1995-1996 Undergraduate Catalog

College of Health and Social Services - Social Work		 NMSU

Associate Professor Eileen M. Lally, department head

Professors Sallee, Vest; Associate Professors Marlow, Ronnau; Assistant Professors Beckler, Chandler, Chornesky, Peralta, College Professor Landon; College Assistant Professors Holmgren, Lucero, Pruett, Rosa, Shannon, Shipley, Vaughn

DEGREE: Bachelor of Social Work

The B.S.W. degree allows a student to join an increasingly important profession dedicated to helping people in personal and social situations. As a unique and challenging field, social work continually addresses the complexity of human behavior and the ever-present needs and potential of people. From rural communities to inner cities, social workers are at work in social service agencies, hospitals, schools, neighborhood organizations, probation offices, Y's and private agencies of every type - just about any where there are people. Social work roles are varied and flexible. Social workers practice in areas such as child abuse, community organization, direct services with individuals and families, mental health, group work, administration, planning, and development of social programs. With each consumer group and in every agency setting, social workers help to correct the causes or alleviate the results of poverty, racism, poor health, mental illness or any condition that prohibits people from reaching their potential.

The B.S.W. program prepares students for a beginning professional level of generalist social work practice with an understanding and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the Southwest.

Procedures for admission as a B.S.W. candidate are (1) notification to the department by student of desire to enter program; (2) completion of S WK 221, Introduction to Social Work, and general education requirements; and (3) formal application and admission when student nears completion of 60 credits.

General Education Requirements

Students must meet the university general education requirements before being accepted to the social work program.

General education requirements for the Department of Social Work follow those outlined by the university in this catalog. The following courses are required by the department: BIOL 110G, SOC 101G, PSY 201G, S WK 221. The second language requirement may be filled by SPAN 111 and SPAN 112 or by meeting the other aspects of the "Second Language Requirement" section as presented in the "College of Arts and Sciences" section of this catalog.

Pre-entry electives highly recommended include courses in social work, sociology, history, Spanish, psychology, family life and child development, English, philosophy, anthropology, computer science, government, and economics. Consult department head or adviser for recommended electives. Electives must be sufficient to bring total credits to 128, including 55 upper-division.

Departmental Requirements

Preparation for entry level professional social work requires a thorough knowledge of theory and skills; therefore the high number (51) of required credits. Further, courses are designed to be interrelated within each of four successive semesters and, after formal application, are to be taken as follows:

Semester I - S WK 300, 301, 311, 331G

Semester II - S WK 302, 312, 313, 352

Semester III - S WK 367, 400, 401, 420

Semester IV - S WK 402.

NOTE: Students are requested to contact the department for advisement as early as possible during the freshman year.

Freshman Year (32 credits)

Fall Semester

General education requirements 13 cr.
S WK 221, Introduction to Social Welfare 3 cr.

Spring Semester

General education requirements 16 cr.

Sophomore Year (32 credits)

Fall Semester

General education requirements 10 cr.
Electives 6 cr.

Spring Semester

General education requirements 3 cr.
Electives 13 cr.

NOTE: Student makes formal application to department during spring semester, sophomore year. Student must be accepted into program in order to take junior or senior year courses.

Junior Year (33 credits)

Fall Semester

S WK 300, Social Work Practice I 3 cr.
S WK 301, Community Resources 3 cr.
S WK 311, Human Behavior and the Social Environment I 3 cr.
S WK 331G, Social Welfare Policy: History 3 cr.
Electives 3 cr.

Spring Semester

S WK 302, Field Experience I 6 cr.
S WK 312, Human Behavior and the Social Environment II 3 cr.
S WK 313, Social Work Practice II 3 cr.
S WK 352, Social Welfare Policy: Legislation 3 cr.
Elective 3 cr.

Senior Year (32 credits)

Fall Semester

S WK 367, Social Work Research 3 cr.
S WK 400, Social Work Practice III 3 cr.
S WK 401, Field Experience II 6 cr.
S WK 420, Social Welfare Policy III: Administration 3 cr.
Elective 3 cr.

NOTE: Student may opt for block field placement (Field Experience II and III), S WK 401 and 402, spring semester. Total: 12 credits.

Spring Semester

S WK 402, Field Experience III 6 cr.
Electives 8 cr.

NOTE: A grade of C or better is required for all social work courses.

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Last modified: Sun Feb 4 15:09:00 1996
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