Mission

The mission of the undergraduate social work program at the University of Southern Indiana is based upon the overall goal of providing a foundation, through the curriculum, for the development of students into "generalist" bachelor's level social work professionals.

"Generalist practice depends upon an inclusive rather than exclusive theoretical framework, which captures the profession's most prized perceptions about social systems, sources of social difficulties, how change occurs, and about how social workers can influence change processes."

R. Connaway & M. Gentry, 1988, p. xii Social Work Practice.

The program philosophy is based on the belief that the development of a professional social worker involves developing the person. Therefore, the development of that "generalist" professional is based upon a curriculum in which professional learning is integrated with a liberal arts foundation with a focus on personal growth. The knowledge, skills, and values needed to be a social worker are intertwined throughout the curriculum and culminate in the practice classes and field practicums.

The Social Work program is structured to provide a student with both the theoretical and practical framework from which the field of social work emerges. This allows a student to integrate the knowledge, research, and social work principles throughout his/her academic years.

All students admitted to the BSW program must maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 2.6, and a 2.75 grade point average in all social work courses. In addition to grade point average students will be evaluated on standards of professional conduct. Students may be subject to corrective action, suspension and/or dismissal from the program due to factors such as unethical or unprofessional behavior.