Bachelor of Social Work
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program prepares students for entry-level practice in social work. Ranked number one by the Gourman Report since 1995, the curriculum in the BSW program is strong in class and in field. Approximately two-thirds of the curriculum is in professional courses. A third is in co-requisite courses and electives. Field education is concurrent with class work except in the first semester of the junior year for full and part- time students.
- Flexible program offers full-time and part-time planned studies; day, evening and Saturday courses; classes available at WSU main campus and Macomb University Center.
- Doctoral level faculty involved in leading research activities brings currency to classroom instruction, while building on values and traditions of social work.
- Coursework emphasizes a generalist social work practice model preparing students to work with individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities addressing contemporary challenges
- Opportunities available for community activism, leadership development, school governance participation and volunteer activities
- Computer lab available at all sites for individual work and classroom instruction
- Nurturing environment with small class sections promotes academic excellence and individualized attention; mentoring program for core academic areas and professional development
BSW Program Goals
- To prepare BSW students for ethical, competent entry level, generalist professional social work practice, particularly in urban settings with diverse, poor, vulnerable and oppressed individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- To foster a commitment to continuing education, maintaining competence in practice, and enhancing and increasing opportunities for BSW graduates for renewal and advancement within the profession.
Program Objectives
- Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
- Articulate the values of the profession and their own personal values to analyze ethical dilemmas and engage in ethical decision making processes.
- Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge and skills related to clients’ age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex and service orientation.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination impact individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities.
- Engage in culturally sensitive generalist social work practice with diverse and oppressed client populations and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structure and issues.
- Apply the generalist social work perspective to practice with individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities.
- Use the ecological systems theoretical framework and problem solving approach for assessing and evaluating human functioning of systems of all sizes in order to identify the focus of interventions.
- Use theories of human behavior and life span development of individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities, including those supported by empirical evidence, to critically assess human behavior within the social environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze how past and present social policies impact client systems and formulate and influence social policies that address discrimination, eliminate oppression and promote social and economic justice.
- Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to relevant practice interventions and evaluate own practice.
- Apply communication and professional relationship skills differentially across client populations, with social work colleagues and colleagues in other disciplines, and communities.
- Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development and growth through continuing education, supervision and consultation.
- Demonstrate an ability to function within organizations and service delivery systems, use supervision and seek organizational change where appropriate.
- Recognize the global context of social work practice, particularly as the context affects residents in the metropolitan Detroit area.
- Use computer technologies to retrieve information and facilitate communication for social work practice.