B.S.W. Program
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Frequently Asked Questions about B.S.W.
What kinds of careers are available to social work
majors?
How do I declare social work as my major?
How will the school of Social Work decide if I am accepted
to the major?
How do I declare social work as a major if I am a transfer
student?
Who will my advisor be?
How many hours do I need to graduate?
When will I do my field placement?
Where do will I do my field placement?
What standards must a placement agency meet?
How does the field placement get arranged?
Can I minor in another discipline?
Does Radford University offer a Master’s degree in social
work?
What kinds of careers are available to social work
majors?
Answer: Social workers function in a wide variety of settings.
BSW majors work in social service agencies, hospitals,
schools, nursing homes, family preservation programs
(provide in-home services), substance abuse treatment
centers, and many other settings. They provide assessment,
case management, crisis intervention, counseling, and
referrals to other agencies and programs. top
How do I declare social work as my major?
Answer: Students start out as a pre-major by filling out a
“Declaration of Major” form and turning it in to the
Advising Center, Waldron College of Health and Human
Services. It will be automatically accepted, processed, and
sent to the Registrar. In the sophomore year they apply to
the major via an application. Applications can be obtained
and filled out online by clicking here or in the Waldron
College Advising Center (351 Waldron Hall). The applicant
must submit all materials to the School of Social Work by
the date specified in the admissions timeline, for the
semester they wish to be admitted to the Social Work major.
Pre majors should meet with the BSW coordinator as soon as a Pre Social Work major is declared.
Applicants must meet the following criteria for admissions
into the Social Work major form pre-Social Work:
1.Have minimum overall GPA of 2.5; have passed with a “C”
or better in each of the following courses: SOWK 200, SOWK
210, BIOL 104, PSYC 121, SOCY 110, CORE 101 & 102, and SOCY 121.
2. Have received a “P” in SOWK 289 or if applying while
concurrently in that course, have received a mid-term
evaluation of “P.” Students who apply while SOWK 289 will
receive a provisional acceptance if all other academic
requirements are met until they complete SOWK 289 with a
grade of “P.”
3.A completed application to the major in Social Work
(available from the school of Social Work office (room 206
Waldron Hall) or online (here) with accompanying
prerequisite documentation. This documentation includes the
student’s completed portfolio. This must be submitted to
the BSW Coordinator by the application deadline which
is typically on the sixth week of the semester.
Applications for admissions are reviewed in the fall and in
the spring semesters.
4.As part of the admissions process, interviews are
conducted by the school of Social Work Undergraduate
Committee to determine acceptance into the major.top
How will the school of Social Work decide if I am
accepted to the major?
Answer: In order to benefit from a nationally accredited
BSW educational program, a potential social worker must
have an aptitude for the profession, be ready to learn and
practice at the application, analyzing and evaluation
levels of learning, and move through a series of integrated
courses that offer the future social worker the
competencies related to generalist practice. Students must
demonstrate interest, ability, and potential for Generalist
Social Work Practice in addition to the requirements listed
in number 3 above.Students must also demonstrate dedicaiton to the NASW Code (Ethics, Waldron Code for Professional Pratice, and the RU Honor Code). top
How do I declare social work as a major if I am a
transfer student?
Answer: Transfer students will be evaluated individually
and maywill be required to complete an application. The
process depends on whether they have already met the
general education and social work course requirements.
Transfer students must also demonstrate interest, ability,
and potential for Generalist Social Work Practice.
Transfer students should call The Waldron College Advising Center for more information.top
Who will my advisor be?
Answer: Loretta Estes advises all of our pre-social work
majors. You can reach her at (540) 831-7698, or email her
at: lcestes@radford.edu. Students are assigned a faculty
advisor at the School of Social Work when they enroll in
Social Work 210, Intervention Methods I.top
How many hours do I need to graduate?
Answer: The BSW degree requires 120 hours to graduate.top
When will I do my field placement?
Answer: BSW students complete 2 internships; a 10 hour per
week internship in the sophomore year (SOWK 289) and a 38
hour per week internship in the second semester of the
senior year. Occasionally the timing of these placements
may differ, but must be approved by the Coordinator of
Field Instruction.top
Where will I do my field placement?
Answer: Students are generally placed in the New River
Valley or Roanoke area, depending on their interests and
access to transportation. Reliable transportation is
required for the senior year field placement.top
What standards must a placement agency
meet?
Answer: They must have an experienced BSW or MSW on staff
who agrees to provide an hour a week of supervision to the
student. The agency must also adhere to the NASW Code of
Ethics, and provide a desk, telephone, and other needed
supplies for the student.top
How is the field placement arranged?
Answer: The Coordinator of Field Instruction meets with the
student and discusses the student’s prior social work
experience (if any), interests, and placement options. The
student then has an interview with an agency designated by
the Coordinator of Field Instruction (similar to a job
interview) and the agency decides if they will accept the
student. Most students are accepted by the agency after the
interview. If not, other placement options are pursued. It
is the School of Social Work’s responsibility to place the
student in an internship, and the student’s responsibility
to conduct her/himself in a professional manner while in
the internship. Students are asked not to attempt to
arrange their own internships.top
Can I minor in another discipline?
Answer: Yes. You can major in social work and minor in
another area of interest. A minor represents a student’s
secondary field of study. The range for the number of
semester hours in an undergraduate minor is 15 to 18. To
add a minor you must fill out a “Declaration of Major or
Minor” form which can be obtained in all the departments or
the Registrar’s office. Complete the part called “add a
minor” and ask the department in which you are minoring to
sign the form. Turn the form in at the Registrar’s office.top
Does Radford University offer a Master’s degree in
social work?
Yes. top