Undergraduate Program

Bachelor of Social Work

Major

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Why This Program?

Personalize your education to meet your learning and career goals.

As a social worker, you will make change possible by working with individuals, families, groups, and communities to improve their well-being in a variety of ways. Social workers are on the front lines advocating for people and facilitating positive social change.

Prepare for career success: A major in social work at BCU prepares you at the undergraduate level for careers in social work and for graduate social work education. Students are provided opportunities throughout the curriculum to connect with and learn from other degreed social workers. You can also collaborate with other social work students and professional social workers by joining the Social Work Club.
Make a difference: By the time you graduate, you'll have a network of social work colleagues and will go on to advance human rights and social and economic justice; engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research; engage, assess, intervene and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; and so much more!
Experience a historically accredited program: The social work program is designed to provide the skills needed to become a professional social worker. BCU's social work program is nationally recognized, because we care about helping social work students foster their skills for changing lives. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1974, Briar Cliff University's social work program has been continuously accredited, with the most recent reaffirmation of accreditation in 2018.
Explore: Get hands on experience. Embark on mission trips across the country or internationally to Honduras and Tanzania. You and your peers will spearhead relief efforts and gain insight through culture and adventure. Students looking for experience in practicing social work in an urban setting have the opportunity to complete their practicum in Chicago with Chicago Semester

More About the Program

The major in social work prepares generalist social workers at the undergraduate level for entry-level positions in social work and for graduate social work education. The Briar Cliff University social work program has infused gerontology throughout the curriculum. The BSW program has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1974 and has 9 expected educational competencies.

As a result of developing these expected competencies, the social work major will be able to:

demonstrate ethical and professional behavior;
engage diversity and difference in practice;
advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice;
engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice;
engage in policy practice;
engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities

The field of social work is growing. With a degree in social work form Briar Cliff, you will join hundreds of BCU grads who are making an impact in all types of industries: schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centers, private practices, military and more.

Courses

Successfully complete all required 12 social work and non-departmental courses listed below, including practicum and two 3-credit social work electives. In addition, the following courses are required prior to SWRK 320, SOCY 124, SOCY 125, SOCY 235, PSYC 110, PSYC 280, BIOL 102, or BIOL 151. The following courses are required to prior to SOCY/SWRK 340, MATH 150 or 200, or SOCY 341.

Required Social Work Courses include:

SWRK 230 - Social Work and Social Welfare	3 credits
SWRK 320 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment	3 credits
SWRK 360 - Social Issues and Policy	3 credits
SWRK 370 - Social Work Practice with Individuals	3 credits
SWRK 315 - Social Work Interactional Skills	2 credits
SOCY 340 - Social Sciences Research Methods	3 credits
SWRK 375 - Social Work Practice with Families and Groups	3 credits
SWRK 380 - Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations	3 credits
SWRK 01 IS - Introduction to Practicum	2 credits
SWRK 445 - Practicum Experience	12 credits

Social Work Electives include:

SWRK 300 - Bereavement	3 credits
SWRK 310 - Trauma Informed Practice	3 credits
SWRK 325 - Mental Health and Mental Illness	3 credits
SWRK 330 - Human Sexuality	3 credits
SWRK 335 - Substance Abuse and Addiction	3 credits
SWRK 345 - Child Welfare	3 credits
SWRK 355 - Law: Child Abuse and Neglect	3 credits
SWRK 465 - Gerontology	3 credits
SWRK 385 - Engaging in Cross Cultures	3 credits

Non Departmental Program Courses Required for the Social Work Program:

SOCY 124 - Introduction to Sociology / SOCY 125 - Social Problems

SOCY 240 - Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Inequality

SOCY 235 - Sociology of the Family

LIBS 301 - Digital Research & Academic Endeavors

BIOL 102 - Human Biology OR BIOL 151 - General Biology I

PHIL 210 - Ethics OR PHIL 211 - Healthcare Ethics OR PHIL 212 - Ethics in Business & Society

THEO 204 - Christian Morality

PSCI 101 - American Government OR HIST 231 - History of the U.S. I OR HIST 232 - History of the U.S. II

PSYC 110 - Introductory Psychology

PSYC 280 - Developmental Psychology

MATH 105 - Math for Liberal Arts OR Math 111 - College Algebra OR MATH 200 - Elementary Statistics

Academic Catalog

Online or In-person

In addition to in-person and online undergraduate program, Briar Cliff University Social Work is also offered as an easy transfer degree completion program. An Associate Degree in Human Services, Social Work, General Studies, or a minimum of 62 transferable credits is required for enrollment. To see how your credits stack up, please send us your transcripts for a credit evaluation!

Transfer to Briar Cliff

Social Work Handbook

The Bachelor of Social Work Student Handbook is intended to help you understand the program, its mission, philosophy, goals, competencies, requirements, and procedures.

View the Social Work Handbook

Concentrations

Our program allows you to create a curriculum based on the practice areas that interest you most. With our BSW concentration options, you can design the focus of your study by choosing from a minor in Interdisciplinary Gerontology or a list of concentrations. The concentrations are a structured plan of specialty study within a major. The minimum number of credit hours for an internal concentration is 12 credit hours in addition to the core courses of the major. Students will also be required to complete their practicum experience within the area of the concentration. An internal concentration will appear on student’s official transcript.

Concentration options include:

Children, Youth and Families: A concentration in children, youth, and families prepares students for a social work career working with children and families in child welfare and family service agencies.

Required Courses (9 credits)

SWRK 310 - Trauma Informed Practice	3 credits
SWRK 345 - Child Welfare	3 credits
PSYC 354 - Child & Adolescent Psychology	3 credits

Additional Electives (3 credits). Select one:

CJUS 365 - Juvenile Justice	3 credits
SPAN 303 - Spanish for Careers	3 credits
SWRK 325 - Mental Health and Mental Illness	3 credits
SWRK 300 - Bereavement	3 credits
SWRK 355 - Substance Abuse and Addiction	3 credits

Behavioral Health & Addictions: A concentration in behavioral health & addictions prepares students for practice with individuals across the life span addressing mental health, addictions and co-occurring disorders.

Required Courses (9 credits)

SWRK 310 - Trauma Informed Practice	3 credits
SWRK 325 - Mental Health and Mental Illness	3 credits
SWRK 335 - Substance Abuse and Addiction	3 credits

Additional Electives (3 credits). Select one:

CJUS 365 - Juvenile Justice	3 credits
PSYC 102 - Drugs in Society	3 credits

Faith-Based Ministry: This concentration will develop student skills in the area of social work and faith-based service. It’s focus will help students develop their talents while meeting the world’s needs in relations to God and neighbor.

Required Courses (6 credits)

SWRK 300 - Bereavement	3 credits
THEO 310 (THEO 115 is a pre-requisite)	3 credits

Additional Electives (6 credits). Select one of each:

THEO 116 - Church in the World OR THEO 260 - Francis, Clare, & Franciscan Spirituality	3 credits each
SWRK 310 - Trauma Informed Practice OR SWRK 325 - Mental Health and Mental Illness OR SWRK 465 - Gerontology	3 credits each

Latino Cultural Competence in Social Work: The goal of the Concentration in Latino Cultural Competence in Social Work is that students develop the cultural and linguistic skills for engaging in culturally grounded practice with Latino clients, and families.

Scholarships

The Department of Social Work offers several scholarships to social work majors. Scholarship decisions are made each spring for the upcoming academic year.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the online BSW program a good fit for your academic needs and preferences?
A: Although the promise of attending class from anywhere at nearly any time can be appealing, the reality is that distance learning and online coursework are not a good match for every student. Distance learning is most effective for students who are highly independent and self-motivated learners, and who require little or no face-to-face interaction with their professor and peers in order to understand and appreciate course material.

If you are an experienced student and learn best on your own (by reading course material, participating in online discussion boards, and synthesizing material from multiple sources), you might be a good candidate for distance learning. If you are an independent learner with a complicated work or family schedule, online courses could be an excellent way to complete college coursework while meeting your other obligations.

Q: What do I need to know about BCU's online BSW Program?
A: Briar Cliff's online BSW is an independent, intensive study with the same competencies, practice behaviors and learning objectives as the on campus program. Students must either have an Associate of Arts degree or 77 college credits to qualify for the online BSW program. In this program:

You will be required to partner with local resources for course assignments.
You will identify volunteers whom you will interview in video-recorded help sessions in your first practice course.
Group coursework requires forming, conducting and video recording your own group sessions.
You will recruit volunteers and mentors to assist you with the social work practice courses.
BCU faculty will work directly with you in weekly personal mentoring, coaching, and assessment online consultations, which you will schedule with your professors for each of your courses.
You will work with BCU's Director of Practicum Education in the planning and completion of 450 hours of required field internship, a requirement for graduation from BCU.
You will help identify and work with practicum instructors and the Director of Practicum Education, working with them in developing an effective learning contract for your practicum experience, which they will supervise.

Q: Are you better suited for on-campus learning format?
A: If your learning preferences include the following, visit the on-campus Social Work undergraduate social work major page. The face-to-face program includes:

Individual face-to-face contact with students and faculty.
Faculty-facilitated networking with community and professional leaders.
On campus learning format.
Completing your degree in person on a scenic hilltop campus in Sioux City, Iowa.

Q: What are the technological requirements?
A: You will need a computer with a microphone, web camera, and stable Internet connection.

Practicum Education

Practicum education is the signature pedagogy of social work education. Social workpracticum education provides an opportunity for students to integrate into practice the conceptual knowledge gained in the classroom and connect it to real social work practice. This means they participate in generalist social work learning opportunities intended to provide experiences across individuals, groups, families, communities, and organization settings.

At Briar Cliff University, students complete an internship placement in a social service agency under the guidance and supervision of an experienced professional social worker called a Practicum Instructor. This vital interaction is designed to reinforce our students' academic study with real-life experience. It permits testing theory in practice settings and provides students with practicum experience that is vital for academic and professional development.

The Social Work Department at Briar Cliff University works closely with community agencies and organizations to ensure there is consistent content that complements classroom theory and research with student practice experiences. Our goal is to facilitate the mastery of competencies and practice behaviors that support a future successful social work practice.

Practicum Manual

Practicum Education Forms

Licensure

Briar Cliff University Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program (face-to-face and online) is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Completion of the Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) Program at Briar Cliff University prepares students for professional licensure in Iowa. A determination has not been made of whether the BSW Program at Briar Cliff University meets the licensing requirements for a bachelor's level social work degree outside the state of Iowa. Students who wish to be licensed at the bachelor's level in states outside of Iowa should seek guidance from the licensing entity in which they plan to practice before beginning the social work program at Briar Cliff University, by reviewing e ach state's licensing board.

Career Options

Hospital Social Work
Behavioral Management Aide
Case Manager
Community Outreach Worker
Eligibility Worker
Human Services Specialist
Juvenile Court Liaison
Probation Officer
Rehabilitation Case Worker
Social Services Employee
Child and Family Social Worker
Child Welfare Worker
Counselor
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
School Social Worker
Medical Social Worker
Social Work Supervisor
Adoption Home Study Reporter
Therapist Pathway
Psychologist Pathway

Graduate School Options:

Occupational Therapy
Behavior Analysis
Counseling Psychology
Social Psychology
School Psychology Sports Psychology
Masters in Social Work (MSW)

Social Work

Why This Program?

Personalize your education to meet your learning and career goals.

More About the Program

Career Options

Graduate School Options:

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