Social Work (BSW)

The Social Work program builds upon a liberal arts education while preparing students for the practice of Social Work, with an emphasis on the strengths perspective. The Social Work program consists of 48 hours of required Social Work courses (which includes a 12-hour practicum); 18 hours of required courses from the humanities and sciences; and 6 hours of electives offered by Social Work (SWK electives). Students who successfully complete general education, all general baccalaureate requirements and major requirements are awarded a Bachelor of Social Work degree.

Transfer credit may only be used if the relevant course has been determined to be equivalent to a specific Missouri State University course (and not to an unspecified elective).

The BSW program is available as a seated program option on the Springfield campus or a fully online program option. Both program options require a 400-hour practicum (12 credit hours) that must be completed in person in the final semester before graduation.

Prospective students must contact the Coordinator of the BSW Program to obtain information on how to be admitted into the program and be assigned an advisor. Accepted students are expected to consult with their advisor at least once a semester.

This program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Additional information regarding the BSW Program may be found in the BSW Student Handbook available from the Social Work Programs.

Eligibility to apply

Once accepted to MSU, students are eligible to apply for admission into the BSW Program when the following conditions are met:

Completion of a minimum of 45 hours with a combined GPA (Missouri State and transfer combined) of 2.50 or higher on a 4-point scale.
Completion or concurrent enrollment in the Foundations Courses for General Education except the second writing course. Candidates whose applications are reviewed positively and are admitted to the BSW Program but do not successfully complete the Foundations Courses for General Education by the end of the application semester will be dismissed from the BSW Program.
Completion or concurrent enrollment in SWK 200 , SWK 213 , and SWK 219 with a minimum grade of “C”. Candidates whose applications are reviewed positively and are admitted to the BSW Program but do not earn a grade of “C” or better for SWK 200 , SWK 213 , and SWK 219 by the end of the application semester will be dismissed from the BSW Program.

Admission to the Bachelor of Social Work Program

Students seeking admission to the BSW Program do so with the understanding that: (a) admission is competitive and selective and not all who apply can be accommodated; and (b) meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee a student will be admitted. The BSW committee will make a decision to admit based on a holistic picture of the completed course work and values that are consistent with the conduct of the profession and the Social Work Code of Ethics.

Students who are planning to pursue a BSW degree must complete the following steps:

Declare a major in the Social Work Program within the University which places the student in pre-admit status.
When a student is eligible to apply for admitted status, the student must submit a formal application, with accompanying forms, to the Social Work office. Directions for completing the packets will be included within the application packet. Applications for admission to the Program will be available online. Refer to the application packet for specific due dates because the dates can vary. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Incomplete applications may result in not being considered.
In the application process, students will select between the seated program option or the fully online program options. Students who choose the seated program option will attend Social Work classes on the Springfield campus. Students who choose the online program option will have all Social Work courses in an online and asynchronous format. Students may only be admitted to the BSW Program in one program option
Students will be notified, prior to registration, if they are admitted into the BSW Program. If the student is not admitted, the student will be responsible for meeting with his/her advisor to transition into another major.

Major requirements

Note: 12 hours may double count toward General Education requirements.

Recommended course:

SWK 300 - Service-Learning in Social Work

Specific course requirements (other than Social Work):

One statistics course from:

Six hours of Social Work electives.

Public Affairs Capstone Experience will be fulfilled by completion of:

Total Credit Hours: 72

University level requirements:

Retention, progression, and graduation policies:

After admission into the BSW Program, students must achieve the following for retention in the major:

Maintain a combined GPA (Missouri State and transfer combined) of 2.50 or higher. If a student drops below a GPA of 2.50, the student will be withdrawn from the program at the end of the semester.
Achieve a grade of “C” or better in all Social Work courses, which are courses with “SWK” prefix.
Earning a “D” grade or below in a Social Work (SWK) course will result in the inability to be admitted into the program. If a student is formally accepted in the program and earns a “D” grade in a core Social Work (SWK) course, the student must retake the course before progressing. If a student is formally accepted in the program and earns an “F” grade in a core Social Work (SWK) course, student will be dismissed from the program at the end of the semester and will need to reapply. If a student is formally accepted in the program and earns a “D” or “F” grade in an elective Social Work (SWK) course, the student must retake that course and earn a “C” or better.
Courses in the Social Work major may not be taken more than twice.
A student must earn a “Pass” grade in SWK 490 . A grade below a “C” in SWK 480 and/or a “Not Pass” grade in SWK 490 means the student must reapply for admission and be readmitted to the BSW Program.
Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor in the School of Social Work prior to or upon entering the University and at least once a semester to ensure the proper selection and sequencing of prerequisites for the BSW Program.
Students must demonstrate acceptable levels of maturity, integrity, behaviors and attitudes as defined by the National Association of Social Work (NASW).
Once formally admitted to the program, students must complete all required Social Work courses within six years. Any student who has not completed all required Social Work courses within six years of admission will be manually withdrawn from the program at the end of the semester.