Oct 04, 2024  
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2019-20 
    
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2019-20 [Archived Catalog]

Social Work Major (B.A. in Social Work) [offered through Honors Tutorial College]


Major Code BA1930

Honors Tutorial College
35 Park Place
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.2723
Fax: 740.593.9521
honors.college@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/honors

Solveig Spjeldnes, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.A. Director of Studies/contact person
spjeldne@ohio.edu
 

Program Overview

The Honors Tutorial College social work program prepares students to fulfill their potential to positively impact society including the lives of vulnerable people. This Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program offers high achieving and motivated students the chance to explore evidence-based clinical practices and social welfare issues and policies within an interdisciplinary framework.

Students complete eight tutorials between the first semester of the freshman year and the senior year. Under the tutelage of an appropriate professor, students take tutorials to complement and enrich early required courses and to allow students to focus on their academic interests. Then, their junior year, students will begin taking tutorials that lead to a completed thesis under the guidance of professors who have expertise in the students’ chosen research area. The director of studies will supervise the process and ensure that the student progresses to completion of a quality thesis that meets departmental and College standards. Thesis topics investigated by our students include: strategies for addressing rural food insecurity, an assessment of child well-being in orphanages in India, outcomes for children who are raised by lesbian parents, and treatment of people who identify as transgender in shelters.

Students complete a 4-year program resulting in a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (B.A.S.W.) from the Honors Tutorial College. The B.A.S.W. degree qualifies students to take Ohio’s L.S.W. licensure exam or the equivalent in other states. With this degree, students have the opportunity to be accepted into a one-year Advanced Standing program at any university to earn a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree. The M.S.W. degree qualifies students to take the L.I.S.W. licensure exam in Ohio or the equivalent in other states. These licenses are vital keys to career opportunities in the profession.

The program provides students with:

  1. a core of social work practice knowlege and skills through a series of courses and tutorials;
  2. the requisite skills to critically analyze and address social problems from a theoretical and practical perspective;
  3. the opportunity to apply theory to practice in social service internships; and
  4. guidance through the process of conducting a research study on a topic of their choice that will lead to the completion of a thesis.

 

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

Students are selected by the director of studies of the social work program and the Honors Tutorial College on the basis of superior ability, initiative, and sustained motivation. In most cases, admission to the program requires a 30 composite score on the ACT (1300 combined on the SAT), as well as high school class standing in the top 10%. Supplemental requirements for application include two academic letters of reference and a writing sample that explains the applicant’s goals and interest in social work. The prioritiy deadline for application is December 1st; admission interviews are held in January.

Change of Program Policy

First-year students at Ohio University may apply to transfer into the Department of Social Work program and the Honors Tutorial College. These students must meet the same entrance requirements as entering freshmen. The priority deadline for application is December 1st. Depending on program capacity, second-year students may be considered for transfer as well.

External Transfer Admission

First-year students may apply to transfer into the Department of Social Work program and the Honors Tutorial College. These students must meet the same entrance requirements as entering freshmen. The deadline for application is December 1st, and admission interviews are held in January. Depending on program capacity, second-year students may be considered for transfer as well.
 

Opportunities Upon Graduation

A bachelors degree in social work with the L.S.W. licensure prepares graduates to pursue advanced degrees and a wide range of career opportunities. Most of our students continue to graduate school to earn the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree and gain the L.I.S.W. licensure. Ohio University graduates have been accepted to top ranked Schools of Social Work such as University of Michigan, Ohio State University, George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University, Tulane University, and the University of Pittsburgh. Many of our graduates have received generous scholarships and Graduate Assistantships.

Because social work skills are valuable in multiple settings and the discipline is inherently an interdisciplinary field, graduates have a wide range of career options. For a full explanation of career directions and experiences of social workers and current opportunites, see http://helpstartshere.org/
 

Requirements

Major Hours Requirement


The social work major requires a minimum of 120 hours to graduate.

 

Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement


The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), our accrediting body, believes that a broad general education is important for building critical thinking and problem solving skills. Plus, exposure to a wide range of disciplines develops students’ understanding of diverse ideas, cultures and populations that improve their ability to become an empathic and effective professional social worker.

HTC Grade Requirements


Maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher overall.

University English Composition Requirement


Complete one First-Year Composition course (1E) and one Junior Composition course (1J).

HTC Seminar


First-year students must complete the following course:

Transfer students


Transfer students may substitute an HC special topics seminar for their HC 2500 requirement.

Social Work Tutorial Requirements


Complete eight tutorials, including two thesis tutorials during the senior year.

Requisites: HTC

Credit Hours: 1-12 tutorial

No Repeats

  • SW 2970T - 1st semester Freshman- Orientation to department and profession- Complement to SW 1000  
  • SW 2971T- 2nd semester Freshman- Policy and History of Social Welfare/Literature Review -Complement to SW 2601C  
  • SW 2980T- 1st semester Sophomore-Human Behavior- Complement to SW 3701  
  • SW 2981T- 2nd semester Sophomore- Practice Methods -Complement to  SW 3801  
  • SW 3970T- 1st semester Junior -Research/Identify Thesis Advisor
  • SW 3980T- 2nd semester Junior - Work with Thesis Advisor to finish Thesis Prospectus
  • SW 4970T- 1st semester Senior - Collect data and finish literature review/theory/policy
  • SW 4980T- 2nd semester Senior - Analyze data, write results/discussion, finalize Thesis

HTC Thesis Requirement


Approval of a completed thesis or professional project by the advisor, director of studies, and Dean of the College.

Pre-major Course Requirements


Unless the student has passed an equivalency exam or taken and passed the relevant advance placement courses in high school, he or she must complete the following courses:

Complete one course from at least two of the following areas:


Anthropology (ANTH)
Economics (ECON)
Political Science (POLS)
Sociology (SOC)

Volunteer or Paid Work Experience


Complete at least 20 hours of volunteer or paid social work experience.

Foreign Language Requirement


Complete a two-year sequence through 2120 in a single language or equivalent. Equivalent credit can be Advanced Placement or college transfer credit. Students who have prior knowledge of Spanish, French, or German must take the placement test before enrolling in these classes. (The placement exam does not count as college credit.) If you test into the 3000 level or above, the foreign language requirement is considered fulfilled.

Social Work Program Requirements


Complete the following courses:

Extra-departmental Requirements


Complete the following course:

Complete one course from two of the following areas not used to fulfill pre-major requirement:


Anthropology (ANTH)
Economics (ECON)
Political Science (POLS)
Sociology (SOC)