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Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

            -Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Social Work program recognizes and acknowledges the Nuuchiu (Ute) people as the first people of the unceded territory upon which Colorado Mesa University exists. The BSW program is committed to the advancement of social, economic, and racial justice for those who are marginalized and vulnerable locally, nationally, and globally.

We demonstrate this commitment through intentional inclusion of historically marginalized perspectives in the curriculum, decolonization efforts in both social work theory and practice, and by building community across the wide spectrum of social work arenas of practice.

The BSW is an exceptional undergraduate degree as it provides both an academic and applied foundation for students enrolled in the major, completing 120 academic credit hours and 450 practicum hours at a local social service agency. As an accredited program through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) we have accomplished the highest standard for social work education and are uniquely situated to prepare students for entering the profession or moving onwards to graduate school.

 Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process.  An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Board of Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.  CSWE logo

Accreditation applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program. 

Program Mission:

To educate students as generalist social work practitioners who embrace the mission and core values of the social work profession, including issues of diversity, service, the dignity and worth of all people, and social and economic justice.

Program Goals:
  1. To educate students as generalist social work practitioners; with knowledge and understanding of the ecological perspective, the strengths perspective, the empowerment approach, and solid problem solving and case management skills.
  1. To assist students in viewing complex human and social issues from a multi-dimensional, multi-level approach involving micro-, mezzo-, and macro-level interventions.
  1. To provide opportunities for the application of the social work mission and core values of service, the dignity and worth of all people, the importance of human relationships, integrity, competency, and social and economic justice.
  1. To maintain high professional standards and knowledge of the NASW Code of Ethics.
  1. To help students strengthen the relationship between theory and practice by engaging them in various experiential learning opportunities, leadership development, strong practice education opportunities, and involvement in social work activities.

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW)

Students must apply to be accepted into the Bachelor's program. The BSW admission processes uses a holistic model to assess student applications and participates intentionally in creating an equitable admission process, especially encouraging students from marginalized social groups to consider careers in social work.

BSW Program Overview    BSW Student Handbook BSW Admission Criteria

   

Social workers working in the field.

Practice Education

The 2022 Educational Policy 3.3 states that practice education is the signature pedagogy for social work. The intent of practice education is to integrate the theoretical and conceptual contribution of the classroom with practice.

Signature pedagogies teach future practitioners the fundamental dimensions of professional work in their discipline: to think, to perform, and to act intentionally, ethically, and with integrity (CSWE, 2022).

BSW students will work side by side with a practitioner in the community for 450 hours during the fall/spring semester of their senior year. This is to develop strong social work skills through practice, and to promote professionalism.

Our BSW Practicum Manual is available here. Students ready to start their practicums should click below.

PRACTICE EDUCATION INFORMATION AND REQUIRED FORMS

 

Minor in Social Work

The 18 credit-hour minor in social work can be combined with a major in any discipline. This minor is for students who want to work in the human services after graduation. A minor in social work also helps students aiming to enter a master's program in social work (MSW). For more information about the minor, see BSW Minor

 * The Social Work program (major/minor) at CMU does not grant course credit for life experience or previous work experience