Social Work
The Social Work major is designed to give students an understanding of how people function in contemporary society, the challenges and problems they encounter, and the social services available to them. The program strives to develop an awareness of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social influences on human behavior within the social and physical environment; an understanding of the impact of prejudice, discrimination, and oppression on vulnerable groups within society; an appreciation of and dedication to working for social, environmental, and economic justice; the ability to determine areas of social work concern and responsibility; and competence in entry level generalist social work practice, with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. This content in social welfare and social work is integrated with a liberal arts base. The primary objective of the program is to prepare students for immediate employment in social work; a secondary objective is preparation for graduate study.
Students who graduate from Mount Mercy with an accredited baccalaureate social work major may be eligible for “advanced standing” in many MSW programs. This designation usually allows a student to complete an MSW in a shorter amount of time. Students seriously considering graduate school should take a course in statistics. They should also be aware that a 3.00 grade point average is assumed as a minimum entrance requirement by most graduate schools of social work, and at least a grade of B in each social work course.
The social work major aims to develop the student’s ability, for example, to: demonstrate knowledge of the many facets of the social work profession; evaluate situations and determine the most effective interventions; and identify the impact diversity has on transactions between and among systems.
The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education for the baccalaureate level. The Mount Mercy transcript shows that the student has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with the major in Social Work.
Career Opportunities
Graduates with the Social Work major are prepared for professional generalist social work in a variety of fields. The majority of graduates are employed in social work or related human service positions, including child protective services, foster care, in-home family services, residential services for children and adults, substance abuse treatment, programs for people with disabilities, juvenile and adult corrections, community development, and programs for elderly people. They also are eligible to apply for social work licensure in states where it is either mandatory or voluntary at the bachelor level of practice.
Admission to the Major
In accordance with its continued affirmation of the importance of diversity, admission for further study in the social work major is conducted without discrimination on the basis of economic or social status, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, age, marital status, citizenship, genetic testing, veterans’/military status, pregnancy or related medical conditions, other medical conditions, or any other factor protected by law.
In order to be accepted for study in the social work major, students must have earned at least a C (2.00 grade points) in all required social work courses that they have taken and in SO 215 Methods Of Social Research and if completed by the time they make application for acceptance into the major. All other courses specifically listed as required for the major must be passed with no less than a C- grade. Students also must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.50, and demonstrate an ability and willingness to use supervision.
Application for acceptance for further study in the major occurs during the spring term of the program's junior year curriculum. In addition to having completed SW 232 prior to submitting their application, students need to have successfully completed two courses offered by the social work program, be enrolled in or have completed SW 226, SW 245, SW 300 and SW 320, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above for their application to be processed. Students who transfer to Mount Mercy who have met all requirements (including accepted course equivalencies) are also eligible to apply for admission for further study in the major during the spring semester of the program's junior year curriculum. Eligible students will be provided application materials consisting of Social Work Program guidelines for submitting:
- A written statement reflecting the student’s knowledge of social work as a profession, motivation for seeking admission to study further, and personal qualifications for it;
- A brief analysis of hypothetical case material utilizing the Model for Making Ethical Decisions.
The deadline for submission of the materials is identified at the time the student is provided the application. All materials are reviewed by all full-time program faculty to decide on the extent the materials address the guidelines and criteria for acceptance into the major. If necessary, the student is contacted by the program director and given opportunity to supplement the materials and resubmit the application. Once the materials are in compliance, one of the faculty schedules an interview with the student to discuss his/her application for further study. The student is informed of the program decision during that meeting. If the student continues to approach the scenario in a manner that is outside professional standards, faculty will counsel the student regarding his/her appropriateness for the major.
Within two weeks of the interview, the student receives a written confirmation of the outcome of his/her application. The student may be fully accepted, provisionally accepted (with specific requirements and deadline for removal of the provision), or may be denied admission to the program (with specific reasons for the denial listed).
Students who have been accepted into the major but who have not made progress toward completion of the major during any two-year period need to contact the department chair and reactivate their admission for further study.
Appeals Procedure and Maintaining Good Standings in the Major
A student may appeal a decision considered unjust by submitting a written statement to the program director within ten working days of receiving the written decision. In the statement the student must clearly outline the basis of the appeal and indicate if he/she wishes to exercise the right to meet with the program faculty. After reading all written material submitted and weighing the content of any meetings, the faculty will decide on the appeal. The program director will notify the student in writing of the outcome of the appeal. In the event the student still believes he or she has been unjustly treated, appeal of the decision may be made to the Vice President for Academic Affairs as outlined in the “Grievance Procedure for Students” in the Good Book.
In order to maintain good standing in the program, students must earn at least a 2.00 grade point average in specified courses required for completion of the major. They must also display the ability to practice within accepted ethical guidelines for professional social work consistent with those outlined in the most recent version of the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. The Social Work Practice Violations found in the Student Handbook of the Social Work Program includes circumstances in which progress in a field placement and/or the major may be interrupted or terminated.
Decisions about a student falling below 2.00 grade point average in one or more required courses while maintaining a cumulative average of 2.50 is handled on a case-by-case basis. The social work program follows the institution policies and procedures on handling academic grievances. These procedures are found in the publication the Good Book. Those procedures are also found in the Student Handbook of the Social Work Program. Each student majoring in social work is provided a copy of the Handbook when they apply for further study in the major.
Field Instruction
Admission to foundation and advanced field courses is arranged through the Director of Field Education. This is done the term prior to the student enrolling in the field courses. Appropriate forms and information are distributed to eligible students by the field director. Except by special permission from the program, no student on provisional acceptance will be accepted into advanced field instruction.
Because the practice of social work involves a public trust, social workers in professional practice are held to high standards. They are expected to conduct themselves in ways that demonstrate collegial respect and that put their client’s interests first. Professional social workers are to act in accordance with accepted ethical standards (currently as articulated in the NASW Code of Ethics) and can be subject to sanctions if violations occur.
In light of this, social work majors at Mount Mercy will be held to high academic standards and their attitudes and actions are expected to be consistent with professional standards. Course material includes the study of the NASW Code. Materials for foundation and advanced field instruction identify professional standards and what the faculty considers to be violations of those standards. Those materials also include circumstances in which progress through the field placement and/or the major may be interrupted or terminated. The Social Work Student Handbook and the foundation and advanced field instruction manuals contain information pertinent to this.
Depending on the nature of the client population and the services delivered, field agencies may do background checks for founded child or dependent adult abuse, and for certain kinds of criminal behavior. The results of these checks may prevent the student from doing a field placement in that agency and from becoming employed in some agencies. Students are required to meet with the field director and sign a disclosure statement to identify impediments to obtaining a social work field placement.
Program Restrictions
The Social Work Program does not participate in the BAA/BAS degree program. In order to participate in Mount Mercy’s second degree program, social work students who have already completed a degree from another college or university must have their core curriculum courses evaluated for equivalency to those required by the Social Work Program. Courses determined to be missing as well as all courses required for the major must be completed. Only courses taken through other accredited baccalaureate social work programs may be evaluated for equivalency of required social work practice courses. The Social Work program does not waive any required coursework, including field instruction, based on credit for life experience or for current or past employment.
Theory and Field Courses for the Social Work Major
Students are encouraged to contact one of the Social Work Program faculty members for advice on the course sequence. Some of the required courses that are not taught in the Social Work Program need to be completed before social work courses.
There are many courses offered by other majors that students are encouraged to take as electives. Social work majors typically find that course work in political science, sociology, psychology, and criminal justice enhances their knowledge base for professional practice. Program faculty also encourage social work majors to enhance their liberal arts foundation by additional course work in English, religious studies, philosophy, history, the fine arts, and offerings in other departments.