UIS Graduate and Undergraduate Catalog
Academic Year 2006 - 2007

SOCIAL WORK
Bachelor of Social Work

Faculty  Larry Livingston, Martin Martsch, Sandra Mills
Associated Faculty  Rachell Anderson, Carolyn Peck, Carol Rankin
Emeritus Faculty  Michael Townsend, Don Yohe
Adjunct Faculty  Jan Whitt

Contact: (217) 206-6687
swk@uis.edu or www.uis.edu/socialwork/

The bachelor's degree in social work is nationally accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The generalist BSW gives students the education and skills necessary to provide direct services to clients in a wide variety of human service settings. Generalist practice social work encompasses all client groups and all levels of service, from individuals to international social policy. This is a professional program involving time and commitment. In addition, professional preparation requires each student to look at his/her values, attitudes, knowledge, and skills. The program at UIS is based on an empowerment model dedicated to the achievement of social justice and human rights for all.  

Entrance requirements
An application process is required for admission to the program. Students must first be admitted to UIS and then make separate application to the social work program. Acceptance is based on a combination of previous academic record, personal development, and motivation for service in the field. The admission process can be initiated any time during the year, but UIS acceptance and all program application requirements must be completed and on file in the program office by March 1 for priority fall admission and October 1 for spring priority admission. The admission process may include a personal interview with the applicant and a writing sample.

The curricular sequence begins in the fall or spring of each year. Students may be granted permission to enroll in introductory courses before program acceptance, but this does not constitute admission to the program or to UIS. Students so enrolled are not eligible for financial assistance.

Because the professional preparation requirements of the social work curriculum are extensive, the program urges prospective students to begin this preparation before applying to the BSW program. The program requires a liberal arts foundation including preparatory work in general psychology, sociology/anthropology, political science, and statistics. Students should contact the social work program office for details.  

Advising
Majors will be assigned faculty advisers at the time of admission. A student may elect to change that adviser, but the new adviser must be a faculty member in the social work program. Students should consult their advisers each semester before registration.  

Skill development
The provision of social work services requires a number of personal and professional skills. In SWK 222 students begin the process of assessing their skills and building and developing their maximum academic potentials. This includes the ability to express their ideas both orally and in writing. 

UIS requirements
Every social work student will complete eight hours of field work. At least four additional hours must be completed in either liberal studies colloquia or public affairs colloquia to meet UIS requirements. Forty-eight upper-division hours are required for graduation.  

Field work
An essential aspect of professional preparation is the integration of knowledge and skills. This is accomplished primarily through the field work course. This is an intensive 400-hour experience in a social agency, where a student, under supervision, learns to assess and improve his or her own social work skills. The field work supervisor should be a person holding a degree in social work and must be approved by the program’s field work director. Field work may be taken in one semester, called a block placement. This requires at least 25 hours per week for one semester. Field work may also be taken concurrently. This requires a minimum of 12 hours per week for two semesters. All BSW core courses must be completed and graded before starting field work. Students on academic probation are ineligible for field work.  

Closure procedures
A student must earn a grade of C or better in every social work core course to continue in the curriculum and to graduate. If a lower grade is earned, a student may repeat a course or courses, but only once. Credit/no credit is not available in core courses except field work. Students must also complete requirements for assessment in the major. Students will be encouraged to complete their degrees within five years. A student should apply in writing for a leave of absence if he or she will be out more than one semester.

Students must file graduation contracts with their advisers at the beginning of their final semester and must participate in campus exit assessments. All students must consult with their advisers before registering for their last semester to ensure that both UIS and program requirements have been met. 

Suggested course sequence
First semester
SWK 222 Introduction to Social Work  3 Hrs.
SWK 223 Introduction to Social Work - Lab  1 Hr.
SWK 333 Human Behavior in the Social Environment  4 Hrs.
SWK 344 Social Work Practice I   4 Hrs. 

Second semester
SWK 355 Social Welfare Policy and Services  4 Hrs.
SWK 366 Culture, Diversity, and Social Work  4 Hrs.
SWK 377 Social Work Practice II  4 Hrs. 

Third semester
SWK 430 Social Work Research Methods  4 Hrs.
SWK 433 Social Work Practice III  4 Hrs.
SWK 434 Senior Seminar  4 Hrs. 

Fourth semester
SWK 450 Fieldwork  8 Hrs. 

Program requirements
Core curriculum
SWK 222 Introduction to Social Work  3 Hrs.
SWK 223 Introduction to Social Work - Lab  1 Hr.
SWK 333 Human Behavior in the Social Environment  4 Hrs.
SWK 344 Social Work Practice I  4 Hrs.
SWK 355 Social Welfare Policy and Services  4 Hrs.
SWK 366 Culture, Diversity, and Social Work   4 Hrs.
SWK 377 Social Work Practice II  4 Hrs.
SWK 430 Social Work Research Methods  4 Hrs.
SWK 433 Social Work Practice III  4 Hrs.
SWK 434 Senior Seminar  4 Hrs.
SWK 450 Field Work  8 Hrs.

Total Core  44 Hrs.

Other requirements
PAC or LSC (UIS requirement)  4 Hrs.
Electives  12 Hrs.

Total    60 Hrs.

Core courses must be taken in the proper sequential order after the prerequisites are completed.