Social Work, B.S.W.

Program Director’s Message

Welcome to Jarvis Christian University (JCU) and the Social Work Program.  In June 2019, the academic program was accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).  The Social Work core course requirements at the junior and senior levels to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. 

The Mission and Goals

The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program at Jarvis Christian College is to prepare competent generalist social work practitioners for entry into the social work profession.  These practitioners will apply the values of the social work profession to address the needs of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities within the context of social, economic, and environmental justice for those oppressed and through interaction with multiple social service agencies in the regional, national, and international communities.  The goals of the Social Work Program at Jarvis Christian University are to:

Prepare students for entry-level generalist social work practice with client systems of all sizes and types, primarily concerned with the complexity of human diversity in rural and urban settings.

Socialize students with values and ethics of the social work profession as a guide to social work practice.

Provide study of theories and facts comprising knowledge base of human behavior and social environment with emphasis on populations-at-risk, human diversity, social and economic inequities nationally and globally.

Provide the study of the complexity of social service programs and the political and legislative processes used in developing and implementing social policy.

Provide orientation of social research methods, tools, and procedures used to measure social behavior and social work practice.

Provide application of generalist practice methods with client systems in diverse settings.

Prepare students with a solid educational foundation that will foster a commitment to continuous personal and professional development, and advanced training, especially for those who want to pursue graduate education.

Jarvis Christian University’s Generalist Social Work Definition

Generalist social work practice serves client systems utilizing an ecological approach focusing on persons, families, groups, organizations, and communities. A narrow cadre of theories does not confine it; instead, it is versatile enough to allow problems and situations, as well as strengths, capacities, and resources, to determine the practice approach. Generalist social work practice employs a problem-solving framework and broad knowledge, value, and skill base, which demands ethical practice and ongoing self-assessment.  Generalist social work practice is:

• Multi-level to include individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Multi-theory, allowing for the free selection of theories as appropriate.
• Problem identification and solving focus that follows a problem-solving framework.
• Utilizing interventions at multiple levels as appropriate.
• Addressing the complexity of individual, family, group, organizational, and community system interactions.
• Requiring integration of awareness, competence, and professional response to issues of values, ethics, diversity, culture, social justice, and populations-at-risk.

The curriculum is comprised of a liberal arts base, combined with courses addressing the profession’s knowledge, skills and values. Preparation for a career as a generalist practitioner in Social Work is augmented by a supervised field practicum of 450 clock hours.

To qualify for consideration as a Provisional/Pre-major in the program, applicants must:

• Accepted and admitted to Jarvis Christian University.

Applications for admission into the Social Work Program are accepted during the Spring (March-April) and Fall (October-November) semesters. Prospective students are assessed by the Admissions Committee of the program which makes the final decisions based on the students’ overall strength of their application materials. Students’ application materials must be submitted directly to the Social Work Program.

To qualify for consideration as a major in the Program, applicants must:

• Be admitted and enrolled at Jarvis Christian University with a completion of a minimum of 45 accumulative credit hours of general studies.
• Or transfer student/or returning student in the process of admission with a minimum of 45 accumulative University credit hours.
• Submit all official undergraduate transcript(s).
• Have at least a 2.00 overall GPA.

• Have completed two of the following cognate courses with at least a 2.00 grade point average or better: SOCI 1301- Introduction to Sociology,  PSYC 2301- General Psychology, and ECON 2301 Micro-economics or ECON 2302 Macro-economics. 

• Submit autobiographical essay.
• Two letters of recommendation from professors, student organizations, or academic personnel to address student’s development.
• Successfully complete faculty interview.

Admissions Essay

Each applicant must write an autobiographical essay that meets the following guidelines:

• Typewritten, double space with a font size of 12.
• One page or more that supports your interest in social work (e.g., special challenges/obstacles that you have met/overcome, examples of leadership, and other influences that help shaped your interest in social work).

The Admissions essay is one of the critical elements that the Admissions Committee will review for consideration into the program. Applicants must carefully follow the instructions that are given above for the essay. The essay must be as thorough as possible.

There are several attributes that are very important in students who desire to enter into the social work career. These attributes consist of good judgment, integrity, openness to new ideas, and to be receptive to the development of self-awareness, the ability or willingness to change, and an acquisition of a nonjudgmental attitude regarding differences in people. Other essential attributes require a dedication to the values of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, such as commitment to the social worker’s role in institutional change, and a broad-based respect for human rights and diversity.

Admissions Appeal Procedures

If students would like to appeal their admission status, they must submit a formal letter requesting an appeal. In the letter, the student must address the reason(s) for their appeal. Copies of the appeal must be sent to the Social Work Program Director, Chair of the Behavioral and Social Sciences, Dean of the Division Professional Studies, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The aforementioned process must be submitted within fifteen days of receipt of their admission decision. For more information refer to the Social Work Student Handbook.