How To Get Into A Social Work Major At A Bowlling Green State University

Transcription

1 General Directions BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY Social Work Program APPLICATION TO THE SOCIAL WORK MAJOR 1. Read and follow all instructions carefully. 2. Complete all parts of the application in the pdf form. Hand written applications are unacceptable. 3. Fill out Section I of the reference form, print and give to your recommenders. Provide your recommenders envelopes. We do not accept ed references. You must include references in your submission packet. Applications submitted without Section 1 completed are deemed incomplete. 4. Include unofficial copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. 5. For questions about the application, please contact Barb Carr, carrb@bgsu.edu, Deadlines a. September 30 th for admission the following spring term b. January 30 th for admission the following fall term. 7. Late submissions will not receive consideration. 8. Incomplete applications will not receive consideration. 9. You will receive notification of your admission status within approximately working days after the submission deadlines. Notification will come by You must submit the application in hard copy. Please turn it in to the Social Work Office in 223 Old Health Building

2 BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM APPLICATION Admission Requirements* The following are the requirements for admission to the Social Work major. Students may apply during the semester they are in the process of completing requirements. In these cases, students receive a provisional acceptance until all requirements are met. 1. Completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours of university academic work with an overall grade point average of Completion of SOWK 1100 and SOC 1010, or their equivalent at another college or university, with a minimum grade of C. 3. Completion of 30 hours of documented volunteer work in a social service or similar organization under the supervision of a social worker or other credentialed helping professional. Your supervisor(s) must document your hours. a. We accept hours completed in a faith based setting only if they involve the provision of social services. Hours completed as part of proselytizing activities will not count. For example, if you work in a food pantry of your church, those hours will count. If your hours come from teaching a Sunday school class at your church, they do not count. b. Only hours completed within the last two years count. c. If you work in a social or related service, you may count these hours with appropriate documentation. d. Hours completed doing BGSU related service learning or student organized activities or projects do not count. e. Hours completed under a supervisor who does not hold a professional credential in the helping services do not count. f. Hours completed during high school count if completed in a social service setting and supervised by a credentialed helping professional. 4. Submission of a complete Ethics/Diversity statement. 5. Two letters of references from a licensed social worker or allied professional such as a psychologist, occupational therapist, counselor, nurse, or similar. One reference letter must be from the supervisor of your volunteer service. All letters must appear on agency or organizational stationery. You may use someone from your place of worship as long as the referee has a credential and supervised you in a social service project or activity. Work or former work supervisors may serve as a reference. Do not use BGSU faculty or those from other colleges or universities, family members or friends. References must be sealed and signed by the recommender across the envelope s seal. We will not accept 2

3 references in unsealed and unsigned envelopes. Include references in the application packet. 6. Unofficial transcripts from BGSU and all other universities/colleges you have attended. 7. A signed acknowledgment of the Program s admission policies and procedures. 8. Submission of a picture taken within the last three months of application. 9. The majority of ratings given by recommenders must be good or excellent. *Note: Meeting minimum application requirements does not guarantee acceptance. 3

4 BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY Social Work Program Application for Admission to the Social Work Program DIRECTIONS: Please provide the following information. 1. Check which campus you will attend.* BGSU Firelands 2. Mailing address where you currently receive mail. 3. Phone 4. Please provide your BGSU address. If you are not admitted to BGSU, provide a current address. 5. BGSU ID (if current student) * Note: Once admitted to the campus checked, students may not take social work courses at the other campus. If a student wishes to change their campus, they must have the permission of the Social Work Program Director. They must take all remaining course work at the campus into which they transfer. Students may not transfer after they have enrolled in SOWK 3250, Practice I. Students must take their practicum within a 50 mile radius of the campus they attend. 4

5 6. Emergency Contact (name, address & phone) 7. Academic Information (Submit unofficial transcript for each institution attended, including BGSU.) University/College Dates of Attendance Overall GPA 8. Overall GPA 9. Grade for SOWK 1100 (or equivalent) 10. Grade for Introduction to Sociology (or equivalent) 11. NASW Code of Ethics Social Work practitioners abide by the NASW Code of Ethics, which establishes the profession s core values and standards for practice. Please read the NASW Code of Ethics, or the Spanish version, In preparation for practice, we expect students to abide by the NASW Code of Ethics. Failure to do so will result in a review of your major standing and the possibility of dismissal from the major. 12. Expectations for student conduct In the Social Work Program, the classroom serves as a professional learning environment. Students should act accordingly and not in a manner that interferes with the class learning environment or shows disrespect for the instructor or fellow classmates. Repeatedly arriving at class more than a couple of minutes late, carrying on side 5

6 conversations, or leaving early are examples of disruptive behavior. In addition, laptops, cell phones and any other personal communication devices should be off. Texting tells the instructor you are not participating in class. It disrupts the instructor s efforts to engage the class. Instructors have the right to dismiss or downgrade a student for disruptive behavior. BGSU has policies governing student conduct in the classroom, 6

7 STATEMENT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT By signing below, you acknowledge reading and understanding all materials and information in the Social Program application packet, including all material regarding program policies and procedures. 1. The Social Work program has the right to reject my application if it is not complete. 2. I will retain a copy of this application and related materials. Please place a check mark next to each item included in your submission Signed Statement of Acknowledgement Application for Admission to the Social Work Program Social Work Principles/Diversity Statement Transcript(s) from all other universities or colleges attended. Two letters of reference, sealed and signed across seal. By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read and understand all application materials for admission to the social work major. I agree to abide by the policies and procedures contained in the application packet, and the NASW and Social Work Program Codes of Ethics. I further understand that not having read this information is not an excuse for failure to follow program policies and procedures. Signature Date 7

8 SOCIAL WORK PRINCIPLES AND DIVERSITY STATEMENT Directions: As part of your application to the Social Work Program, you are being asked to write a statement concerning social work principles and diversity. Please respond to each of the following five points in three to five typed pages (total) in paragraph form. Address each question separately. Attach your responses to the application in pdf format, placing your name on each page. 1. What experiences (paid, volunteer, or extracurricular) have you had in helping people, especially those with backgrounds or cultures different than your own? How has this made an impact on your decision to major in social work? 2. Development of personal and professional values is seen as an ongoing process which premajor students are just beginning to explore. Select three social work principles, as described on the attached page, and discuss why you think they are important to social workers. Use examples and discuss in detail. 3. Please discuss any social work principle(s) you believe to be in conflict with your own personal values. How do you think this conflict may cause you to experience an ethical dilemma? 4. Describe your short and long term learning and career goals. List three different fields (areas) of social work practice. Rank your list according to the type of the service that interests you most at this time. Describe how your choices relate to your personal values. 5. The social work profession values diversity (differences in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, and physical ability) among its members and the people it serves. Please elaborate on the contributions you feel you can bring to the diversity of the profession. 8

9 SOCIAL WORK PRINCIPLES The social work profession is guided by a distinct set of abstract values and a Code of Ethics. These values are transformed into accepted practice principles for the purpose of informing our intervention with clients. What follows is a listing of nine Social Work Principles and a brief description of each. Acceptance Acceptance is a fundamental social work principle that implies a sincere understanding of clients. Acceptance is conveyed in the professional relationship through the expression of genuine concern, receptive listening, intentional responses that acknowledge the other person's point of view, and the creation of a climate of mutual respect. Affirming Individuality To affirm a client's individuality is to recognize and appreciate the unique qualities of that client. It means to "begin where the client is." Clients expect personalized understanding and undivided attention from professionals. Individualization requires freedom from bias and prejudice, an avoidance of labeling and stereotyping, a recognition and appreciation of diversity, and knowledge of human behavior. Purposeful Expression of Feelings Clients need to have opportunities to express their feelings freely to the social worker. As social workers, we must go beyond "just the facts" to uncover the underlying feelings. Non judgmental Communicating in a non judgmental fashion is essential to developing a relationship with the client. It does not imply that social workers do not make decisions; rather it implies a non blaming attitude and behavior. Social workers do not judge others as either good or bad, neither as worthy nor unworthy. Objectivity Ojectivity is the principle of examining situations without bias. To be objective in their observations and understanding, social workers must avoid injecting personal feelings and prejudices in relationships with clients. Controlled Emotional Involvement There are three components to a controlled emotional response to a client's situation: sensitivity to expressed or unexpressed feelings, understanding based on knowledge of human behavior, and a response guided by knowledge and purpose. The social worker should not respond in a way that conveys coldness or lack or interest while at the same time cannot over identify with the client. Self Determination The principle of self determination is based on the recognition of the right and need of clients to freedom in making their own choices and decisions. Social workers have a responsibility to create a working relationship in which choice can be exercised. Access to Resources Social workers are implored to assure that everyone has the necessary resources, services, and opportunities; to pay attention to expanding choices, and opportunities 9

10 for the oppressed and disadvantaged; and to advocate for policy and legislative changes that improve social conditions and promote social justice. Confidentiality Confidentiality or the right to privacy implies that clients must give expressed consent before information such as their identity, the consent of discussions held with them, one's professional opinion about them, or their record is disclosed. Summarized from: DuBois, B. & Miley, K.K (2010). Social Work: An Empowering Profession (6 th ed.) Boston: Allyn & Bacon, pp

11 SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM CODE OF ETHICS I Rational Social Workers are professionals guided by the values and ethical principles embodied in the NASW s Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics establishes the standards of acceptable practice. Practitioners must abide by the conduct dictated by the Code of Ethics. Many of these standards also appear in state laws governing the conduct of social workers and other professional helpers. Failure to abide by the Code of Ethics may result in professional sanctions, loss of licensure, criminal prosecution or civil litigation. The Social Work Program s goal is to graduate professionally competent practitioners. Achieving this goals requires the program to maintain an environment that assists student s learning professional behavior. Our explicit curriculum, which refers to the courses in the major, provides the knowledge, skills and values for professional social work. Supporting this is an implicit curriculum. The implicit curriculum involves maintaining a program atmosphere that enables students to enact and experience the professional atmosphere that exists in actual practice. The CSWE mandates that social work programs maintain a professional program environment- an implicit curriculumthat assists in professional socialization. II Policy 1. Students must abide by the NASW Code of Ethics not only in their service and field placements but in the program environment. Failure to abide by the NASW Code of Ethics may result in dismissal from the major. 2. Students are to treat fellow students and all departmental staff and faculty with civility, respect and dignity in interactions including electronic communications. The principles of collaboration and cooperation should guide all interactions. The Social Work program requires students to resolve interpersonal problems in a direct, problem-solving fashion following program policies related to conflict resolution. 3. Students must demonstrate professional conduct in the classroom. a. The following are examples of behavior that fail to demonstrate professional conduct in the classroom.

12 i. lack of attendance, preparation and participation in classes; ii. creating a disturbance or distraction by arriving late to class, texting, ringing cell phones, carrying on side conversations with peers, packing up prior to the end of class and leaving early; iii. behaving in a hostile, aggressive fashion, verbally or physically, to faculty, staff and other students, disrespectful demeanor, excessive argumentativeness, rudeness, and verbal abuse. 4. Students who consistently behave in an unprofessional manner will be counseled out of the Social Work Program. (see Counseling Out Policy).

13 COUNSELING OUT "Counseling out" refers to the process of discontinuing a student's enrollment in the social work program. The decision to discontinue a student as a social work major is typically a permanent one. In certain circumstances, counseled out may involve specific remedial steps for a student to complete before they may re-apply to the program. Counseling does not affect the student s standing as a BGSU student. Counseling out of the major occurs when students fail to meet the program s expectations or abide by the NASW Code of Ethics and the Social Work Program s Code of Ethics. Expectations of Social Work Majors 1. Academic Performance: Students must maintain grade requirements and academic honesty. 2. Attendance & Participation: Students must meet the requirements of class and practicum. Generally, the program s policy is that students must prepare, attend and positively participate in all classes. 3. Professional Behavior: Students must behave professionally with peers, faculty, agency personnel, and clients. They must abide by the NASW Code of Ethics. Doing so includes behaving towards others with respect, genuineness and honesty. Students must demonstrate respect for diversity and act with integrity. They must demonstrate respect for the learning process and refrain from behavior that disrupts, undermines, and degrades it. They must do this in the classroom, practicum, volunteer service, and service learning projects. 4. Assaultive or Threatening Behavior: Students must not behave in ways that intimidate, terrorize, menace, harass, physically harms or injures clients, colleagues, or instructors. 5. Competent Practice: Student must demonstrate practice competencies as described in our CSWE accreditation and course syllabi. They must demonstrate these competencies in classroom assignments, service learning and practicum. Counseling Out of the Social Work Major Counseling out is a process aimed at facilitating the removal of a student from the social work major who fails to meet program expectations. The steps in the process are as follows: 1. A faculty member who wishes to initiate the counseling out of a student makes his or her recommendation in writing to the Social Work Program Director. The letter must provide specific information that describes the student s failure to behave according to the program s expectations as stated above. 1

14 a. Prior to writing the letter, faculty must have met with the student to discuss the behavior(s) that fails to meet expectations and describe specific steps to improve. b. If the student fails to improve, the faculty member must meet with the student and inform him or her that they will write a letter to the program director initiating the counseling out process. c. In their letter to the director, the faculty member provides documentation of the expectations the student failed to meet, the steps formulated to successfully meet expectations and the student s failure to satisfactorily complete the success plan. d. The Social Work Program Director will notify the student in writing of its receipt within three working days and provide them a copy of it. i. The program director shall setup an appointment with the student as soon as schedules allow. The meeting s purpose is to review the letter and hear the student s perspective on the information contained in the letter. Students may submit their own letter contesting the faculty member s claims. e. The director may consult with other faculty familiar with the student's performance. 2. The director will call a faculty meeting and review his or her findings. A majority vote of the faculty initiates the counseling out process. 3. If the faculty vote to counsel out, the director will counsel and advise the student on expectations and provide one warning. Continuation of the behavior will result in being counseled out of the program. The director will help the student identify other options for a major. However, the director will withdraw the student s social work major standing. Students have the right to appeal counseling out through the identified grievance procedures of the Social Work Program and the University. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE Any student who is dissatisfied with being counseled out may grieve the decision to the Head of Department of Human Services. 2

15 BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY APPLICANT REFERENCE FORM Section I. Students must complete this section prior to submitting to the recommender. Failure to complete this section constitutes an incomplete application. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and its amendments guarantee students to their educational records. Students may, however, waive their right of access to recommendations. The choice of the applicant regarding this recommendation is to be indicated below. Failure to sign will constitute acceptance of limited access. I do waive my right to inspect the contents of the following recommendation. I do not waive my right to inspect the contents of the following recommendation. Signed: Date:

16 2. Section Recommender This section is to be completed by the reference. Note: Confidentiality of letters of recommendation cannot be guaranteed unless applicant waives right of access. The student named above is applying for admission to BGSU s Social Work Program. We require applicants to provide two references from persons in the helping professions. We appreciate a frank assessment of this student s potential for professional social work practice. Please attach a separate recommendation letter written on your official academic or business letterhead and signed with your professional credential. In order to ensure the integrity of application, we request that you place your reference in a sealed envelope with your signature across the seal. Please return the reference letter to the student in a sealed envelope with your signature across the seal. The student will enclose your letter with their application packet. Name: Title and Organization: Street Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: If appropriate, please indicate the length of time the above student has volunteered or been employed at our agency 2

17 Please rate your experience with the student in the following areas: Excellent Good Fair Poor Unable to Evaluate Punctuality/Dependability Appearance Personal integrity Ability to express his/her emotions verbally and nonverbally Commitment to working with economically or socially disadvantaged people Ability to relate to others and provide a feeling of warmth and compassion Ability to relate to different types of people Personal suitability and motivation for the social work profession Ability to follow directions, complete tasks, and accept supervision What do you consider the student's major areas of strength in working with people? 3

18 What do you consider the student's weakness or challenge is working with people? Please describe the student s potential as a future social worker. Any additional comments: Please put your completed reference form, along with any additional letter of recommendation, in an envelope with your signature across the seal. Give the complete reference to the student to be included in his/her application materials. 4