School of Social Work

Dr. Diane Hodge, Director
Dr. Kerry Fay Vandergrift, BSW Program Coordinator
Dr. Susan Schoppelrey, Associate Director
www.radford.edu/~sowk-web/

The School of Social Work offers the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and the Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW). Both programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The undergraduate program prepares students for beginning generalist social work practice while the graduate program offers a concentration in community-based family practice. For further information consult the Radford University Graduate Catalog.

The Interdisciplinary Minor in Health and Aging allows students to obtain specialized knowledge about adult development and aging as they live and work with the rapidly aging population of the 21st Century. (See here .)

Undergraduate Program in Social Work (BSW)

The Social Work Program is a comprehensive professional program that prepares students for beginning generalist social work practice. Students majoring in Social Work graduate with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Upper division social work courses are offered at two campuses: full-time at Radford and part-time at the Roanoke Higher Education Center. Students should consult with the Advising Center or their Social Work advisor to determine their individual plan of study, including the best campus at which to complete their degree.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet academic and non-academic standards for successful admission, progression through and graduation from the BSW program. In order to assist students in developing the knowledge base and social work practice skills necessary to be successful generalist social work practitioners, the School of Social Work has developed technical standards and a process to become a social work major.

The Policies for Admission and Progression in the Social Work Major are in the BSW manual. The BSW degree consists of three components: Core Curriculum requirements, pre-professional core courses (pre-Social Work majors), and a professional core (Social Work majors). A 400-hour internship in the senior year is also required.

Admission is competitive and granted on a space- available basis.

A student who has separated from Radford University is subject to a new plan of study when re-entering the program. Students must apply to the major. The BSW committee will review the student records to determine which courses still need to be completed and which, if any, courses need to be repeated.

Admissions Criteria

To apply to SOWK 289 , students must have a minimum GPA of 2.3, though the actual GPA required for enrollment may be higher depending on the number of students applying for the course. Applicants are required to provide their own transportation to the internship site.

Applicants must meet the following criteria for admission into the Social Work major from pre-Social Work:

Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.7; however, the actual GPA required for admission may be significantly higher as admission is competitive. Transfer students are advised that after 24 credit hours are earned at Radford University, the Radford University GPA is used for admission. Transfer students who have earned less than 24 credit hours at Radford University are advised that the combined GPA for all coursework is considered.

Have passed with a “C” or better (a C- is a failing grade) in each of the following courses: SOWK 200 , SOWK 210 , BIOL 104 , PSYC 121 , SOCY 110 , and CORE 102 ;

Have received a grade of “B” in SOWK 289 (or a “B” or better in SOWK 291 ) or if applying while concurrently in that course, have received a mid-term evaluation of at least a “C”. Students who apply while in SOWK 289 may receive a provisional acceptance.

A completed application to major in Social Work with accompanying prerequisite documentation on the second Friday of March;

As a part of the admissions process, interviews may be conducted by the School of Social Work Undergraduate Committee.

Life Experience/Previous Work Experience