The Bachelor of Science in Social Work is one of several major degree programs offered by the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the profession’s educational accreditation organization. The goals of the SUNY Fredonia Social Work program are as follows:

1. Prepare generalist social workers who integrate knowledge, values, and skills for competent entry-level professional practice and/or graduate education
   
   
2. Prepare generalist social workers educated to maintain and improve the social functioning of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities by helping people solve problems, accomplish tasks, prevent and alleviate distress, and create and use resources
   
   
3. Prepare generalist social workers who understand and actively participate in their social environment, in particular through planning, formulation and implementation of social policies, services, resources, and programs, to help people meet basic human needs and to improve the quality of life for all
   
   
4. Prepare generalist social workers who use themselves, their knowledge, their problem-solving capabilities and other social systems to advocate for populations-at-risk and to promote socially and economically just communities and society
   
   
5. Prepare generalist social workers who understand their obligations as practitioner-researchers to develop and test knowledge and skills to strengthen the profession’s purpose of enhancing human well-being and alleviating poverty and oppression
   
   
6. Prepare generalist social workers who practice ethnic and culturally sensitive social work practice with diverse populations and who fight to eliminate social injustice experienced by oppressed populations

Mission Statement

The SUNY Fredonia Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work program strives to be a trusted partner in the missions of its home department, the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice; the university; the academic community-at-large; and the social community-at-large. Through committed, quality teaching-learning activities and reciprocal learning relationships with the local community-at-large, the program prepares critical thinking, generalist social workers who are prepared to enter employment as entry level professionals in urban or rural agency settings and/or are prepared to continue their education at the graduate level. The program intends that the teaching-learning, research, and service activities will have a meaningful, positive influence on the well-being of each student, the university, and the community-at-large as it embraces the larger mission of social work to prevent and alleviate conditions arising from social problems and unmet human needs.

Program Overview

All program activities are designed to meet its mission and goals. The curriculum is designed to provide the professional foundation that gives students specific social work theory, knowledge and skills. It is built upon a liberal arts base and provides individualized opportunities for personal and professional growth. Students work with their advisors to choose elective courses to develop their specific interests. The Social Work Club plans student-directed activities that increase opportunities to explore the nature of the profession. Through their academic experiences, students become more well-rounded, responsible individuals who possess a spirit of inquiry, critical thinking and helping skills, and have the ability to use the self appropriately in relationships with others.

Social work academic offerings and program activities are continually assessed to help keep the program vibrant and relevant. Student achievement results from each required social work course, portfolio learning, and performance in the Field Practicum are compiled and used to analyze the curriculum. In addition, various kinds of surveys are conducted with graduating seniors, alumni, and community practitioners to help understand the program’s performance. Each of these assessment strategies measures some or all of the program’s following objectives:

1. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice
   
   
2. Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly
   
   
3. Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients’ age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation
   
   
4. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice
   
   
5. Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues
   
   
6. Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with systems of all sizes
   
   
7. Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities
   
   
8. Analyze, formulate and influence social policies
   
   
9. Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, and evaluate their own practice interventions
   
   
10. Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities
    
    
11. Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice
    
    
12. Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change (The above are taken directly from the Council on Social Work Education Handbook of Accreditation Standards and Procedures, 5th ed., pp. 33-34.)
    
    
13. Demonstrate the professional use of self, and
    
    
14. Will utilize the knowledge base as successful preparation for graduate work and/or continued education for competence

Advancement into the Professional Methods Sequence

Students who indicate their desire to major in Social Work and who meet the university acceptance requirements are designated official majors at the time of their acceptance. However, in the second semester of the sophomore year, all majors who wish to continue in the program and take upper level social work methods courses must successfully complete the Advancement process. An application with supporting documents must be filed by a mid-March deadline date (varies every year). Supporting documents include a written response to questions posed on the application, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. Students may be required to complete an interview process with social work faculty. Transcripts must document that students have met the following advancement requirements:

1. A 2.5 average for the following prerequisite courses:

SOC 116 Introduction to Sociology PSY 129 Introduction to Psychology BIOL 110 Human Biology SOC 200 Statistics for Sociologists (or any other introduction to statistics course) SOC 218 Introduction to Social Work SOC 272 Exploring Community-Based Social Work

2. A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher, and

3. A grade of “B-” or better in SOC 218 Introduction to Social Work and SOC 272 Exploring Community-Based Social Work

The application materials with complete instructions can be obtained by contacting the department and/or the Program Director.

Students will not be allowed into the Methods Sequence if they have not successfully completed this process. Once accepted into the advanced course work, students are identified as having “Advanced Status” and must follow the required sequence of courses. This sequence is based upon the developmental design of the curriculum. All foundation area practice methods courses build upon the knowledge of the course that precedes it. Because of this, students who anticipate any need for part-time study or who wish to study abroad should talk with their advisors as soon as possible to plan their progress through the curriculum. Students must also achieve a minimum grade of “C” in their required social work courses to continue in sequence.

Transfer Students

The Social Work program welcomes transfer students. The curriculum was designed to facilitate a successful transition from other institutions. Incoming freshmen and sophomore students are given intensive advising to prepare for advancement and to promote success in all academic pursuits. Incoming juniors who transfer with an A.A./A.S. degree or who have 60 credit hours are also given intensive advisement but they must meet all the advancement criteria prior to transfer. When applying for advancement into the junior year course work, these students must file their application with supporting documents and they must:

1. Be formally accepted into SUNY Fredonia for the fall semester
   
   
2. Document the completion of 60 credit hours (or submit their plan to complete at least 60 hours before they start the fall semester)
   
   
3. Establish equivalency for courses transferring as Introduction to Social Work (Introduction to Human Services), Exploring Community-Based Social Work (Human Services Internship), and Human Biology

To establish equivalency, students must submit a syllabus for the course in question to the Social Work Program Director who must determine that the purpose, content, and scope of the course is the same or similar enough to the SUNY Fredonia course that it can stand in the place of the SUNY Fredonia course. The Program Director may contact the college/university to gather more information to make a determination. If approved, a Transfer Credit Approval form must be filed with the SUNY Fredonia Registrar.

Social work courses transferred from a Council on Social Work Education Accredited program will be approved for credit but may not be judged equivalent to the SUNY Fredonia social work courses. This occurs because of differences in curriculum and course sequencing among programs. Transfer students from an accredited program will need to meet with the Program Director to determine equivalency. No equivalency will be granted for the Field Practicum unless placed by the program in an international placement. Students earning a B.S. degree in Social Work from SUNY Fredonia must complete their 500 practicum hours through the SUNY Fredonia program.

Note: No academic credit for life or work experience will be given as an equivalent for any required social work course, Introduction to Social Work, or Exploring Community-Based Social Work.

Field Practicum

In the senior year, students must complete a 500 hour professionally supervised placement in a social service agency. Conceived as one experience spread over two semesters, the student must complete a minimum of 250 hours of activities during each of the fall and spring semesters. Students begin the application process for their Field Practicum placement in the fall semester of the junior year. Students must have completed all prerequisite courses prior to entering their field work. They must also have a 2.0 cumulative G.P.A. and a 2.5 average in all the required social work courses. Field practicum policies and procedures can be found in the Field Manual available to the students during the application-to-the-field process in the spring semester.

Program Policies

The social work profession has been a leader in the cause of fighting prejudice, discrimination, and oppression against all people in society. Admission and advancement in the program is based upon the published criteria. Race, color, religion, creed, gender, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, political orientation, or sexual orientation play no role in the program decisions. Social work is also a professional field with expectations of professional behavior. Students who meet the published criteria but who have evidenced a pattern of unprofessional, unsuitable behavior may be denied advancement and/or dismissed from the program. Students may also be dismissed from the program for academic reasons. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in their required social work courses to continue in the major. More specific expectations and policies are detailed in the student Handbook.