals of the B.S.W. program are to graduate students who will be able to: (1) think critically and communicate effectively in the application of social work knowledge, skills, and values to entry-level generalist practice, and (2) practice as entry-level generalist social workers.

Successful completion of this program may lead to advanced standing in many accredited graduate programs of social work.

The competencies and practice behaviors of the B.S.W. program are designed to be consistent with the missions and goals of the B.S.W. program, the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, and Georgia State University. They are aligned with the Council of Social Work Education’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.

B.S.W. Program Competencies:

1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
2. Engage diversity and difference in practice.
3. Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
4. Engage In practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
5. Engage in policy practice.
6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
9. Evaluate Practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Program Admission

The requirements and procedures for admission to Georgia State University are summarized in the university section of this General Catalog. That application process permits a potential student to indicate the college in which the individual wishes to register upon acceptance and to indicate the intended major. Based upon that application, an individual may be accepted by the university and by the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. Entering students who wish to major in social work begin their affiliation with the School of Social Work in an Exploratory Social Work status. A later, separate application and decision process is required before a student can be formally accepted into the Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) status. The priority application deadline is May 15 prior to the junior year. However, applications will be accepted after that date until August 1 on a space availability basis. (B.S.W. applications are NOT processed between August - December.)

Exploratory Social Work Student

All students admitted to the School of Social Work begin as Exploratory Social Work students and change their status only after the student has made formal application and formal admission has been granted. Exploratory Social Work status is assigned to students who have not completed all lower-division courses in Areas A-F or have not met GPA eligibility requirements. To complete these areas, Exploratory Social Work students must register only for the lower-division courses specified in their advisement files.

Programs

• Social Work, B.S.W.

Courses

• SW 2000 - Introduction to Social Work
• SW 3000 - Communication/Cultural Diversity
• SW 3005 - Career Planning & Management
• SW 3100 - Community Partnerships
• SW 3200 - Social Welfare Institutions
• SW 3300 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
• SW 3400 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
• SW 3500 - Methods of Social Work Research
• SW 3600 - Social Welfare Policy
• SW 3700 - Communication Skills for Social Workers
• SW 3800 - Case Management & Community Resources in Social Work
• SW 4100 - Social Work Methods I
• SW 4200 - Social Work Methods II
• SW 4310 - Group Facilitation
• SW 4320 - Social Work Administration
• SW 4330 - Contemporary Health Challenges
• SW 4340 - Restorative Justice and Law
• SW 4350 - Economic Justice, Inequality, and Poverty
• SW 4360 - Forensic Social Work
• SW 4440 - Global Social Work Practice, Policy, and Research
• SW 4450 - Child Maltreatment Practice Policy and Research
• SW 4460 - Aging Practice, Policy and Research
• SW 4470 - Behavioral Health: Substance Abuse and Dependence
• SW 4480 - Disabilities Practice, Policy, and Research
• SW 4490 - Child Welfare Practice, Policy, and Research
• SW 4500 - Field Education I
• SW 4810 - Reenvisioning Justice
• SW 4900 - Field Education II
• SW 4950 - Selected Topics in Social Work
• SW 4960 - Seminar on Social Work Issues and Problems
• SW 4990 - Directed Individual Study