DRAFT - 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Social Work, B.S.S.W. (5820)
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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, communities, and organizations from diverse backgrounds.
Social Work Program Goals
The goals for UT Martin’s Social Work Program are:
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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.
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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.
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To prepare competent generalist practitioners who understand systems theory and the impact of person-in-environment framework for all client systems.
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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.
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To prepare competent generalist practitioners committed to continuous development of self-awareness, critical thinking, professional development, and lifelong learning.
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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:
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General Education Courses
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38 hours
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Major Core Requirements
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58 hours
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Program Requirements
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12 hours
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General Electives
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12 hours
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TOTAL
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120 hours
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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
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UNIVERSITY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
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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 at Full Progression Level -
Must meet all General Education Requirements -
Must meet all Major Requirements -
Must meet all Exit Exam Requirements COURSEWORK REQUIRED FOR THE DEGREE
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 (58 hours) Additional Program Coursework Requirements
The following courses are required for all social work majors (12 hours) Program-Specific Requirements
Admission to Social Work Program The Social Work Program uses a three-stage progression model to assess student entry and advancement. This process provides both faculty and students the opportunity for ongoing self-reflection and evaluation of student skills and aptitudes needed for effective social work practice. It also gives students the opportunity to make informed decisions about their career path before investing significant time and resources, should they determine that social work is not the right fit for them. 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 by social work faculty of the student’s application and approval for entry into the Social Work Program.
- Cumulative grade point average of 2.50.
Advanced Progression - Advanced progression must be completed prior to enrollment in SWRK 400 and/or SWRK 440 .
- Successful completion of SWRK 341 with a grade of C or better.
- Approval by social work faculty. This process includes an extensive review of the student’s performance in volunteer placement SWRK 341 .
- Cumulative grade point average of 2.50.
Full Progression - Full progression must be completed prior to enrollment in SWRK 490 .
- Successful completion of SWRK 471 with a grade of C or better.
- Approval by social work faculty. This process includes an extensive review of the student’s performance in volunteer placement SWRK 471 .
- Cumulative grade point average of 2.50.
- 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 may not be repeated.
Students seeking an exception to these policies must submit a formal written request to the Director of the Social Work Program for readmission to social work coursework. The request must include comprehensive documentation of extenuating circumstances that contributed to the academic deficiency, as well as evidence demonstrating preparedness to meet program performance standards. The Director, in consultation with the Student Affairs Committee, will render a final determination following thorough review of all relevant information. Students will receive written notification of the decision. These policies apply to both declared social work majors and students approved for program 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 ) provide students with opportunities to integrate classroom-based knowledge and theoretical frameworks into applied practice settings. These field experiences are structured to fulfill the core objectives of the Social Work Program by developing generalist practice competencies, preparing students for advanced graduate study, and cultivating professional resilience necessary for navigating the demands and complexities of contemporary social work practice. UT Martin utilizes a block placement model for internships within established agency settings. Students maintain full-time schedules aligned with standard agency operating hours throughout the semester. The program partners with a diverse array of agencies across West Tennessee, Nashville, and Memphis, including family service organizations, healthcare facilities, social welfare institutions, and educational systems. Program administrators prioritize placements that align with students’ identified areas of specialization and professional interests within the field of social work. Liability Insurance Coverage Students must provide proof of liability insurance coverage to the Department of Behavioral Sciences prior to beginning Students are required to submit proof of professional liability insurance to the Department of Behavioral Sciences prior to beginning SWRK 490 . This coverage is mandatory for all field placements involving direct client interaction across various practice 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 *
- completion of HLRN 325 or TCED 716 - Growth and Development in School Age Students, 9-12
- completion of SPED 300 or SPED 500 - Children with Exceptionalities *
- completion of EDST 450 or EDST 650 - The School, the Teacher, and the Law*
- completion of SWRK 490 * (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. |
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