Program Overview

---

Pacific Lutheran University Social Work Program

The Social Work program at Pacific Lutheran University is designed to prepare students for beginning professional social work practice as well as graduate study in social work. The program is firmly based in the liberal arts and stresses an understanding of social science theories and methods.

Admission to the Social Work Program

Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree in social work must first apply and be accepted into the program. The social work program welcomes diversity and invites interest and applications from persons who seek to participate in a profession committed to helping people. Students may begin taking social work courses before being admitted to the program, but only admitted students are allowed to take 400-level courses.

• Admission is determined by faculty evaluation of student applications on the basis of the following criteria:
  • Transcript that documents the completion of at least 40 semester hours of prescribed course work with a minimum grade point average of 2.75.
  • A personal essay which addresses:
    • interest in social work as a career
    • life experiences shaping an interest in social work
    • professional social work goals
    • an evaluation of personal strengths and limitations
  • A summary of work and volunteer experience
  • Two letters of recommendation that evaluate and document the applicant's potential for success in social work education and practice
  • Washington State Patrol Criminal History clearance
  • Written agreement to comply with the National Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics
  • Personal interview (may be requested)

Continuation Policies

To remain in the program, a student must:

• maintain a 2.75 grade point average in social work courses and a 2.50 overall grade point average
• demonstrate behavior which is consistent with the NASW Code of Ethics and University Code of Conduct
• average 80% or better on benchmark assignments used to assess competence for practice

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Major in Social Work

The major in Social Work requires 52 semester hours, including:

• SOCW 245, 250, 350, 360, 460, 465, 475, 476, 485, 486, 498, and 499
• SOCW 232 or SOCI 232
• SOCI 101
• STAT 233 (must be completed at PLU)
• 4 semester hours in elective SOCI or SOCW

Social Work majors are required to have the following prerequisites prior to entry to the program: ANTH 102 or 334, PSYC 101, and SOCI 101. BIOL 111 must be completed prior to graduation.

Minor

Minor in Social Work

The minor in Social Work requires:

• SOCW 101 (190) or 245 (4)
• SOCW electives (8)
• Remaining elective (4)
• SOCW 375 (2)

Course Descriptions

SOCW 101: Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare

An introduction to human need and the field of social work. Provides an overview of services, models of service delivery, and professional social work values.

SOCW 175: January on the Hill

An intense experience of service and community work on Tacoma's Hilltop District and/or Tacoma's eastside where students learn firsthand about poverty and participate in community projects.

SOCW 232: Research Methods

This course will prepare students to demonstrate basic competencies in the knowledge, values, and skills of research methodology to analyze the social world.

SOCW 245: Human Behavior and the Social Environment

Students examine developmental theory through the lens of an ecological systems perspective and a biopsychosocial-spiritual framework, emphasizing power, privilege, and cultural differences.

SOCW 250: Social Policy I: History of Social Welfare

Exploration of power, privilege and oppression emphasizing political process and global social change in the development of the American welfare state and the profession of social work.

SOCW 350: Social Policy II: Social Policy Analysis

Students develop legislative policy practice and advocacy skills, and examine the impact of policy implementation, administration, and governmental structure on services to vulnerable populations.

SOCW 360: Social Work Practice I: Interviewing and Overview of Generalist Practice

Students learn the conceptual framework of generalist practice and apply the ecological systems perspective to practice.

SOCW 460: Social Work Practice II: Families and Groups

Grounded in the framework of generalist social work practice, the second social work practice course examines theoretical models and practice skills for assessment and intervention with families and groups.

SOCW 465: Social Work Practice III: Macropractice

Using the generalist social work practice framework, students develop engagement, assessment, intervention and evaluation skills for local and global practice with organizations, and communities.

SOCW 475: Field Experience I

Students are placed in social service agencies where, under supervision, they demonstrate the generalist skills of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation of practice.

SOCW 476: Field Experience II

Continuation of SOCW 475. Students practice and refine the generalist skills of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation.

SOCW 485: Field Experience Seminar I

Students integrate the theories and skills from their coursework with experiences in their field settings, applying theories of human behavior and the social environment.

SOCW 486: Field Experience Seminar II

Students continue to grow in their professional identification and behavior. They make a formal case presentation to professional social workers, demonstrating their application of knowledge, values, and skills and their competence in engagement, assessment and intervention.

SOCW 498: Capstone Proposal

Students select a topic for their capstone, complete a preliminary literature review, and develop an outline for their final capstone.

SOCW 499: Capstone: Senior Seminar

This integrative seminar requires students to explore a field of generalist practice across all of the competencies of the social work profession, including reciprocal relationships between research and practice, the policies that impact practice, global perspectives, typical ethical issues, role of diversity, evidence-based interventions and ways they may evaluate their practice.