Program Overview

Introduction to Social Work Program

The social work program at Ohio University Zanesville prepares students for beginning generalist social work practice, enabling them to work with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities from diverse perspectives. The Department of Social Work offers two undergraduate degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) and a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). The primary difference between these degrees is the requirement of four semesters of a foreign language for the BASW, which is not mandatory for the BSW.

Program Overview

• The program boasts a 16:1 student to faculty ratio for classroom instruction, ensuring personalized attention and mentorship.
• A significant proportion of first-year students, 99%, received financial aid in Fall 2021, highlighting the university's commitment to accessibility.
• The curriculum encompasses a wide range of courses, including human behavior, social welfare history and policy, research, social work practice methods, and field instruction.

Sample Curriculum Schedule

The curriculum is structured over four years, with each year focusing on specific aspects of social work:

• Year 1: Introduction to social work, writing and rhetoric, college algebra, human biology, general psychology, and elective courses in political science, anthropology, natural science, and humanities.
• Year 2: Social welfare overview, statistics for behavioral sciences, child and adolescent psychology, economics, sociology, tier II humanities, natural sciences, and electives.
• Year 3: Social welfare policy, dynamics of human behavior, introduction to social work practice methods, research methods, junior composition, psychology, natural science, and electives.
• Year 4: Social work practice, field seminars, field practicum, abnormal psychology, and electives.

Program Progression

The senior-level practice sequence is designed to provide students with agency experience, practice classes, and seminars. To enroll in this sequence, students must be admitted to the major by the end of the seventh week of their junior year's spring semester.

Potential Careers

Graduates with a bachelor's degree in social work can pursue employment in various fields, including:

• Child welfare
• Mental health
• Foster care and residential treatment
• Adoption services
• Nursing homes
• Schools
• Governmental agencies
• Medical facilities They are also eligible to sit for the social work licensing exam in any state with undergraduate licensing. As of May 2022, child, family, and school social workers in Ohio earn an annual mean wage of $48,780, with a projected employment growth of 7.2% by 2028.

Tuition and Fees

The OHIO Guarantee provides a fixed rate for tuition and most fees for four years, simplifying budgeting for college. Financial aid is available in the form of scholarships, grants, and student loans.

Learning Environment

The social work program collaborates closely with local social services agencies to offer practicum learning opportunities. Faculty members are accomplished social workers with community connections, engaged in projects and continuing education with social service agencies.

Program Admission Requirements

• First-Year Students: Designate Pre-Social Work major in their application to be assigned an advisor within the program.
• Transfer and Current Ohio Students: Submit an online application, including a personal statement and Human Service form (if applicable), by the deadline (the Friday of the second week of the selected semester).

Accreditation Information

Ohio University's social work programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.