Social Work

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Department Head & MSW Program Director: Jessica Lucero, Ph.D., MSW
Location: Main 239D
Phone: (435) 797-9122
FAX: (435) 797-1240
E-mail: socialwork@usu.edu
Website: socialwork.usu.edu

Master of Social Work (MSW) Full-time Program Director:
Jessica Lucero, Main 239D, (435) 797-9122, jessica.lucero@usu.edu

Master of Social Work (MSW) Part-Time Program Director:
Susan Cutler Egbert, Ph.D., MSW, 801-518-1115, susan.egbert@usu.edu

Master of Social Work (MSW) Program Coordinator:
Rebecca Montoya, MSW, rebecca.montoya@usu.edu

Social Work Undergraduate Program Director:
Terry L. Peak, Main 239, (435) 797-1286, terry.peak@usu.edu

Social Work Undergraduate Director for Statewide Campuses:
Carl (CJ) Sorenson, MSW, 435-919-1282, carl.sorenson@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Social Work; Master of Social Work (MSW)

Full details of the learning objectives, assessment plan, student outcomes, and evidence of continuous improvement for these programs of study can be found at socialwork.usu.edu. (For assessment specifically, see socialwork.usu.edu/assessment.)

Undergraduate Programs

Objectives

The Department of Social Work is committed to the resolution of contemporary human social problems, such as poverty, racism, discrimination, and economic injustice. The department seeks to instill in its graduates a deep commitment to the profession’s traditional values. It recognizes the historic importance of social welfare in re-balancing the country’s economic and social structure. Our faculty members contribute to the betterment of society through their teaching, research, service and practice activities. 

Requirements

Departmental Admission Requirements

New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to the pre-social work major. For admission to the social work major, transfer students must have earned a minimum 2.75 GPA in all social work classes. Applicants to the social work major must have completed the basic social work core curriculum, must have a minimum 2.75 overall GPA and a minimum 2.75 GPA in social work classes, must have completed SW 1010  with a grade of C+ or better, and fulfill the application process – see socialwork.usu.edu for the most current information about applying to the social work major at any of the USU campuses, including Logan, Brigham City, Kaysville, Tooele, Price, Uintah Basin, Moab, and Blanding.

University Honors Program

The University Honors Program offers students in all colleges and majors the unique opportunity to deepen their educational experience with hands-on practical applications of their academic knowledge. The Honors Program admits incoming, transfer, and existing USU students based on application. High achieving students with at least one year remaining are encouraged to apply. See the University Honors Program catalog entry and website (honors.usu.edu) for more information.

Additional Information

Major requirement sheets that provide detailed information about requirements for majors and minors within the Department of Social Work can be obtained from the department offices in Logan, Brigham City, Kaysville, Tooele, Price, Uintah Basin, Moab, Blanding and online at socialwork.usu.edu.

Utah State University’s Social Work program offers a baccalaureate degree in social work. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and meets requirements established by the state of Utah for licensure of social service workers. A Master of Social Work program is also offered. Additional information about both degrees can be found at socialwork.usu.edu.

Social Work Undergraduate Programs

The Social Work program provides a learning environment for those who seek to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to bring about meaningful social change in individuals, groups, communities, organizations, and society. The program provides grounding in the fundamental generalist skills, knowledge, and values of social work, such as critical thinking, clarification of personal values, cultural humility, professional use of self, systems thinking, commitment to social justice, and communication and interpersonal relationship skills.

Social Work at Utah State University recognizes the historic importance of social welfare in balancing the country’s economic and social structure. The program is committed to the resolution of contemporary human social problems, such as poverty, racism, discrimination, and economic injustice.

Undergraduate Program Goals

There are two fundamental goals that guide the undergraduate Social Work program:

1. To prepare students for employment as generalist social workers through education in a professional foundation curriculum and selected liberal arts education coursework.
2. To prepare students for advanced education, as well as responsible citizenship in the areas of service and research.

The program is based on a generalist conception of social work and a problem-solving, empowerment, and strengths model of practice. The social work sequence stresses problem solving at the interface of person and environment, which requires that students develop a repertoire of generalist practice skills. The program inculcates in students the knowledge, skills, understanding, and values necessary to perform multi-level assessments and interventions utilizing a theoretical knowledge base. The program is committed to building a student’s education on a solid base that includes a liberal arts perspective vital to the development of a social worker.

The program prepares students for graduate professional programs and provides a solid academic base for continuing education. To accomplish this, the program facilitates the development of the profession’s knowledge, values, and skills; provides a well-rounded liberal arts educational foundation; teaches written and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to think critically.

The program endeavors to foster a sense of community and social responsibility. To accomplish this, the program provides opportunities for service learning, social development, and research, in part through the state-affiliated National Association of Social Workers student organization and the Social Work Phi Alpha Honor Society.

Code of Conduct

During academic and field training, students are required to abide by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and standards of conduct specified by the NASW and the Utah State Board of Social Work Examiners. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the Social Work Department. A more complete discussion of Social Work Department policies can be accessed at socialwork.usu.edu.

Licensure

In the state of Utah, graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work are eligible to be licensed as social service workers upon graduation. Students may obtain further information on licensure from:

Department of Commerce
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
160 East 300 South
PO Box 146741
Salt Lake City UT 84114-6741
Tel. (801) 530-6628
Fax (801) 530-6511
http://www.dopl.utah.gov

Liberal Arts Foundation

All students pursuing an undergraduate degree at Utah State University must meet requirements designed to assure a broad, liberal arts foundation. Cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary perspectives are vital to a student’s development as a social worker. The University Studies program, which is described in detail in this catalog (University Studies Depth Requirements ), is required of all majors. Students are expected to take STAT 1040  or STAT 1045  to fulfill the quantitative literacy requirement for University Studies. In addition to fulfilling University Studies requirements, social work majors will need to complete specific liberal arts courses, listed in the Social Work Undergraduate Program requirements, some of which fulfill both University Studies and Social Work undergraduate program requirements. Social Work majors must complete STAT 1040 /STAT 1045  and SOC 3120: Social Statistics I (QI)  to graduate.

Undergraduate Program Admission Requirements

The following regulations apply for admission to the Social Work undergraduate program: (1) New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to the Social Work Pre-Major. (2) Transfer students from other institutions must obtain a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 and a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 in social work classes. (Refer to the USU Admissions Office about the Transfer of Credit Policy.) (3) Students transferring from other USU majors must complete the Social Work undergraduate course of study and obtain a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 and a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 in social work classes. (4) Students must apply for and meet criteria for advanced standing in the undergraduate program, in order to continue on in upper-division social work practice and field practicum courses. (5) Students are responsible for reviewing and knowing the requirements for the Social Work undergraduate degree which can be found at socialwork.usu.edu. (6) All courses required for the Social Work undergraduate degree must be taken for a letter grade. (7) The Social Work undergraduate program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or work experience.

Sample Four-year Plan for Social Work Undergraduate Major

A sample semester-by-semester four-year plan for students working toward a bachelor’s degree in Social Work can be found on the department website socialwork.usu.edu. Students should consult with their advisor or social work program peer advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual needs and interests.

Procedures for Advanced Standing in the Social Work Undergraduate Major

In order to be considered for advanced standing, students must complete all required coursework and turn in a completed application form by the first Friday in March of the academic year. Applications for admission to advanced standing can be obtained at any Social Work office, or at socialwork.usu.edu. The advanced standing admission process allows the social work undergraduate program to: (1) maintain a high-quality educational experience for students in upper-division practice courses, and (2) maintain the status of full accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Students will receive notification of acceptance by June 1 of the application year. If necessary, students may work to improve their application status by retaking courses to improve their GPA or address any other deficiency and reapply for advanced standing the following year.

Leave of Absence

After admission to Advanced Standing, students may request a leave of absence from the Social Work undergraduate program. They must contact the program director and reapply in March of the year preceding the requested reinstatement.

To be considered for advanced standing in the undergraduate program, students must complete the requirements found on our website for BSW Advanced Standing admission. Students applying for advanced standing will be evaluated on the criteria listed on our website.

Students should also be aware that if there are any personal data, such as that included on the application for state licensure, which might indicate a potential threat to the public safety and welfare, that student may be denied advanced standing in the program. Students turned down for advanced standing will be assisted in finding a more suitable major or may reapply during the following year.

To maintain advanced standing and eligibility for graduation as a Social Work undergraduate major, a student: (1) must obtain a B- or better in SW 3050 , SW 4150 , and SW 4160 ; (2) must have completed SW 1010  with a C+ or better; (3) must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 or better and a minimum 2.75 GPA in the Social Work major; (4) must receive a grade of C or better in all other courses required for the major (e.g., SW 4100 ); (5) must not repeat more than once, any course required for the major; and (6) must not receive a Pass-D-Fail grade for any course required for the major.

Procedures for Admission to the Undergraduate Field Practicum

Students must complete 480 clock hours of supervised field practicum and integrative seminar coursework. The field practicum courses are SW 4870  and SW 5870 . Application to the field practicum must be made early in the spring semester of the academic year prior to enrollment in the practicum; students may not enroll in SW 4870  until they have been officially accepted to the practicum and have a practicum assignment. Practicum applications are available in Main 239. No applications for the practicum will be accepted from students who will not complete all required coursework by the end of spring semester.

Students can view eligibility criteria for admission to the field practicum on the social work website, socialwork.usu.edu.

Students should also be aware that if there are any personal data, such as that included on the application for state licensure, which indicate a potential threat to the public safety and welfare, that student may be denied continuation in the program. If a student is denied admission to the practicum, that student may request a review of his/her file.

Students entering the practicum cannot ordinarily begin their placement earlier than the start of fall semester. If they do so, this falls outside of the Social Work program’s responsibility, and any accrued hours will not count toward the required practicum hours.

Transfer of Credit Policy

Students who transfer to the USU Social Work undergraduate program are required to pursue transfer credit through the Admissions Office. Students may substitute certain lower-division social work classes taken at other (CSWE) accredited programs for USU courses (e.g., SW 1010 , SW 2100 , SW 2400 ; ANTH 1010 , BIOL 1010 /USU 1350 , ENGL 1010 /ENGL 2010 , HDFS 1500 , PSY 1010 , SOC 1010 , STAT 1040 /STAT 1045 ). Transfers must be approved by the undergraduate program director. Social work courses taken ten or more years ago cannot ordinarily serve as substitutes for required courses. Courses taken in a department or program not accredited by the CSWE cannot ordinarily serve as substitutes for the USU Social Work courses unless they have been covered in an articulation agreement.

The following regulations apply to transfer students: The transfer credit must reflect an overall grade point average of at least 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) and a 2.75 GPA in all social work courses. The transfer of classes will be evaluated on an individual basis. University Studies Depth Education requirements must be completed by all students, including transfer students who have earned an associate’s degree. 

Students transferring from junior colleges will be required to apply for advanced standing and take upper-division social work courses at USU. Only those social work courses taken within the last ten years will be considered. Students transferring credits from CSWE accredited programs must go through the advanced standing process, and take all advanced courses with the USU Social Work program (e.g., 3000 level and above).

Social Work Student Organizations

The Social Work program recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for students to learn and socialize outside of the classroom. Students are encouraged to become involved with the Social Work Student Association, as well as Theta Gamma chapter of the Phi Alpha Honor Society. Information about these organizations is available at socialwork.usu.edu.

Social Work Program Outcomes

Social Work program outcomes are available for review at socialwork.usu.edu/assessment.

Social Work Graduate Program

Program Office: Main 239, (435) 797-1286

The Social Work Department offers graduate work leading to the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. The MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The program can be completed in several formats, a two-year full-time program, a three-year part-time program, a one-year full-time advanced standing program, and a one-and-a-half-year part-time advanced standing program. Advanced standing programs are only available to students with undergraduate degrees in social work from accredited programs. The mission of the MSW program is to serve the public by preparing graduates as professionals in advanced generalist practice and by equipping them with the skills necessary for leadership roles within the social work profession. The MSW program emphasizes the advanced generalist practice knowledge and skills essential to the tasks of promoting social welfare, especially among vulnerable populations, in institutions such as government, education, health, employment, housing, and criminal justice. The program is dedicated to the development of professional social workers who understand the need to advocate for vulnerable populations, and to work toward a society free from poverty, violence, oppression, and discrimination. Specifically, the MSW program prepares graduates to:

1. Understand the values, concepts, and skills that constitute the framework of generalist and advanced generalist practice.
2. Apply the knowledge and skills of a generalist and advanced generalist social work perspective to practice across all system levels.
3. Understand biopsychosocial theory and the person-in-environment perspective as viewed within the context of agency practice, and as they relate to legislative and policy issues.
4. Utilize evaluative methods in practice.
5. Practice with cultural competence and humility.
6. Utilize advocacy and administrative skills as a means to promote social change in communities and organizations.

The graduate program in Social Work MSW Program Handbook provides more details about the application process, financial assistance decisions, and graduation requirements. A copy of this handbook is available at socialwork.usu.edu.

Application Requirements

The MSW application has six main components:

1. A formal application form, available online with the School of Graduate Studies;
2. Transcripts from the applicant’s undergraduate and graduate studies;
3. Letters of reference from professional and academic sources who can attest to the applicant’s abilities to succeed in graduate school;
4. A written statement of purpose;
5. A resume; and
6. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE) examinations for international students whose native language is not English.

All applicants must have successfully completed a research methods or statistics course, as well as at least one introductory social or behavioral science course prior to enrolling in the program. TOEFL scores are required for international candidates, with a minimum score of 600 (paper test) or 250 (computer-based test) deemed acceptable. The TSE examination is also strongly recommended, with a minimum score of 50 deemed acceptable. International applicants who are admitted without having taken the TSE will be required to take a test of spoken English fluency administered by the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) at Utah State University prior to beginning their first semester in the MSW program. Dependent upon the test results, the student may be required to complete a program of English language training during the first semester of residence in the MSW program.

Applications are screened by the MSW Admissions Committee beginning December 1 of the year before which a new cohort will be admitted. Notification of admission decisions vary depending on which program students are applying to (i.e., part-time or full-time). To determine when the next full-time and part-time cohorts will be admitted, contact the MSW program coordinator (rebecca.montoya@usu.edu). No application will be considered until all required information arrives in the School of Graduate Studies or until a formal petition to review a nearly complete file is made and approved. Students with an undergraduate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program may be permitted to substitute elective courses for select foundation year courses, provided they obtained their undergraduate degree within five years of enrolling in the MSW program.

The application process is entirely online, the process for which can be found at the School of Graduate Studies website: gradschool.usu.edu.

Financial Assistance

Some financial assistance is available. These funds are distributed through a competitive process, based on student qualifications, performance, financial need, and interests. In order to be considered for financial assistance students must complete the online application distributed by the MSW Director each semester. Decisions on graduate student funding are based on a composite faculty evaluation of essay responses. Decisions on funding are made by December 1 for spring awards and by June 1 for fall awards.

Career Opportunities

There are many career opportunities for social workers, particularly for those with a Master of Social Work degree. MSW graduates practice in a wide variety of public and private agency settings, such as child welfare, youth services, mental health/counseling, schools, community service agencies, criminal justice, and health care settings such as hospitals, hospices and long-term care facilities, to name just a few. Social workers interact with diverse client populations and seek to improve quality of life, particularly for those who exist on the margins of society. Career opportunities are abundant as the job market for professional social workers is expanding, both locally and nationally.

An MSW degree can also unlock the door to upward career mobility. In the human services field, the MSW degree is more and more frequently required for supervisory or management-level positions. The MSW degree also brings higher salaries, as well as qualifies the graduate to pursue licensure as a Certified Social Worker (CSW) and/or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

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