Declaring, Applying and Acceptance into the Social Work Major

Declaring the Intent to Major in Social Work
Students can either declare their intent to major in social work upon arrival at CSB/SJU or prior to the end of their first semester sophomore year. At whatever point students declare their intent to major in social work, it is important that students request a social work faculty advisor who can answer any questions about the major and start creating a four year plan. Students can request a social work advisor by calling or e-mailing the Social Work Office Coordinator (Dianne Johnstone; X5883 djohnstone@csbsju.edu) or asking a specific social work faculty member directly to be their advisor.

Applying to the Social Work Major

Acceptance Criteria

Admission criteria for acceptance into the Social Work Program are:

2.75 overall GPA or higher
“C” or higher in the prerequisite foundation courses (SWRK 230; SOCI 111; PSYC 111; BIOL 112 or BIOL 110; SWRK 250; and SWRK 251)
Successful completion of the formal application process

Application Process

The application process to be accepted into the major commences at the beginning of the spring semester of the sophomore year and includes completing the following items in the application packet:

Acceptance to Major Form
Most recent academic transcript
Application Essay

Students are required to complete a well-written essay which addresses the following:

Their interest in the study of social work and how their experiences have influenced this
Their understanding of the values of the social work profession and how their own value system relates to or conflicts with the professional values
Their understanding of social and economic justice and how they see themselves supporting these causes as a social worker
Their future academic and career goals as they relate to social work

Essays are evaluated on clarity of ideas, writing skills (organization, spelling and grammar), and their understanding of social work values and how they see themselves operating as a professional in the field.

3. Two Letters of Reference

Students are required to submit two letters of Reference from individuals who have personal knowledge of their capacity for social work study and potential as a human service professional. Examples of appropriate references include: FYS advisor/instructor, professor, employer, and/or volunteer supervisor.

Letter of Reference Form

Please send a copy of the reference form along with a self-addressed envelope and stamp (if mailing outside of campus) to your chosen references. The letters should be returned to the SWRK department unopened and signed by the individual completing the reference.

4. Summary of Social Work Related Experience Form

5. Formal Interview with a Faculty Representative

Each student will meet with a faculty representative for a formal interview to discuss their application materials (essay, letters of recommendation, SWRK related experiences and their most recent transcript) and answer a series of short questions related to working with diverse populations, populations at risk, SWRK values and ethics and social and economic justice. Interview questions are collaboratively agreed upon by the SWRK faculty team ahead of the scheduled interviews.

Interviews will be set up by the SWRK Program Assistant at the beginning of spring semester. Students need to complete their application packets prior to their scheduled interview. Missing the interview or not fully completing the application packet may be grounds for non-acceptance into the major.

Student Notification

Completed applications for acceptance into the major are reviewed at a SWRK faculty department meeting in February and students are notified shortly thereafter in writing of their application results. Students can be:

Accepted without conditions
Accepted with Conditions (conditions outlined with time lines)
Denied Acceptance

Appeal Process

Students have the right to appeal if they receive a denied acceptance into the major. Students are requested to meet with the Department Chair within 10 days of receiving the written notification from the department to discuss the reasons for non-acceptance. If the student wishes to continue the appeal process after meeting with the Department Chair the following process will occur:

An appeals committee of two faculty members will be formed within ten working days of the student meeting with Department Chair and requesting to pursue the appeal process. This committee will make every effort to meet with student in those ten days as well.
The student is entitled to bring an advocate to the meeting. However, if the student’s advocate is an attorney, the department needs to be notified in the appeal letter. The department reserves the right to delay the appeal until the department can be represented by the CSB/SJU council.
At the hearing, the student will present reasons why the social work faculty should review their decision of non-acceptance. The burden of proof is on the student to demonstrate reasons why she/he should be admitted to the major

The committee will report on the hearing at the next scheduled department faculty meeting. The faculty will decide:

Acceptance without conditions
Acceptance with conditions
Request the student re-apply next semester

Denied Acceptance
If the student is denied acceptance, their assigned SWRK faculty advisor will provide support in considering another major and/or a referral to the CSB/SJU Academic Advising Department.