Undergraduate Majors
- Learning to a Greater Degree Contract
- Majors
- Academic Colleges & Departments
- Academic Advising
- Transfer Information
- Catalogs
- Online and Distance Learning
- The Graduate School
- Honors College
- International Center
- Registrar and Student Records
- Undergraduate Degree Programs
- Undergraduate Research
- Writing Center
Social Work
Bachelor of Social Work Degree
 
|
The social work program at UCM prepares students to enter the social work profession. Required coursework and the social work field practicum equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values for entry-level (generalist) social work practice and for advancement to graduate-level study.
The social work profession strives to help people to strengthen and improve their abilities to address a wide variety of life challenges. Social workers are involved in helping people to resolve emotional, social, economic, and political problems. Professional social work education prepares students to work with groups, organizations, and communities in addition to individuals and families.
Career Prospects
Social workers are employed in a wide variety of community agencies and social institutions. Child welfare or family services social workers may help single parents find needed resources and strengthen social supports, arrange for homemaker services during a parent's illness, and locate foster homes for abused, abandoned, or neglected children. Mental health social workers provide social rehabilitation, crisis intervention, and training in skills of everyday living for persons with mental or emotional problems. They may work with members of a multidisciplinary team to support optimum functioning within the community. Health care social workers help patients and their families cope with serious illnesses and injuries. They often help to facilitate needed services for continuing care or rehabilitation. Gerontology social workers specialize in providing services to elderly individuals and their families to maximize the quality of life through individualized planning and coordination of services.
Curriculum
Most of the required social work courses are taken during the junior and senior years. Classes are offered during the daytime on campus in Warrensburg and an evening degree completion program is offered at the UCM Summit Center in Lee's Summit.Students are assigned to a social work faculty member for advisement to help ensure timely progress through the requirements for the degree and to explore questions students may have about the profession. A formal admissions procedure is required, usually beginning following the first semester of the junior year. An application accompanied by an autobiographical essay, an updated transcript, three references, and an interview with the admissions committee are required. Courses required for the BSW degree must be completed with a grade of C or above to count toward the completion of the degree.
Accreditation
The Social Work Program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Graduates of accredited programs are generally more desirable to employers, they are eligible to apply for a social work license in those states licensing baccalaureate social workers (including Missouri), and they are eligible to apply for advanced standing admission to graduate schools of social work.
Student Organizations
Social work students are encouraged to participate in the Association of Social Work Students, which is open to any student interested in the social work profession, and the Phi Alpha Honor Society, Central Missouri's chapter of the national social work honor society.
Scholarships
Scholarships available to social work students through the department include the C. James Britton Scholarship.
To Learn More
Department of Communication Disorders and Social Work
660-543-4407
Admissions
660-543-4290
