Social Work

The mission of the overall program emphasizes building solutions to social problems and strengthening individuals, families, and community well-being.  Consistent with the mission of the School of Social Work, the goals of the BASW program are to prepare students to empower individuals, families and communities within a variety of agency and community settings in the state of New Jersey and beyond. Students in the BASW program will acquire the knowledge, skills, and values associated with the social work profession to serve various populations with a specific focus on underserved, marginalized, and oppressed groups.  Upon graduation students will be adept at the use of the generalist intervention model and proficient in the skills of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. 

BASW Program Goals

Through engagement with the program, students gain understanding in the dimensions of knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors as prescribed in the 2015 Council on Social Work (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).  Also, aligned with the nine CSWE Social Work Competencies outlined in the EPAS BASW students learn to;

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
3. Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
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

Consistent with the mission of the School of Social Work, the goals of the BASW program are to prepare students for foundation level practice within a variety of agency and community settings and with diverse populations, including vulnerable groups, in the State of New Jersey and elsewhere:

• Preparation of entry-level social work practitioners who serve effectively in a variety of capacities, particularly within the complex metropolitan context of social work practice in New Jersey.
• Preparation of practitioners sensitive to the diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural composition of the State and the region who work with a range of client systems to meet the needs of citizens and communities.
• Provision of a high-quality educational experience through a curriculum grounded in a liberal arts perspective and centered on the professional foundation content designed to prepare entry-level professionals for beginning social work practice with client systems of various size and types.
• Education of students who understand and use social work knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and behaviors throughout their professional practice.
• Graduation of students prepared to continue their professional education, including pursuit of master’s degree programs in social work.

Prerequisites

Students should complete the following courses prior to enrollment in the social work program.

• 01:119:150  Biology, Society, and Biomedical Issues (3) or 01:119:154  Genetics, Law, and Social Policy (3) or 01:119:160  Biology, Society, and Ecological Issues (3) or 01:119:182  Human Sexuality (3) or 50:120:105  Facts of Life (Camden students)
• 01:830:101  General Psychology (3)
• 01:920:101  Introduction to Sociology (3) or 01:920:111  Social Class (3)
• 01:960:211  Statistics I (3) or 01:830:200  Quantitative Methods in Psychology (4) or 01:960:285  Introductory Statistics for Business (3) or 01:920:311  Introduction to Social Research (4) or 01:920:312  Computer Analysis of Social Science Data (4) or 10:762:205 Basic Statistical Methods for Policy, Planning, and Health (3)

Two additional courses, one from each of two of the following areas: art, communication/speech, history, literature, music, philosophy, religion, and theater

Course Sequence

The required courses and their recommended sequence are as follows:

Junior Year

Fall Semester

•   09:910:220  Introduction to Social Work and Social Services (3)  [This course is open to all Rutgers undergraduate students as an elective.]
•   09:910:230  Introduction to Human Sexuality (3)  [This course is open to all Rutgers undergraduate students as an elective.]
•   09:910:240  Global Health Perspectives (3)  [This course is open to all Rutgers undergraduate students as an elective.]
•   09:910:311  Social Welfare Policy and Services I (3)
•   09:910:402  Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3)

Spring Semester

•   09:910:312  Social Welfare Policy and Services II (3)
•   09:910:332  Professional Development Seminar (3)
•   19:910:403  Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3)
•   19:910:405  Methods of Social Work Research I (3)

Senior Year

Fall Semester

•   09:910:352  Groups at Risk in Contemporary Society (3)
•   09:910:471  Field Practicum I (6)
•   09:910:472  Generalist Practice I (3)

Spring Semester

•   09:910:473  Field Practicum II (6)
•   09:910:474  Generalist Practice II (3)
•   09:910:475  Integration Seminar (3)
•   09:910:476  Child Welfare Services and Practices (3)  [required of Baccalaureate Child Welfare Education Program (BCWEP) students and elective for other students in the major]

CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOULD PROVIDE:

1. Online Application for Undergraduate Admission
2. Nonrefundable $70 application fee, payable online by credit card
3. Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR)
   • You may start the SRAR any time
   • You may submit it after submitting an application for undergraduate admission
4. SAT or ACT (with writing) scores submitted directly from the testing agency
5. If you took any college courses at any two- or four-year colleges, please submit official transcripts

STUDENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD PROVIDE:

1. Online Application for Undergraduate Admission
2. Nonrefundable $70 application fee, payable online by credit card
3. Final official high school transcript showing all courses with final grades in grades 9-12:
   • Transcripts must show a date of graduation; or
   • GED or equivalency diploma holders must submit test results or equivalent as well as transcripts from any high school attended
4. College transcripts if you took any college courses at a two- or four-year college
5. SAT or ACT scores (with writing) only if you graduated from high school less than two years ago and will not have at least 12 college credits completed by the application due date
6. Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) for transfer applicants to the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.

STUDENTS WHO ARE ATTENDING OR HAVE ATTENDED SCHOOL OUTSIDE THE USA must submit the appropriate credentials listed above, plus the following:

• Official academic credentials/examination results specific to the education system of your high school
• English Proficiency Exam scores when your secondary schooling has been in a country where English is not the principal language of instruction

Scholarships

• Merit-based awards
• National Merit Scholarships/College Sponsored Merit Award