2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog - R

Sep 16, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog - R

Social Work, B.S.S.W. (5820)

The Bachelor of Science in Social Work (B.S.S.W.) program at UT Martin is designed to prepare students to become entry-level generalist practitioners in the field of social work. The curriculum emphasizes understanding the relationships between individuals and their environments to effectively serve diverse populations across different practice settings.

Key features of the program include:

Professional Values, Knowledge, and Skills: Students are trained to integrate the professional values, knowledge, and skills of social work to effectively meet the needs of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Required Courses: The B.S.S.W. curriculum includes core courses that develop foundational skills and knowledge essential for social work practice. These courses lay the groundwork for students to become highly competent professionals in the field prepared to provide entry-level services in multiple practice areas.
Field Practice Experiences (Internships): The Social Work Program incorporates field practice experiences (internships), providing students with opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. These internships are crucial for students to gain practical experience and prepare for various careers in social work.
Career Opportunities: Graduates of the B.S.S.W. program are prepared for a wide range of careers in social work. They may pursue roles in case management, addiction and mental health treatment, community organizing, and working with diverse populations such as children, adolescents, families, and the elderly.

UT Martin’s Social Work Program is externally accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) within the Council on Postsecondary Education and the United States Department of Education. 

Social Work Program Mission Statement

The mission of the B.S.S.W. program at the University of Tennessee-Martin, is to cultivate generalist social workers equipped with the skills, knowledge, and values essential for contemporary generalist practice in an everchanging diverse world. This is accomplished through our dedicated commitment to promote critical thinking, self-awareness, and leadership skills through classroom and hands-on experiences (internships) that model the importance of interprofessional collaboration, scholarly research, and community engagement. We are dedicated to instilling a robust foundation of social work values, principles, ethics, and evidence-based practices as outlined by the NASW Code of Ethics and scientific evidence. Through examination of social justice issues that negatively impact marginalized and underserved populations, including those in rural areas such as Northwest Tennessee, our program strives to produce ethically competent change agents who are prepared and empowered to navigate complex social systems and enhance the well-being of individuals, groups, and organizations from diverse backgrounds.

Social Work Program Goals

The goals for UT Martin’s Social Work Program are:

To prepare competent generalist practitioners to understand and recognize the importance of working with diverse, marginalized, and underserved populations though use of the values, principles, and ethics that guide the social work profession.

To prepare competent generalist practitioners committed to engaging in policy practice aimed at advancing human rights, social, economic, and environmental justice for all client systems.

To prepare competent generalist practitioners who understand systems theory and the impact of person-in-environment framework for all client systems.

To prepare competent generalist practitioners equipped to effectively engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities through use of evidenced based practices.

To prepare competent generalist practitioners committed to continuous development of self-awareness, critical thinking, professional development, and lifelong learning.

To prepare competent generalist practitioners for graduate education in social work.

Social Work Curriculum

The Social Work major is composed of the following broad areas of coursework:

General Education Courses	38 hours
Major Core Requirements	56 hours
Program Requirements	12 hours
General Electives	14 hours
TOTAL	120 hours

For more information about the Social Work major, please contact:

Alicia Donaldson, Program Director
Department of Behavior Sciences
120 Sociology Building
Martin, TN 38238
amaya@utm.edu
731-881-7521

UNIVERSITY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

University Degree Requirements

120 credit hours are required
Minimum of 30 credit hours completed at the University of Tennessee at Martin
Minimum of 60 credit hours earned at an accredited four-year institution required

A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 is required
A minimum institutional GPA of 2.5 is required
A minimum social work GPA of 2.75 is required
Must meet all General Education Requirements
Must meet all Major Requirements
Must meet all Exit Exam Requirements

General Education Test
Major Field Test/Exit Exam

If a student is admitted to the University of Tennessee at Martin with documented entrance deficiencies OR is subjected to mandatory placement requirements, then the student must meet those requirements

COURSEWORK REQUIRED FOR THE DEGREE

General Education Core Curriculum Requirements

Guidance for choosing general education courses:

Biological and Physical Systems (8 credit hours) The department recommends that students complete either a lab science sequence (total 8 credit hours) OR complete either ZOOL 201 or ZOOL 251 (4 credit hours) plus one additional lab science course that satisfies the Biological and Physical Systems requirement.

Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credit hours) The department recommends that students complete SOC 201 (3 credit hours) and PSYC 101 (3 credit hours) to meet the Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement. Both courses are prerequisites for coursework in the major.

Note to students: UT Martin’s Social Work Program includes required courses for the major that are also options within the General Education Requirements. If a student completes a course that simultaneously satisfies both a requirement for the major and a requirement for the General Education Requirements, then the student may need to complete additional elective coursework in order to meet the minimum number of credit hours required for the degree.

Bachelor of Science in Social Work (B.S.S.W) Requirements

Program-Specific Degree Requirements

Minimum grade of C required in all core courses
Minor is optional

Core Coursework Requirements

The following core courses are required for all social work majors (56 hours)

SWRK 200 - Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare Credit(s): 3
SWRK 220 - Understanding Human Diversity and Oppressed Populations Credit(s): 3
SWRK 290 - Social Work Program Orientation Credit(s): 2
SWRK 300 - Social Welfare Policies and Services Credit(s): 3
SWRK 320 - Human Behavior and Social Environment I Credit(s): 3
SWRK 330 - Human Behavior and Social Environment II Credit(s): 3
SWRK 340 - Social Work Practice I Credit(s): 3
SWRK 350 - Social Work Practice Skills and Techniques Credit(s): 3
SWRK 400 - Social Work Practice II Credit(s): 3
Either SWRK 410 Credit(s): 3 or SOC 318 
SWRK 440 - Social Work Practice III Credit(s): 3
SWRK 460 - Social Work Senior Seminar Credit(s): 3
SWRK 470 - Social Work Field Instruction Preparation Credit(s): 3
SWRK 490 - Social Work Field Instruction Credit(s): 6-12
Social Work Elective - six hours of Social Work Electives Credit(s): 6

Additional Program Coursework Requirements

The following courses are required for all social work majors (12 hours)

Complete one course from the following options: (3 hours)
SOC 202 - Social Problems Credit(s): 3
OR
SOC 308 - Family and Intimate Relationships Credit(s): 3
Complete any two courses from the following options: (6 Hours)
ECON 201 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit(s): 3
ECON 202 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit(s): 3
POSC 210 - American Government and Politics Credit(s): 3
POSC 220 - American Political Institutions and Policy Credit(s): 3
CRMG 205 - Cultural Etiquette Credit(s): 3
MMSC 311 - Interpersonal Communication Credit(s): 3
Complete one course from the following options: (3 hours)
SPAN 111 - Elementary Spanish Credit(s): 3
SPAN 122 - Elementary Spanish Credit(s): 3
SPAN 250 - The Spanish-Speaking World Today: The Peoples and Cultures of Spain and Spanish America Credit(s): 3
FREN 111 - Elementary French Credit(s): 3
FREN 115 - Transitional French Credit(s): 3
FREN 122 - Elementary French Credit(s): 3
FREN 250 - France Today: The French People and Their Culture Credit(s): 3
GERM 111 - Elementary German Credit(s): 3
GERM 122 - Elementary German Credit(s): 3
GERM 250 - Germany Today: The German People and Their Culture Credit(s): 3

Program-Specific Requirements

Admission to Social Work Program

A three-stage progression model is used to monitor entry into and advancement through the Social Work Program. This process enables the faculty and student to make an early assessment of feelings, reactions, impressions and beginning abilities to function as a helping agent within the profession. The student may also make alternate career selections before too great an investment is made if social work does not appear to be a satisfactory choice.

The following identifies progression criteria for social work students:

Initial Progression

Initial progression must be completed prior to enrollment in any social work courses beyond 220.
Successful completion of SWRK 200 and SWRK 220 with a grade of C or better.
Favorable review of the student’s application for entry into the Social Work Program.
Cumulative grade point average of 2.50.
Social Work grade point average of 2.75

Advanced Progression

Advanced progression must be completed prior to enrollment in SWRK 400 and/or SWRK 440.
Successful completion of SWRK 340 with a grade of C or better.
Approval by social work faculty. This process includes a close review of the student’s performance in volunteer work.
Cumulative grade point average of 2.50.
Social Work grade point average of 2.75

Full Progression

Full progression must be completed prior to enrollment in SWRK 490. Successful completion of a minimum of 90 semester hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or above and a grade point average in required social work courses of 2.75 or above.
Successful completion of SWRK 470 with a grade of C or better.
Approval by social work faculty. This process includes a close review of the student’s performance in volunteer work for SWRK 440.
Social Work grade point average of 2.75

Policies and Procedures for Repeating a Social Work Course

 Students who earn a grade of D or below in a required upper-division social work classroom course are eligible to repeat the course one time only.
Students are allowed to repeat only two required upper-division social work courses in which they received a grade of D or below.
SWRK 490 - Social Work Field Instruction may not be repeated. Students requesting an exception to these policies must write a letter to the Director of the Social Work Program requesting readmission to a social work course. The letter must include documentation to support unusual or extenuating circumstances which contributed to the academic problem and a readiness to meet expected standards of performance. The Director of the program, in conjunction with the Student Affairs Committee, will make a final decision after careful consideration of all information available. The student will then be notified of the decision in writing. These policies are applicable to declared social work majors as well as those approved for progression.

Transfer Credit

Transfer students from other UT Martin majors, junior/community colleges and other four-year colleges and universities must meet with a social work faculty member prior to initial progression.

Course Sequence

Course sequence is designed to carry the student through various levels of learning. Each level of learning in the social work curriculum requires a related field activity (internship) which enhances the student’s ability to relate what is taught in the classroom with actual practice in a work setting.

Internships

Social Work internships (SWRK 490) allow students to apply the knowledge and theory gained in the classroom to practical experience. Also known as “field experience” and “field internship,” internships are designed to accomplish the objectives of the Social Work Program by preparing the student for generalist practice, by bringing about readiness for graduate study and by enhancing the student’s ability to cope with the pressures, stress and realities of day-to-day living and working.

UT Martin’s internships are block placements in agency settings. The student is in the agency each working day during the semester and maintains the same hours as employees of the agency. Numerous agencies in West Tennessee, Nashville and Memphis participate. Examples of these internships sites include family service agencies, health-care settings, social welfare agencies and schools. Every attempt is made to arrange internships in agencies that specialize in the student’s primary area of interest in social work.

Liability Insurance Coverage

Students must provide proof of liability insurance coverage to the Department of Behavioral Sciences prior to beginning SWRK 490 - Social Work Field Instruction which will necessitate interaction between the social work student and clientele in a variety of placement settings.

School Social Work Licensure

The Social Work Program, in collaboration with the College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences, has been approved by the Tennessee Department of Education to recommend individuals for licensure as school social workers when the following requirements have been met:

graduation from a CSWE-accredited social work program
completion of SWRK 375 - Social Work in the School Setting*
completion of HLRN 325 - Educational Psychology or TCED 716 - Growth and Development in School Age Students, 9-12
completion of SPED 300 - Children with Exceptionalities or SPED 500 - Children with Exceptionalities *
completion of EDST 450 - The School, the Teacher, and the Law or EDST 650 - The School, the Teacher, and the Law*
completion of SWRK 490 - Social Work Field Instruction * (in a school setting), OR one year successful postgraduate experience as a school social worker or family and children social worker may substitute
recommendation from the UT Martin Social Work Program and
recommendation from the UT Martin College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences.

*Students must receive a grade of C or above to successfully complete courses.