Social Work & Youth Services Programs

Admissions to the Social Work Program:

Fall semester on-line admissions will begin  9 am September 12, 2016 and will close 4 pm September 23, 2016.  Please review the APPLY NOW! tab for additional information and instruction.

Two informational meetings, discussing the on-line admissions process as well as answer any questions you may have regarding the Social Work Program, will be held September 7, 2016 from 4-5pm in GS 215 and September 8, 2016 from 2:30-3:30pm in GS 117. An announcement is also available on the Canvas Student Social Work site announcements. 

Winter semester on-line admissions will begin 9 am January 23, 2017 and will close 4 pm February 3, 2017.  Please review the APPLY NOW! tab for additional information and instruction.

Two informational meetings, discussing the on-line admissions process as well as answer any questions you may have regarding the Social Work Program, will be help January 18, 2017 from 4-5pm in GA 211 and January 19, 2017 from 2:30-3:30 pm in GA 211. 

The Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree is offered for those who complete SVSU's baccalaureate degree requirements with a major in social work. The University's social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduation from a CSWE-accredited B.S.W. program allows students to seek advanced standing in many Master of Social Work programs, and is required by increasing numbers of employers in human services professions.

The principle educational objective of the social work program is to prepare students for beginning generalist social work practice. Other program objectives focus on the development of professional knowledge and practice competency in order to:

• enable students to recognize social work values and develop a strong commitment to the ethics and standards of the social work profession.
• engage in evidence-based entry-level generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations within a diverse and multicultural society.
• practice according to the principles, values, and ethics that guide the social work profession.
• influence social policies with the goals of alleviating poverty, oppression, and social injustice as well as advocating for human rights.
• identify and affect the bio-psycho-social, spiritual, and cultural functioning of people.
• evidence practice from a diversity competent and culturally-sensitive perspective which recognizes and appreciates diversity and diverse cultures, particularly those that differ from one's own diversity or culture.
• provide the community with professional social work services in a manner that reflects a commitment to the historic mission of social work and addresses issues of social injustice.
• prepare students for entry to graduate level education.

These objectives are accomplished via course work in the areas of Social Work Practice, Social Welfare Policy, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Research Methods, and Field Placement Experience.