Purpose

The Bachelor of Science in Social Work major exists to prepare students through competent generalist social work practice by equipping them with the knowledge, values, and skills of the profession essential for enhancing individual, family, and community well-being. This degree includes instruction in health, psychology, sociology, and social work.

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

• Integrate faith in the practice of social work.
• Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
• Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
• Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
• Engage diversity and difference in practice.
• Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
• Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
• Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
• Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
• Respond to contexts that shape practice.
• Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Program Policies and Degree Requirements

A student interested in earning a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Social Work (BSSW) at Liberty University must meet the requirements of the Social Work Program. The BSSW Program’s requirements include meeting the university admission criteria as well as the additional standards associated with preparing competent social workers for generalist practice. These additional standards are developed by the Social Work Program at Liberty University. Acceptance to Liberty University and declaring social work as one’s major is the way in which a student begins the process. However, this first step is not synonymous with admission into the BSSW Program. Each social work candidate is to follow the steps associate with the process and meet the criteria established by the programs.

Formal application to the BSSW Program through SOWK 294 is generally completed during a student’s sophomore year in coordination with the enrollment in their last Gate 1 prerequisite course. To be eligible to apply for Gate 1 (SOWK 294), all candidates must satisfactorily meet the criteria described below.

1. Adhere to the standards set forth in the Liberty Way for residential students or the Personal Code of Honor for online students.
2. Be in good academic standing with the University and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
3. Have successfully completed (earned a “C” or higher) SOWK 101.
4. Be currently enrolled (for the semester in which they are enrolled in SOWK 294) or have successfully completed (earned a “C” or higher)

   Course List

   Code	Title	Hours
   SOWK 135	Social Work Professional Exploration	3
   SOWK 250	Health of the Social Worker	3
   SOWK 260	Chemical Dependency	3
   SOWK 270	Ethics in Professional Helping	3
   PSYC 101	General Psychology	3
   ENGL 102	Composition and Literature	3
   BIOL 102	Principles of Human Biology	3
   SOWK 101	Introduction to Social Work	3

5. Provide a copy of their Degree Completion Plan Audit (DCPA).
6. Submit a completed Gate 1 Application packet and a 6-7 page Autobiographical Statement addressing the provided prompts.
7. Submit three recommendation forms (two professional and one personal).
8. Submit the results of a background check and fingerprints. The date of completion for all results must be within the 12 months prior to the Gate 1 Application deadline for which the student is applying.

Once a student has been granted entry into the BSSW Program, a student is to maintain his/her status by consistently meeting the following criteria:

1. Earn a “C” or higher in all Major and Major Foundational classes.
2. Maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher to be eligible for approval through Gates 2, 3, and 4.
3. Maintain satisfactory citizenship and ethical behavior.
4. Maintain professional standards as defined by the department.
5. Consistently demonstrate the values of the profession: integrity, service, the value of human relationships, dignity and worth of a person, competence, and social justice.
6. Be successfully approved through program Gates 2, 3, and 4.

Delivery Format: Residential and Online

Social workers are employed in a variety of professional fields.

• Clinical/mental health social worker
• School social worker
• Medical social worker
• Child welfare social worker
• Hospice social worker
• Military social worker
• Nursing home social worker
• Church social worker

Social workers provide services to people of all ages in numerous settings. A social worker can get employment without a master’s degree. However, if the social worker wants to do mental health therapy, military social work, supervision or administration, it is recommended that the social worker get their Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW).