Bachelor of Social Work

Program Overview

Hawaii Pacific University's Bachelor of Social Work program equips students with the knowledge, values, and skills to address social problems effectively. Through hands-on practicum experience, students develop professional competencies and prepare for careers in diverse social work settings, including clinical, school, child welfare, mental health, and community work. The program emphasizes social justice, human rights, and lifelong learning, fostering graduates who are committed to promoting well-being and addressing social challenges.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Bachelor of Social Work program at Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) is designed to equip students with the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to address social problems effectively. The program emphasizes hands-on experience through supervised social work practice (practicum) in various settings, enabling students to apply their learning and develop professional competencies. The program is committed to meeting the needs of both traditional and working adult students through evening and weekend class scheduling.

Objectives:

• To develop students' competence in using the generalist problem-solving model to promote well-being with client systems of all sizes.
• To prepare graduates who practice competently with diverse populations.
• To prepare graduates who understand the social and policy contexts of social work practice at micro, mezzo, and macro levels, including the changing nature of those contexts.
• To promote the values and ethics of professional social work, social and economic justice, and human rights in the program and in students' practice.
• To develop in students an appropriate foundation for and valuing of lifelong learning which is built on research-informed practice and practice-informed research.

Outline:

Semester 1

• SWRK 1010: Social Entrepreneurship, Social Sustainability, and Social Work
• SWRK 1200: Social Work Intervention I
• SWRK 1210: Introduction to Social Policy and Services
• SWRK 1995: Research Methods I

Semester 2

• SWRK 2030: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
• SWRK 2200: Social Work Intervention II
• SWRK 2220: Foundations of Social Work Practice I
• SWRK 2995: Research Methods II

Semester 3

• SWRK 2100: Multicultural Perspectives in Social Work
• SWRK 2310: Practice Skills and Methods: Practice with Individuals
• SWRK 2600: Community and Organizational Social Work
• SWRK 2650: Field Practicum I

Semester 4

• SWRK 2410: Practice Skills and Methods: Practice with Groups
• SWRK 2610: Child Welfare Social Work
• SWRK 2660: Field Practicum II
• SWRK 2810: Issues in Social Work

Semester 5

• SWRK 2420: Practice Skills and Methods: Practice with Families
• SWRK 2620: Mental Health Social Work
• SWRK 2670: Field Practicum III
• SWRK 2820: Professionalism in Social Work

Semester 6

• SWRK 2430: Practice Skills and Methods: Practice with the Elderly
• SWRK 2630: Social Work in Global Settings
• SWRK 2680: Field Practicum IV
• SWRK 2830: Seminar in Social Work

Assessment:

The assessment methods used in the program include:

• Examinations
• Quizzes
• Written assignments
• Class participation
• Fieldwork evaluations

Teaching:

The program is taught by experienced faculty from diverse backgrounds, who are committed to providing students with a rigorous and supportive learning environment. The teaching methods used include:

• Lectures
• Discussions
• Case studies
• Skills labs
• Fieldwork

Careers:

Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Work program at HPU are prepared for a wide range of career opportunities in the social work field, including:

• Clinical social worker
• School social worker
• Child welfare social worker
• Mental health social worker
• Social worker in health care settings
• Social policy analyst
• Community organizer
• Non-profit administrator