Applying and Admission to the Program

Our major is designed as a four-year, seventeen course generalist degree.

Before you apply to the BSW Program there are several steps which need to be completed:

1. Application, advising and admission to the Day or Weekend College Program
2. Completion of 12-16 Augsburg credits (60 - 64 semester hours)
3. Approval of all social work related transfer credits by the Social Work Department
4. Completion of all entry level assessment tests; English, Critical Thinking, Math Placement
5. College-level algebra equivalency, Math Level 3
6. Completion of 5 of 7 of the Supporting Program courses listed below (or equivalents) by the start of junior year:
   • PSY 105: Principles of Psychology
   • SOC 121: Introduction to Human Society
   • SWK 257: Exploring Human Services
   • SWK 260: Humans Developing
   • SOC 265: Race, Gender and Class
   • BIO 121: Human Biology (with lab)
   • SWK 280: Diversity and Oppression in Professional Practice
7. Attendance of the Junior Year Orientation Session
8. Completion of the BSW Candidacy Application packet
9. Obtaining professional liability insurance for your internship

Overview: The BSW Candidacy Application Process

The BSW Candidacy Application must be completed and returned before you start your field internship. Your application will be read by a faculty member. You will receive a decision by mail 2 weeks after the complete application is received. An interview with a faculty member may be required as a part of the admissions process.

The BSW Candidacy Application has three components:

1. The Candidacy Application Form
2. BSW Candidacy Reference Forms (2)
3. The Self-Statement Essay (3 pages-or more)

1. BSW Candidacy Application Form

The form is similar to any application such as for college or a job. The application is distributed at the Junior Year Orientation Session to students on campus: Transferring students who satisfy the application criteria may have an application mailed out to them. Please contact the BSW Program Assistant at edwardsd@augsburg.edu if you need more information about filling out the application.

2. BSW Candidacy Reference Forms

The reference forms (2) are to be filled out by people with whom you have had work, academic or professional contact and can say something about your aptitude for human services, academic skills or your character. One reference should be academic. The other reference can be from a social contact as long as the referrer is not a family member or a friend.

3. The Self-Statement Essay

You are asked to respond to five areas relating to your choice of and perspective on the social work profession (minimum of 3 pages):

1. The reasons why you want to be a social worker
2. Your views on the purpose of the profession
3. An assessment of your abilities to work with people with attention to your strengths and areas in need of development (personal, professional, and academic) use specific examples
4. Your understanding of the role of diversity in social work, specifically addressing each of the following: race, ethnicity, culture, class, sexual orientation, gender, age, differing physical and developmental abilities, and religion
5. Your commitment to abide by the 1997 NASW Code of Ethics for social workers with at least one example of what this means in your daily life.

Application Deadlines

The deadline for completing the application is the spring term for students currently enrolled at Augsburg and will be juniors in the fall. The deadline for students transferring to Augsburg is 30 days after the prospective student receives the packet.

Liability Insurance

Students must have insurance coverage while at their practicum agency. If necessary, liability insurance can be obtained while applying to the program. The BSW Field Coordinator will request insurance information at the field practicum orientation early in the fall term.

The Major Courses

The social work major course sequence begins in the fall term of each year.

After formally applying and being accepted into program through the BSW Candidacy process, you will begin the ten major courses below.

• SWK 301: History & Analysis of Social Policy
• SWK 306: Social Work Practice I: With Individuals
• SWK 307: Field Work I: Integrative Seminar
• SWK 316: Social Work Practice II: With Families and Groups
• SWK 317: Field Work II: Integrative Seminar
• SWK 402: Research I: Fundamentals(.5 credit)
• SWK 403: Research II: Evaluation of Practice (.5 credit)
• SWK 406: Social Work Practice III: With Communities and Organizations
• SWK 407: Field III: Integrative Seminar
• SWK 417: Field IV: Integrative Seminar
• SWK 419: Social Worker as Professional

A cumulative minimum G.P.A. of 2.0 must be maintained in the supporting program courses. Each major course must be passed with a 2.0 grade minimum.

Our degree is a generalist degree and students are guided to gain their expertise in a particular area through their field practicum experience. Networking is also encouraged.