Social Work

The Goshen College social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and has, as its primary objective, the preparation of students for professional social work practice. Students are also prepared for graduate social work education and receive advanced standing in many Master of Social Work programs.

Social Work: two tracks, B.A. or B.S.

The social work program has both a four-year bachelor of arts track and a 20-month bachelor of science degree completion track (described in the Adult and Graduate Programs section of the catalog). Both tracks follow the same social work curriculum, which builds on the liberal arts perspective in the Goshen Core curriculum. The program outcomes for graduates are the same for students enrolled in either track.

Admission to the BASW Social Work professional program

Social work is a professional program that requires an admission process separate from admission to the college. Students apply for admission to the social work education program following the successful completion of Introduction to Social Work, SoWk 200.  Written applications are accepted in December of each school year. Admission criteria include academic and personal qualifications with a value orientation necessary for the professional practice of social work. The admission process is directed toward furthering students’ personal growth as they explore vocational interests and abilities. Specific information about criteria and process is found in the Social Work Student Handbook. This may be obtained from the director of baccalaureate social work education.

Major in Social Work: BASW

53 credit hours

Student learning outcomes

Graduates in Social Work will demonstrate in measurable ways achievement of the ten core competencies articulated by the Council on Social Work Education. Graduates will:

1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
2. Advance human rights and social, racial, economic,  and environments justice
3. Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
5. Engage in policy practice.
6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Planning guide: BASW

Planning and advising notes

Students declaring a social work major are assigned a social work faculty advisor. Students exploring their interest in social work are invited to talk with the program director. Academic advising aids students in selecting courses in the sequence required for successful completion of the program. Additional advising appointments are scheduled as part of admission to the program and to field instruction. Students are encouraged to initiate contact with faculty advisors as issues arise, at any time throughout the academic year.

Psyc 100 General Psychology is a prerequisite for Psyc 306 Abnormal Psychology. Social work majors should discuss with their advisor the option of SoWk 221 Human Behavior functioning as the prerequisite for Psyc 306. Courses in human biology, statistics and expository writing are required for admission into some Master of Social Work (MSW) programs.

Academic requirements

The professional practice of social work requires acquisition of knowledge, specific skills, a firm identification with specified values and ethics and a high degree of social and personal responsibility. A grade of C or above in all social work required courses and a college GPA of 2.5 or higher is required for continuation in the social work major. Any social work required course in which a student earns a grade of C- or below must be repeated with a grade of C or better in order to successfully complete the social work major. Students whose college GPA falls below a 2.5, or whose personal or professional behavior is inconsistent with the above requirements, may be asked to leave the program. Students who are denied admission or dismissed from the program, and believe relevant policies were unfairly administered, have the right to initiate the Goshen College grievance procedure.