Nina Rovinelli-Heller, Dean, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Paula Nieman, B.S.W. Program Director, Ph.D., MSSW, LCSW
The Social Work major is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives needed to engage in generalist social work practice. The bachelor’s degree in social work (B.S.W.) is a practice based professional degree that prepares students for both entry-level practice and admission to a graduate master of social work (M.S.W.) degree program. In addition to classroom courses, the major requires 400 hours of supervised field internship experiences which provide valuable professional preparation for work with individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities. Graduates will be prepared for work in schools, healthcare, community organizations, advocacy and activism, addressing issues such as poverty, homelessness, human rights and social justice.
This major can only be completed on the Hartford Campus.
Transportation
Students must furnish their own transportation and cover cost of travel and parking to the field agencies.
Advisement Information
Because the major in social work takes place at the School of Social Work in the junior and senior years, prospective applicants complete two or more years of study in a school or college other than the School of Social Work. Most students participate in the services offered by the Academic Center for Exploratory Students (ACES) during their first and sophomore years declaring a pre-social work major. Pre-social work students should seek the most recent information at the earliest opportunity. Non pre-social work students are eligible to apply for the BSW program. Admission information, including a list of faculty advisors, program guidelines and semester sequences are available on the School of Social Work’s website at ssw.uconn.edu/bsw. Academic support is available at the following locations: The Academic Center for Exploratory Students (ACES) located in the Rowe Center on the Storrs campus, as well as the Office of Student Services in the Hartford Times Building (advising.hartford.uconn.edu) or the School of Social Work, both located on the Hartford campus. Students are invited to meetings each semester to discuss School of Social Work programs. Students who declare themselves as pre-social work majors should register through the Academic Center for Exploratory Students (ACES).
Admission Requirements
The School of Social Work is a professional school. Students begin their junior-senior programs after completing at least 54 credits in a school or college other than the School of Social Work. Students complete their first two years in another school or college within the University (at either Storrs or one of the regional campuses) or a two or four-year accredited college or university other than the University of Connecticut. The maximum enrollment in each program is determined by the Dean in consultation with program administrators. Applications for admission to the School of Social Work are available on the School of Social Work website at ssw.uconn.edu/apply-for-bsw.
Students not currently attending the University of Connecticut must submit an additional University admission application to Transfer Admissions (admissions.uconn.edu). Students transferring to the University with less than 54 credits should fulfill requirements in a school or college other than the School of Social Work and later make an application to the School of Social Work. These students initially complete only the University application. The faculty of the School of Social Work seek to actively recruit students from underrepresented groups. Admission to the School of Social Work is competitive.
The social work bachelor’s program annually admits for the fall semester. Students are advised to submit a completed Application for Admission to Upper Division Programs and all supporting materials after completion of their third semester, and before February 1st, to be considered for admission for the following fall semester. Successful applicants to the social work program generally have completed sufficient credits to be eligible for consideration, submitted a resume, have written a strong essay, have earned a competitive cumulative grade point average, and have applied by the annual deadline of February 1st.
Writing Competency
All students will be required to successfully complete one writing intensive (W) course within the School of Social Work. The W course in the major will develop writing skills specific to the content area domain, as well as be consistent with the practices of professionals in the area of social work practice.
Information Literacy Competency
The information literacy competency requirement for the major will be fulfilled by the completion of the W course within the School of Social Work and SOWK 3100 Human Behavior and Social Environment I, SOWK 3200 Social Welfare Policy and Services, SOWK 3201 Advocacy for Social Policy Change, and SOWK 3350 Research Methods for Social Work Practice.
